EVALUATION OF VEHICLE WITH VARIABLE STEERING GEAR

UTVAERDERING AV FORDON MED HASTIGHETSBEROENDE STYRUTVAEXLING

Volvo has developed a vehicle with a steering gear (VIPCIF, variable in position constant in force), where the force gear and the position gear are independent of one another. The steering gear gives for instance a constant relation between steering wheel angle and the lateral acceleration of the vehicle independent of vehicle speed. The advantage of the system is that the force ratio is constant and can optionally be adjusted to a suitable level while the position ratio can be varied, demanding less steering wheel movements when parking and driving in the city, while the sensitivity at high speeds and straight forward can be kept at a moderate level. The purpose of the study has been, on one hand, to study prospective advantages and disadvantages of the new steering gear for different driver categories in different conditions and, on the other hand, to provoke situations where VIPCIF might be a disadvantage. The measurements have been carried out on both slippery and dry surfaces. Comparative studies have been carried out with and without VIPCIF in the same vehicle. The vehicle tested with a variable steering gear had both advantages and disadvantages in the present condition as the prototype is not completely perfect. The studies did not find any situations where the system would imply any traffic safety risk. Rather it might be advantageous when driving on slippery roads, in evasive actions and situations demanding large steering wheel movements. The main disadvantages were experienced when driving straight in narrow passages at low speed where the steering precision was easily lost. (Author/TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03476030
• Corporate Authors:

  Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI)

  Linköping,   Sweden  SE-581 95
• Authors:
  • Loevsund, P
  • Laurell, H
  • NILSSON, B
• Publication Date: 1983

Language

• Swedish

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 14 p.
• Serial:
  • VTI Topics
  • Issue Number: 336
  • Publisher: Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI)
  • ISSN: 0347-6030

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Design; Development; Field studies; Force; Motion; Motor vehicles; Pavements; Properties of materials; Research; Speed; Steering; Steering gears; Test procedures; Tests; Traffic safety; Variables; Vehicles; Wet weather
• Uncontrolled Terms: Research and development; Wet pavements
• Geographic Terms: Sweden
• ITRD Terms: 9011: Design (overall design); 5421: Force; 5483: Movement; 5925: Properties; 5408: Speed; 1834: Steering (process); 8109: Sweden; 6255: Test; 6288: Test method; 9086: Variability; 1255: Vehicle
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Materials; Pavements; Research; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00380044
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI)
• Report/Paper Numbers: Monograph
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 29 1984 12:00AM