RE: Ditch the steering wheel: Speed Matters
Discussion
AW111 said:
Sinclair C5 had handlebars.
Anyone here driven one?
No , but wouldn't mind a go in this!Anyone here driven one?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7sZpNbK-sw
Come on Pistonheads, catch up!
There have been several firms in the UK and many more abroad who have been adapting vehicles for people who can't use a steering wheel:
http://www.rica.org.uk/content/custom-built-car-co...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHMSzZ37mKU
And Merc have demonstrated a joystick concept:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFG-7lUPb5I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQuwi88pZDQ
There have been several firms in the UK and many more abroad who have been adapting vehicles for people who can't use a steering wheel:
http://www.rica.org.uk/content/custom-built-car-co...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHMSzZ37mKU
And Merc have demonstrated a joystick concept:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFG-7lUPb5I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQuwi88pZDQ
Pre internet, many keen drivers moaned about the lack of steering feel from power assisted racks.
In the 70's everyone thought the muscle car was dead.
Give it some time and electric racks will be just fine.
Oh,and steering feel can be improved 100% with a bit of castor and a little toe out on most cars.
In the 70's everyone thought the muscle car was dead.
Give it some time and electric racks will be just fine.
Oh,and steering feel can be improved 100% with a bit of castor and a little toe out on most cars.
Edited by fred bloggs on Tuesday 15th August 19:53
HeMightBeBanned said:
If it aint broke, don't fix it.
The steering wheel remains because, in the absence of full autonomous vehicles, it's simply the most intuitive primary interface for taking human input and translating it into a change in the vehicle's direction. Anything else is just a gimmick.
Apart from handlebars of course.The steering wheel remains because, in the absence of full autonomous vehicles, it's simply the most intuitive primary interface for taking human input and translating it into a change in the vehicle's direction. Anything else is just a gimmick.
I have often pondered if the wheel makes us feel more secure, or whether it is the best interface.
The flight decks of Boeing and Airbus are conspicuously different because of the different view on Wheel versus Stick. So the Boeing has a nice big comforting 'wheel' type arrangement (OK it isn't a wheel but it is of the same ilk) while the Airbus gives you a computer game joystick. For reasons of pure psychology I sometimes think I prefer the Boeing solution as I have visions of the pilot holding on with white knuckles while piloting me through a storm, but you don't hear much about Airbus pilots saying they feel they have less control as a result of not having a nice big 'wheel' to hold on to. Having said that the Airbus has huge amounts of fail-safes to prevent the pilot doing anything too daft or allowing a random sneeze to crash the plane - not sure a car could easily be fitted with such things as the movements on a wheel can be really quite large and 'irrational' especially if pressing on.
Also the idea of teaching my mother to use a joystick.... Yee gods!
The flight decks of Boeing and Airbus are conspicuously different because of the different view on Wheel versus Stick. So the Boeing has a nice big comforting 'wheel' type arrangement (OK it isn't a wheel but it is of the same ilk) while the Airbus gives you a computer game joystick. For reasons of pure psychology I sometimes think I prefer the Boeing solution as I have visions of the pilot holding on with white knuckles while piloting me through a storm, but you don't hear much about Airbus pilots saying they feel they have less control as a result of not having a nice big 'wheel' to hold on to. Having said that the Airbus has huge amounts of fail-safes to prevent the pilot doing anything too daft or allowing a random sneeze to crash the plane - not sure a car could easily be fitted with such things as the movements on a wheel can be really quite large and 'irrational' especially if pressing on.
Also the idea of teaching my mother to use a joystick.... Yee gods!
BricktopST205 said:
I think the main clincher is the fact that as it is now it is all mechanical on the most part. I would hate for my steering to turn off as I was on a bend at 60mph.
Naah. I'll just get the electric power assist to turn hard left while you're cruising down the motorway. That'll teach you to plug an unknown USB stick into your stereo!The odd thing is that you can now get force feedback steering wheels for your home race simulation with industrial strength motors which do a pretty good job (with the right simulation) of replicating the steering feel of race cars and road cars of past eras.
It surprises me that no manufacturer has enhanced the steering feel other than simply adding weight. If a simulation developer can program in things like self aligning torque why can't a car manufacturer engineer? Though I guess the market who would care for such things is pretty small.
It surprises me that no manufacturer has enhanced the steering feel other than simply adding weight. If a simulation developer can program in things like self aligning torque why can't a car manufacturer engineer? Though I guess the market who would care for such things is pretty small.
V8 FOU said:
More worryingly is the total acceptance of shonky electric assistance. Why does everyone just roll over and accept this? Surely there could be an oportunity for someone to do hydraulic conversions to return some form of steering feel?
I'm not sure if this is "because electric assistance" or just poor implementation. I don't think I've heard anyone complain about the steering feel on the RX-8 for example and that is electrically assisted.
As a quick rack is around 2.5 turns and with handgrips you only get around 1/2 a turn that would be quite a handful.
I once put a purpose built hill climber on the road and a twitch of your wrists (or a bump in the road) and it would switch lanes - it was very exhausting to drive fast.
I once put a purpose built hill climber on the road and a twitch of your wrists (or a bump in the road) and it would switch lanes - it was very exhausting to drive fast.
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