Nexteer: Steer-by-wire - Autonomous driving technology that frees your brain and hands

When people talk about driving or use body language to express that they are driving, the first subconscious action is often to raise their hands, pretend to hold the steering wheel and turn it left and right. The steering system of a car is undoubtedly one of the most important elements of the driving experience. The
earliest steering system connected the steering wheel (hand-wheel) and the steering mechanism through a simple rigid shaft, transmitted the steering command to the wheel (road-wheel), and also fed back the vehicle's perception of the road to the driver.

As the automotive industry develops, this mechanical connection, also known as the steering column, has evolved into a complex electromechanical assembly that plays an important role in vehicle controllability, comfort and performance safety. In this process, Nexteer Automotive, a leading global supplier of steering and powertrain systems, as the inventor of the adjustable head-shaking steering column and the energy-absorbing steering column, continues to promote the evolution and development of the steering column field.

In the more than 100 years since the development of the automobile industry, the rigid mechanical connection between the steering column and the wheel has always existed. With the rapid development of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving technology, if the steering system is to be integrated into the vehicle control and obey the command of the central processor, it is necessary to abandon this traditional mechanical connection and add intelligent processors and actuators to accurately and safely control the steering force and angle. This technology - also known as "wire control steering" has actually matured quietly.

How powerful is the control-by-wire technology?

The principle of the "wire-controlled steering technology" that sounds very sci-fi is to install actuators on the steering column and wheel rack, collect data through the central computer (also called the advanced driver assistance system electronic control unit) and transmit it to the steering system, and then the steering system converts the data into mechanical steering functions to achieve steering. It may sound simple, but it is not an exaggeration to say that the wire-controlled steering technology has made the automotive industry take a big step towards autonomous driving. The basis of the wire-controlled steering technology is the electric steering system, and many functions in ADAS and autonomous driving are realized by the electric steering system-such as lane keeping assist, traffic congestion assist, parking assist, lane departure warning, etc.

As long as you want, whether it is a bumpy road or continuous cornering, the vibration and return of the steering wheel will no longer disturb people's driving. Since there is no mechanical connection between the wheel and the steering wheel, the wire control steering can selectively feedback road information, greatly reducing the steering wheel vibration caused by road bumps, thereby significantly reducing operator fatigue; for the driver's operation, it can block any "reckless" behavior to ensure the smooth driving of the vehicle. What gives you excellent steering feel in these operations is the Nexteer Quiet Wheel™ Steering system, which, as its name suggests, eliminates the safety hazards caused by the rapid rotation of the steering wheel during the autonomous driving process and enhances the driver's sense of security. In addition, vehicles equipped with the Quiet Wheel™ Steering system can also be equipped with a "fully retractable" steering column, which can automatically retract into the dashboard in autonomous driving mode, thereby increasing the available space and improving the comfort of the cockpit, allowing the driver to engage in other activities. While the vehicle is driving, replying emails, writing plans, watching movies, and playing games are not only within reach, but also safer and more comfortable.

Smart driving experience does not mean giving the vehicle complete control of the steering wheel, but allowing the driver to switch between manual control and autonomous driving more safely and intuitively. This is where the Nexteer Steering on Demand™ System shines - it not only allows the driver to switch between manual control and autonomous driving control at will, but also allows the driver to customize multiple driving modes, including sports mode, comfort mode and manual control mode. In the personalized customization mode, the driver can set the weight of the power assist, the size of the dead space, the road feel feedback, etc., making the control experience unique. The driver only needs to turn the steering wheel to convey his intention, and he can experience the smooth control feeling comparable to that of a pure mechanical steering system.

An automated future that you can control at your will

When it comes to autonomous driving technology, safety is an unavoidable topic - people first need "safer" cars, and then "more convenient and more comfortable" cars - and safety is the "original intention" of autonomous driving. It is easy to get tired and distracted when driving, but computers will not get tired; people will panic when multitasking, but computers can easily do it simultaneously. Ideally, autonomous vehicles can integrate driver and road information, surpass humans in vision and reaction speed, and better avoid safety hazards caused by human factors or operational errors. Nexteer ensures driving safety from beginning to end through industry-leading redundant components and cybersecurity technologies. Nexteer monitors the driver, vehicle and road surface through software and sensors, and continuously transmits data to the steering system, allowing the vehicle to make predictions and perform safe maneuvers. Imagine a driver driving through an intersection that has just rained, with slippery roads and vehicles waiting to pass on three sides. At this point, the road monitoring equipment has already identified the slippery road and executed a safe steering maneuver. At the same time, the car in the car also issued a danger warning to other vehicles at the intersection, notifying them of the road conditions and the driver's actions - everything is real-time and synchronous. During all information communication and transmission processes, Nexteer's cybersecurity system protects the security of the data, always verifies the correct steering instructions, and ensures a secure connection.

When people drive a car with steer-by-wire technology, they can not only enjoy the safety and peace of mind brought by autonomous driving, but also feel its automatic correction of your driving style in manual control mode - even if the driver is a novice, he can free his brain and hands and experience the fun of driving. This may be the most important significance of steer-by-wire technology.

About Nexteer

Nexteer Automotive (HK:1316), a leader in intuitive control, is a global supplier of steering and driveline systems for vehicle manufacturers. Its products include electric power steering systems, hydraulic power steering systems, steering columns and intermediate shafts, powertrain systems, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving technologies. It was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2013, with annual revenue of nearly US$4 billion. Nexteer Automotive has 25 factories, 5 engineering centers, 11 customer service centers in North America, South America, Europe and Asia, with approximately 13,000 employees, providing full-service to more than 50 customers. Customers include BMW, Fiat Chrysler, Ford, GM, PSA Peugeot Citroen, Toyota, Volkswagen, and automakers in India and China  www.nexteer.com  .