Mirrodie From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 7419 posts, RR: 65 Posted (9 years 10 months 3 weeks 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 1536 times:
I pose this question to all you designers, mechanics, engineers and pilots... in other words, those of you who know better than I.
I know how Airbus has a stick for pitch, yaw and roll.
I recall reading an artical in the paper within the last 6 weeks stating that there is a possibility that this "stick" control may one day SOON replace the steering wheel in cars.
I recall it saying that the stick would control the turning of the wheels as well as forward/backward movement.
What are your thoughts on this? Is it possible (im sure it is) But is it feasible? WIll it catch on?
I wonder/ask you if there are any pros/cons to having a steering wheel vs a stick.
I appreciate your insightful comments.
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Sushka From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 4784 posts, RR: 16 Reply 1, posted (9 years 10 months 3 weeks 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 1504 times:
Sitcks in cars!??! Hmm... No thanks!!
I prefer sticks in planes over yokes. I think they need less controlling than a yoke.
Leezyjet From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2001, 4041 posts, RR: 55 Reply 3, posted (9 years 10 months 3 weeks 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 1458 times:
This technology has been possible for a number of years now, but there is some kind of rule/regulation that states that there must be a mechanical linkage between the steering control (i.e. wheel) and the wheels, this is also the same for the brakes too I believe.
I would imagine that until these regulations are changed then we won't be seeing any significant changes in car control for a while, but we have in the last few years started to see more and more semi-automatic cars come onto the market (those that have manual gears but don't require a clutch to change gear - like the paddle shift gears on some performance cars)
There will also be those few that won't want to change (kind of like those who don't want to change from a control column to a side stick for example).
"She Rolls, 45 knots, 90, 135, nose comes up to 20 degrees, she's airborne - She flies, Concorde Flies"
Erj-145mech From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 306 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (9 years 10 months 3 weeks 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 1377 times:
"I know how Airbus has a stick for pitch, yaw and roll. "
I didn't know that sticks also controlled yaw, I've only flown aircraft that the stick controlled pitch and roll, rudder pedals control yaw.
Mirrodie From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 7419 posts, RR: 65 Reply 6, posted (9 years 10 months 3 weeks 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 1357 times:
"in other words, those of you who know better than I."- Uh, thanks for the needless sarcasm Dave. Sorry for the mistake
Actually, the article was not talking about drive by wire. (To my knowledge, Volvo's began using a form of "drive by wire" in the S80 a few years ago.
So really, my question is whether or not we will truly see steering wheels replced in cars in the near future.
Forum moderator 2001-2010; He's a pedantic, pontificating, pretentious bastard, a belligerent old fart, a worthless st
FredT From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2002, 2184 posts, RR: 26 Reply 7, posted (9 years 10 months 3 weeks 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 1363 times:
In a sense it does right, since you are essentialy free of having to mess with the pedals most of the time? The stick is what you use to tell the aircraft to go where you want it to, the pedals are used to make it do it with style.
Yes, it is getting very close to philosophy.
Cheers,
Fred
I thought I was doing good trying to avoid those airport hotels... and look at me now.
FredT From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2002, 2184 posts, RR: 26 Reply 8, posted (9 years 10 months 3 weeks 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 1368 times:
On the question asked, I do not think we'll see a stick controlling the speed anytime soon. I for one would not like to hold the accelerator down/forward with my hand all the time. I like being able to move my hands about while hurtling down the freeway.
As for getting rid of the steering wheel, it'd be a huge safety improvement for starters. So, if they can make them robust enough for car use (which is rather less maintenance intense than aviation, to put it mildly) I think it will appear.
I could picture myself driving using a stick and "DBW" tech. It'd have to be linked with the speed of course. Full stick deflection must mean full steering when parking but it'd be rather jittery on the freeway.
Cheers,
Fred
I thought I was doing good trying to avoid those airport hotels... and look at me now.
Saintsman From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2002, 2065 posts, RR: 2 Reply 10, posted (9 years 10 months 3 weeks 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 1361 times:
It would make things easier for James Bond - the trigger for his machine guns would be at hand so to speak.
More seriously are there problems with left and right handed people? It could be a safer option too. No steering wheel to ram you in the chest in an accident. However it would need to be positioned so that both hands are in a position to hold it otherwise you would never be able to let go, even for a moment. That sort of position is not likely to be comfortable and would put too much strain on the hands and arms.
FredT From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2002, 2184 posts, RR: 26 Reply 11, posted (9 years 10 months 3 weeks 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 1355 times:
I was picturing a consolemounted stick. The airbag would be under the instruments, similar to how they're mounted on the passenger side. A lot safer in a crash.
Of course, that'd make it rather hard to drive with your outboard hand. A significant drawback. An aircraft style center stick would not be good either.
Left/righthandedness would not be a problem though. People are coping with shifting gears both in the civilised world and in the left-hand driving UK...
(Any threats by UK residents are to be mailed together with a bottle of good British ale in suitable protective packaging)
There are already normal wheel-controlled cars with variable steering ration depending on speed so I think it is a rather usable idea.
Cheers,
Fred
I thought I was doing good trying to avoid those airport hotels... and look at me now.
Il75 From Argentina, joined May 2001, 260 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (9 years 10 months 3 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 1264 times:
There are already concept cars with no steering wheel. These cars (rolling during development in the streets of Detroit -- GM's Hy-Wire-- and Turin -- Bertone's Novanta) have an electronic driving unit with two yokes that replace the wheel and all three pedals. No steering column no mechanical link between controls and engine/actuators. Completely drive-by-wire. In one of these cars the driving unit could be moved to any side of the car and you could even drive the car from the back seat!
The question is if people -- and the authorities -- are ready to accept driving a car with yokes and braking with a thumb.
But these cars are already a reality.
Make a search (Hy-wire and Bertone Novanta) for more details.
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Steering is not accomplished through steerable wheels in that case, though.
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