Automotive Technology
Automotive Technology
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Steering Gear: Past, Present and Future
The steering gear plays a central role in the "car system". By converting the rotary motion of the steering wheel into the steering motion of the wheels, it enables precise and reliable vehicle control. Today's steering gears offer additional functions such as variable steering ratios and assistance systems. In the car of tomorrow, steering gears from thyssenkrupp Presta Steering will make autonomous driving possible.
The purpose of steering gears is to transmit the rotational movement of the steering wheel through the tie rods to the front wheels of the vehicle. They have evolved considerably over the course of time. The early cars of the 19th century had only rudimentary steering mechanisms. The first steam carriages and motor cars generally had only steering levers or simple tie rods, which were not very precise and required a lot of effort.
History of Steering Gear: From the Primitive Steering Lever to Electric Power Steering
A significant advance in steering technology was the invention of the rack-and-pinion steering gear. This steering gear was developed in the late 19th century and enabled more direct and precise steering. It consisted of a small cogwheel (pinion) that moved along a rack. This translated the rotary motion of the steering wheel into a linear motion that turned the wheels.
With the increasing popularity of automobiles in the early 20th century, the need for improved steering systems also grew accordingly. The introduction of the hydraulic steering gear in the 1950s was a milestone. These systems used hydraulic fluid to amplify the steering force, making steering much easier, especially at low speeds. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the development of electric power steering (EPS) systems began to replace hydraulic systems. These systems use electric motors to assist the steering, which led to a further reduction in effort. EPS systems offer several advantages. These include better energy efficiency, as they only consume power when needed, and the ability to combine with other electronic driver assistance systems.
Today, steering gears are sophisticated systems that are integrated into modern driver assistance systems and (partially) automated driving vehicles. Technologies such as "steer-by-wire" replace the conventional mechanical steering system with an electronic control system. A sensor on the vehicle's steering wheel registers the steering commands and transmits them precisely to the rack-and-pinion actuator/track rods. This enables more precise steering, opens up new possibilities for vehicle design and increases safety.
thyssenkrupp Steering: Benchmark in the Field of Innovative Steering Systems
thyssenkrupp Presta Steering has played a major role in the further development of steering gears. With more than 60 years of history, thyssenkrupp's steering division has become a leader in advanced steering systems. "Our customers and non-customers see our steering gears as a benchmark because of our high level of technical product understanding, in particular our deep added value - both in mechanics and in electronics and software," reports Sascha Singer, CEO Steering Gear Division at thyssenkrupp Presta Steering. "For example, we develop the software entirely in-house. We manufacture key mechanical components in-house, such as the ball screw drive. This gives us a deep understanding of the system and also opens up various tuning and adaptation options to meet customer-specific requirements, such as the vehicle-specific driving feel."
The development of customized solutions at thyssenkrupp Presta Steering is characterized by a particularly close cooperation with automotive manufacturers. The development cycle at thyssenkrupp Steering spans several years and includes various phases from concept development to prototype production and series production.
thyssenkrupp Steering Creates the Steering Gears of the Future
Megatrends such as automation and digitalization have fundamentally revolutionized steering technology. Today's steering systems no longer consist solely of mechanical parts but integrate numerous electronic controls and software. Sensors and actuators play a central role in dynamically adapting the steering to the respective driving situation. This digitalization also enables the integration of driver assistance systems and is a basic requirement for autonomous driving.
The developers at thyssenkrupp Presta Steering are already working on the steering systems of tomorrow. "The focus is on increasing safety through redundant systems, increasing comfort through adaptive steering technologies and increasing efficiency through innovative material and production technologies," explains Sascha Singer. "Sustainability will also play a central role through the increasing integration of environmentally friendly materials and energy-efficient solutions."
Autonomous Driving? Not Without a Networked steering gear!
For autonomous driving, thyssenkrupp Steering has introduced numerous innovations and technologies in the field of steering systems. "These include high-precision electric power steering systems (EPS), redundant system architectures to increase reliability and intelligent software solutions that enable adaptive control of the vehicle," says Sascha Singer.
Autonomous driving presents both challenges and opportunities for the automotive industry. "One of the biggest challenges is to continue to guarantee the reliability and safety of steering systems," the steering specialist is convinced. After all, there are enormous opportunities in the further development of technologies that can further improve the comfort, efficiency and sustainability of autonomous driving.
