Automotive IQ spoke with Praful Bari, Head of Application Engineering Steering, Americas at ZF Group, to discuss advancements in steering technology impacting environmental sustainability, safety and driver health and technological integration, and the latest developments on regulatory compliances.
Environmental Impact
Q: How do advancements in steering technology contribute to reducing global greenhouse gas emissions in the commercial vehicle sector?
Within the commercial vehicle sector, greenhouse gas emissions are primarily driven by vehicle fuel efficiency. A significant overall contributor to lower efficiency is the traditional hydraulic steering system found in heavy vehicles due to the continuously operating hydraulic pump directly powered by the engine. Since the steering system requires the most power at low speeds, the hydraulic pump wastes much of the power drawn from the engine at higher speeds when very little power is required for steering. New steering technologies such as EPS (Electric Power Steering) and SbW (Steer-by-Wire) offer much greater operational efficiency thus lower fuel consumption by only drawing electric power as needed by the current steering demand. The hydraulic system can also be eliminated, saving considerable weight and greatly reducing maintenance costs, both of which can contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Q: Can you discuss specific steering system innovations that are designed to improve fuel efficiency in heavy-duty trucks worldwide?
Steer-by-Wire is a relatively new innovation in the heavy-duty truck market specifically designed to improve fuel efficiency, standardize the design between different vehicles, adaptive steering, NVH and packaging advantages. This is accomplished by eliminating the mechanical linkage between the steering wheel and the front wheels, reducing weight while improving overall vehicle efficiency. Removal of the traditional hydraulic steering system saves additional weight, and similar to EPS, power consumption of the SbW system is limited to the minimum required for current steering demand, leaving maximum power available to the engine. EPS is another example which uses a similar approach of replacing hydraulic with electric power, albeit retaining the mechanical steering linkage as a failover safety system.
Safety and Driver Health
Q: In what ways are emerging steering technologies aimed at reducing driver fatigue poised to improve road safety globally?
Modern Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) include new steering technologies such as Adaptive Steering, Lane Departure Warning (LDW), and Lane Keep Assist (LKA). These are designed to reduce the overall driver workload, allowing the driver to focus on essential tasks. The ReAX torque overlay system is another steering technology which provides an electronic torque assist so the vehicle can be steered with less physical effort. This is especially important for commercial vehicles which require greater steering effort and are driven greater distances. LDW and LKA can ease the cognitive burden on the driver via a tactile/audible alert or maintaining vehicle position within a lane. These systems are also capable of detecting driver fatigue based on steering inputs (i.e., “wandering”) and providing early warning, allowing the driver to potentially prevent a hazardous situation for not only themselves but other motorists.
Q: How might newer steering mechanisms enhance driver comfort and prevent long-term health issues associated with driving commercial vehicles on an international scale?
Modern active steering technologies such as ReAX, EPS, and SbW have the capability to adjust steering effort exerted by the driver to turn the steering wheel. Furthermore, both Adaptive Steering and SbW can change steering wheel movement based on vehicle speed. Together, these technologies can deliver a very light steering feel and greatly reduce the overall upper body motion experienced while driving commercial vehicles, which in turn can reduce musculoskeletal issues in the back, shoulders, and arms. Ergonomic steering wheels can add further to driver comfort and help prevent repetitive strain injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
A remarkable level of customization for the individual driver can be achieved using these technologies, offering a personalized driving environment for every driver. This ability to consistently improve the commercial vehicle driving experience on an international scale can potentially yield significant benefits in long-term driver health.
Regulatory Compliance
Q: With global regulations increasingly focusing on vehicle emissions and safety, how are steering systems being designed to meet these stringent standards?
The design process used for modern steering systems incorporates current and potential future regulations in order to ensure global standards are met or exceeded. There has always been an emphasis on safety within the commercial vehicle industry, which has been heightened with the introduction of ADAS in general. Redundancy and fail-safe design principles are key features of this approach, combined with maximizing efficiency at every point during the design process. This attitude is reflected in modern steering design and testing processes that not only focus on emissions and safety but can also improve the perception of trust in these systems within the general public. The way the media and general public view these new systems can dramatically impact the politicians who draft such regulations. Thus, a robust design process can help ensure stringent regulations are met while mitigating the impact of future standards.
Furthermore, some safety regulations have specific steering requirements that must be clearly met, and the only practical way to achieve this requirement is to design new steering systems in accordance with all known and anticipated regulations from the outset of the design process.
Q: What role do steering technologies play in helping fleet operators worldwide comply with various international efficiency and emissions regulations?
Fleet operators are well positioned to reap the greatest benefits from modern steering technologies due to the scale of their operations, particularly in regards to vehicle efficiency and emissions. Since even a small increase in fuel efficiency for a single vehicle can result in a significant reduction in fleet-wide emissions, modern steering technologies are an essential part of a fleet operator’s ability to comply with international emissions and efficiency regulations.
Modern steering technologies such as EPS and SbW offer power savings during continued operation, which can result in improved fuel economy. These technologies also ensure compliance with regulations from large regulatory agencies such as the European Union and the EPA in the US.
Technological Integration and Impact
Q: How is the integration of steering technologies with other vehicle systems expected to reshape the commercial driving experience globally?
The impact of modern steering technologies on commercial vehicle driving has already caused significant changes, as evidenced by the integration of AI camera and radar systems with new steering technologies in current ADAS offerings such as LDA and LKA. Further reshaping of the driving experience will result from the implementation of other active steering technologies such as EPS and SbW which can provide an individualized driver steering response or “feel” heretofore unthinkable. Safety has always at been at the forefront within the automotive industry in general and particularly for commercial vehicles, and this shared belief during integration of complex new steering technologies & other vehicle systems will yield a continuous improvement in the driver experience worldwide.
The ground-breaking revolution on the horizon for the commercial driving experience is L5 fully autonomous driving. True L5 self-driving capability can only be achieved through the application of AI to vehicle environment sensor data from Cameras, Radar, Lidar, InfraRed, Ultrasonic, etc., fully integrated with total vehicle control ability through modern active systems for braking, engine, transmission, and steering.
Many ADAS options on today’s commercial vehicles already perform some of these functions, such as Automatic Emergency Braking and Adaptive Cruise Control. However, the path to a safe and profitable complete self-driving system remains obscured for the time being.
Q: What are the potential societal benefits of adopting advanced steering technologies in terms of urban planning and transportation efficiency across different countries?
The adoption of advanced steering technologies in isolation will provide little benefit - they can only achieve their true potential in intimate coordination with other systems such as ADAS or AI. This end result could transform urban planning to utilize the possibilities offered by these systems - far greater safety, efficiency, reduced pollution.