Looking back on steering systems in more than a hundred years
that have passed since the introduction of the automobile, it can
be seen that original method of controlling cars pulled by animals
such as horses was by reins, and early automobiles had a single
push-pull bar (tiller steering). That became the steering wheel,
and an indirect steering mechanism by rotating up and down caught
on.
While the steering wheel is the main type of steering system in
use today, the team have developed the Twin Lever Steering (TLS)
system controlled mainly by bi-articular muscles, making use of
advancements in science and technology and bioengineering to
develop based on bioengineering considerations as shown in Fig. 1.
The objective of that is to establish the ultimate steering
operation system for drivers.
In the first report, the authors reported on results found by
using race-car prototypes as shown in Fig. 2. Advantages in terms
of bioengineering are (1) force can be exerted more easily, (2)
steering can be accomplished quickly, (3) positioning can be done
accurately, and (4) burden on the driver can be reduced (less
fatigue). Advantages in terms of vehicle motion are (1)
line-traceability is improved and (2) lap time is improved and
steering layout is safe.
Herein, creating a TLS system using prototype vehicles based on
those on the market and verification test results will further be
reported.
