Automotive industry analysts in Europe and North America predict that higher adoption of electric power steering (EPS), steer-by-wire (SbW) and rear-axle steering / all-wheel-steering (AWS) will be some of the biggest drivers in the fast-evolving automotive steering systems vertical. For the period 2017-2020, a compounded annual growth rate of 8-10 % is predicted for the global steering systems market, which will see major developments coming in due to new requirements specified by electric vehicles and partially/fully autonomous vehicles. Here, we take a look at some technologies that we believe will drive development in the automotive steering systems space over the next few years.
ELECTRIC POWER STEERING
Over the last few years, OEMs have increasingly moved from hydraulic to electric power steering systems, in the interests of reduced cost and complexity, and increased efficiency. Hydraulic systems use a pump that’s powered by the car’s engine, with a control valve varying the amount of pressure (depending on steering input and vehicle speed) generated by the pump. Hydraulics are pretty well suited to amplifying steering effort, hence making it easier for the driver to manoeuvre the vehicle in heavy traffic, at slow speeds, or while parking the vehicle. Tuned properly, hydraulic systems a capable of providing optimum ‘feel’ and steering feedback, but they do sap some amount of power from the engine and can hurt performance as well as fuel economy.
To overcome the disadvantages of hydraulic systems, OEMs have now increasingly started moving to electric power steering systems, which use electric motors rather than a hydraulic pump to provide steering assistance. Electronic sensors calculate the amount of steering force being applied by the driver and using electric motors (that may be placed on the steering rack or the steering column), that force is amplified to make steering easier. Most EPS systems are speed-sensitive, providing more assistance at lower speeds for easier maneuver ability, and scaled-back assistance at higher speeds, for better stability.
Another major advantage offered by electric power assist systems is full compatibility with ‘driving modes’ that are increasingly being offered by OEMs, across all vehicle segments. So, for example, EPS systems can provide gentler steering response in ‘Comfort’ mode and sharper, more aggressive response in ‘Sports’ mode – something that would be difficult to achieve with older hydraulic based systems.
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