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NEWS
Infiniti to adopt steer-by-wire tech
Premium Japanese brand set to ditch conventional mechanical steering in favour of high-tech new electronic systemNissan’s premium Infiniti brand has announced it will replace conventional mechanical steering with steer-by-wire technology – “independent control steering technology” in Infiniti-speak – on some of its 2013 models.
The move is expected to be a precursor to the full Infiniti range making the transition to the new tech in due course.
Rather than the conventional steering arrangement, whereby a long shaft connected to a gear at the front of the car turns the wheels left and right, the Infiniti steer-by-wire system electronically transmits steering wheel inputs to the front wheels – eliminating the mechanical link between the two. The company says the pioneering system employs multiple electronic control units, and should the primary ECU malfunction, another one takes over.
According to the manufacturer’s press release: “In extreme circumstances such as the power supply being disrupted, the backup clutch will act to connect the steering wheel and wheels mechanically.”
The system should boost efficiency and accuracy, but it remains to be seen whether the Infiniti lab coats succeed in imbuing the steering wheel with the feel that comes with conventional mechanical systems – particularly hydraulically (rather than electrically) assisted steering. The Infiniti technology also uses a camera-based straight-line stability system to help keep the car centred in the lane, superseding the lane-departure warning systems that are offered in many current cars.
Touting the benefits of the steer-by-wire system, Infiniti claims it “increases the direct driving performance feel by quickly and intelligently communicating road surface feedback to the driver.”
The manufacturer also claims the system “insulates the vehicle from unnecessary road-generated disturbances to deliver only the necessary performance feel to the driver.”
“By reducing the frequency of detailed steering input adjustments, which are a cause of fatigue on long drives, the driver’s workload is greatly reduced,” the company adds.
Infiniti hasn’t revealed which cars will get steer-by-wire first, only that it will happen “on select Infiniti models on sale within one year” – a milestone of sorts as it would be the first wide-scale implementation of steer-by-wire.
– with staff
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Written byGautam Sharma
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