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"Parking Mode Steering": Low-Speed Steering Ratio
Useful for when you want to: worm your way out from being almost boxed in by other vehicles while you were in the store; easily turn the tires into the curb while parking on a hill or the opposite when leaving; navigate extended reverse-gear obstacle courses such as the second half of an excursion into a dead-end winding trail or driveway, when you're all twisted around in the seat because mirrors don't cover it all; engage in multi-point, forward and reverse-gear maneuvering to get you out of the ditch or snowbank *especially* in the situations that require you to be both outside the car, pushing and in the car, steering, concurrently. Or when you simply have to cut the wheel back and forth a million times to get where you want to go to without running over all the baboons in the process. | |
A manual switch on the dashboard changes the power steering gear-ratio such that lock-to-lock is a quarter turn each way.
In order for this to not be simply an easy way to make a "modern automotive sculpture" out of the vehicle and surrounding environs:
- wheels must be straight before Parking
Mode is engaged or disengaged.
- can only be engaged at 3mph or less, and the car is governed not to exceed 3mph while in Parking Mode (forward or reverse)
- the vehicle may be turned off while Parking Mode is engaged and it will disengage automatically: the gearing changes back to normal and the steering wheel turns itself to the proper position given the orientation of the tires.
Variable Power Assist Steering
http://www.wipo.int...o.jsp?wo=1996022214
[Klaatu, May 27 2008]
Have button will park
http://www.cnn.com/...ius.reut/index.html
Not sure if it changes the "rack and pinion " ratios. [4whom, May 27 2008]
Another from the same factory, different marque
http://blogs.cars.c...ls_460_parking.html
Still no news as to if it changes ratios, but most of these supercars are drive by wire so I can imagine there is a "software" change. [4whom, May 27 2008]
BMW variable ratio steering
http://www.designne...ticle/CA330639.html
This goes back 5 years. It's probably even worse by now. [Ling, May 28 2008]
BMW 530i road test 2004
http://www.caranddr.../bmw_530i_road_test
Read and weep. [Ling, May 28 2008]
[link]
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I seem to recall us doing this idea before, though I can't find it. Task-specific steering does exist, so I don't know why this couldn't be implemented. |
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Is this so you don't have to turn the wheel as far when you're parking? If so, it wouldn't be much easier to push a button on the dash than to turn the wheel further. |
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In my car it would since it is something like 10 1/2 turns from lock to lock. However, it also lacks power steering, and the regular turns are exhausting as is. A quarter turn would probably be physically impossible. |
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So this would require power steering. |
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In any case I think I'd rather have variable manual steering (as described elsewhere) since the maneuvering for a parking spot often requires great speed and nimble turning even to reach the parking spot. Just for the actual parking itself would be too little. |
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Isn't this just VAPS with a lot of bells and whistles? <link> |
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[p] me too but i couldnt find it
[f] not all parking is that smooth, it's an option
[m] yes, power steering :D
[k] completely different, the other doesnt change the lock-to-lock
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Not sure how I missed that. |
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I might as well shoot myself in the head here, but ... Is this to make it possible for women to parallel park? |
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please keep your head still while I take aim! |
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I could just stand here while you try to park. |
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2 things I'm actually pretty good at, my little newbie friend. |
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anyway FT, what phoe said I'm sure we've done this one before. |
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car wheels that go sideways? see above |
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[po] can you find the phantom post ? I find myself occasionally confusing something I thought of (and forgotten that I've thought of), with potential previously-posteds |
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I'm open to alternative suggestions for the Title... anybody ? |
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Note this is *not* continuously variable steering ratio; an idea that I'm opposed to. |
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I believe BMW and probably Benz have a variable effect where the steering ratio changes according to speed. Although I have never tried it, I think this would be an ergonomic nightmare, and is a triumph of engineering over practicality. |
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I've noticed this several times with German Engineering (especially in industry). 'Over engineered' is an expression which comes to mind. |
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From my second link:
//Creepily, the active steering can automatically throw in a little countersteer (yes, without your command) should a strong crosswind begin nudging the car off your intended path. On a gusty highway drive, though, 20-mph crosswinds had their way with the 530i more than we expected. Our collective brain was never able to accurately anticipate how much turning would result from a given amount of steering angle. Ultimately, the steering system's unpredictability makes it feel artificial and a bit distant. Also, we had to make more steering corrections through a corner than we remember making in previous 5s.// |
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Maybe it's just a temporary ploy so the up'n'coming electronic guide rails will seem so much better, just like ABS was when people were wiping out from slamming their power brakes on in an emergency |
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you know... buy a motorcycle. it's always a quarter turn. |
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The new title threw me, I thought this was a new rebake post, it seems there's a lot of them these days. |
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...although it would be possible to build a motorbike with 'geared' steering... |
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//new title threw me//
well... i still can't come up with a descriptive catchphrase: "'getting yourself unwedged' steering ratio" doesn't roll off the tongue very well. |
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//motorbike//
for low-riders ? |
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In essence it is a switchable quicksteer unit. Often found on speedway cars, it allows about 3/4 of a turn lock to lock (3/8 from centre to lock). |
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What you are suggesting could be achieved by making a dual ratio (I haven't seen one yet) quicksteer. With straight through being normal, and going through the gears results in a 1:5 ratio (or so). |
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[BLSTIC] yup, I had envisioned changing the main gear, but a supplementary gear in the column would work just as well for what I had in mind. (More assisting power needed of course) |
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Kind of down a side road, here - but what about hooking up a joystick for these interesting situations? You might also be able to unplug it, move out to the back (or front) of the vehicle, plug in, and be able to push, steer, and shoo baboons all at once. |
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