Volvo patents system to shift steering wheel left-to-right

Volvo not long ago utilized for a patent for a somewhat fascinating technologies – a steering wheel that can shift from the still left to the proper aspect of a automobile and again. The Swedish automaker applied by-wire technologies to produce a program that allows users to slide the steering wheel, instrument cluster and several switches from a single aspect of the cabin to the other.

This creation alterations the incredibly strategy of what just is the driver’s seat.

Posted in September 2020, the patent describes a “automobile acquiring many driving positions” applying a steering wheel mounted on a rail that extends throughout the width of the cabin. This implies that the driver can sit on the still left aspect of the car, as in most nations, or on the proper aspect, as in Australia, England and Japan, amongst other individuals. People who want to could even pick out to sit in the middle.

Volvo extra that a sliding steering wheel could also imply users can love additional house when touring in a car with semi-autonomous driving features. For example, if you are stuck in targeted traffic, you could get off the wheel and examine a ebook whilst the navigation is carried out by itself.

Uncover Shopicar! All new makes and types and all present promotions.

Patent for sliding steering wheel, fig. 1

Patent for sliding steering wheel, fig. 2

Patent for sliding steering wheel, fig. two

Steer-by-wire technologies is not actually new. Infiniti, Nissan’s luxury division, has been applying it for several decades with its Q50 sedan. The phrase “steer-by-wire” is applied to describe the program for managing the steering.

In order for this technologies to operate, all automobile controls would have to be replaced with electrically controlled (by-wire) components. Brake-by-wire technologies is itself step by step getting acceptance in the automotive market, whilst digital acceleration is previously commonplace. The electronic dashboard and the various pedals could simply just slide together with the steering wheel.

What about pedals, you check with? Volvo states they could be replaced with stress-delicate bearings, hydraulic or pneumatic sensors or some other program. In all situations, they would be put in in both front foot wells, and the program would instantly activate the kinds on the aspect in which the steering wheel is positioned.

This is nowhere near actuality at the moment and appears outlandishly futuristic, but it could happen quicker than we assume. And when it does, we might have to halt referring to our individual transportation equipment as cars and get started taking them for personal computers on wheels. We’re a excellent section of the way there previously.

From a strictly professional position of check out, the idea of building a car that can be pushed from both still left and proper has very long been an desirable a single for automakers, particularly when it arrives to manufacturing proper-hand-push types in proper-hand-push marketplaces. Back again in the working day, Mini correctly positioned its key dial in the middle to lower generation fees. BMW took up the system with the modern-day model of the product.