Electric power steering supplier Nexteer Automotive says it will allow vehicle manufacturers to create custom steering calibrations to suit different local market requirements.
The company’s ride and handling team as well as in-house software engineers have provided the first customers with electric power steering (EPS) systems tuned to provide certain markets with different levels of feel and feedback.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
“The perceived quality of a vehicle’s steering by drivers in key markets is a critical part of any global vehicle platform’s commercial success,” said Nexteer president and COO, Laurent Bresson.
“Drivers in some markets, such as the UK, expect higher levels of road-feedback than drivers in other markets. Nexteer’s mechanical design and the strength of our in-house software expertise is making it viable for manufacturers to commission custom steering set-ups for some markets.”
A vehicle’s steering feel is influenced by a range of parameters, including suspension geometry, tyre and bushing stiffness, spring rates and mass distribution, but the quality of the EPS system is critical.
Nexteer says the basis for good steering feel is a mechanical system with low levels of inertia and friction, combined with a high-resolution steering sensor and a smooth assist motor.
With intelligent control algorithms and ride and handling engineers tuning the software, it is then possible to create custom set-ups that meet both global brand characteristics and local market requirements, notes the supplier.
“Designing the complete system and developing the software entirely in-house gives Nexteer precise control of all the variables, allowing us to calibrate the steering more quickly,” said Nexteer EPS technology manager, Bertram Moeller.
“Using our own software, a custom set-up for a specific local market can be very fast. Much of the driver’s perception of the vehicle’s behaviour and the road’s surface is communicated through the steering system, so the effect on the finished vehicle can be significant, helping to ensure a successful model launch and higher levels of customer satisfaction.”
Nexteer developed the algorithms in its control software in-house to provide the necessary range of control and operational strength for all its EPS systems, whether the application is a large off-road SUV or small city car.
While the algorithms define the system’s functionality, the calibration determines the actual timings and levels of the key system outputs, such as damping levels and filtration of unwanted vibration.
“Our development process begins by creating the necessary mechanical properties in the system to ensure no unwanted vibrations can interfere with the system’s response,” said Moeller.
“The mechanical tuning is defined early in the programme, when interfaces, bearings and the mechanical links that determine the system’s friction levels are all specified.
The subjective tuning of the vehicle’s steering feel then takes place behind the wheel with a laptop.”
Nexteer says it was the first company to introduce EPS for volume applications in 1999.
