How important is the steer-by-wire technology to the future of autonomous vehicles? The world’s two largest steering system suppliers hold the opposite view.
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The two sides of the "Debate" are Toyota's JTEKT and Japan's NSK, which are the world's number one steering system supplier and the third-ranked electric steering system supplier.
JTEKT believes that in order to achieve autonomous driving, the steer-by-wire system will replace the current electric steering system, which cannot be avoided. NSK believes that the wire-steering technology is too expensive, and today's electric steering system can fully meet the needs of autonomous vehicles.
The two Japanese rivals' controversy is actually focused on one question: When the turn is beyond the control of the driver, the era of "wire control" will come.
The steer-by-wire system converts the steering wheel into an electrical signal that is then transmitted to the electric motor that controls the wheel. Proponents believe that the steer-by-wire system is a natural extension of the Brake-by-wire and Throttle-by-wire systems.
This system eliminates the need for a large steering column that is required in conventional steering technology, thereby reducing costs, improving steering accuracy, and creating more possibilities for flexible design.
Agata: optimistic about the steering system
The application of wire-steering technology has been rather slow because people can't trust whether such an important operation can be handed over to a computer. At the same time, because the technology is not yet mature, redundant systems used to ensure safety also increase the complexity and cost of the vehicle.
Despite this, JTEKT President Tetsuo Agata is still optimistic about the technology and said it is "essential" in future car design. Agata said in July this year that JTEKT has begun to develop wire-controlled steering technology. “We are researching wire-steering technology, which is important for autopilot systems and can even be said to be necessary.†Agata told Automotive News, “Now we are developing a wire-steering steering system. â€
As the other side of the debate, NSK's top executives have no interest in the wire-steering system, but instead develop the system based on the current electric steering technology.
Due to the large scale, the views of both companies have an important impact on the future development. According to IHS Automotive, JTEKT, which is 22.5% owned by Toyota Motor Corp., is the world's number one supplier of power steering systems and the world's largest supplier of steering systems. NSK is the world's third-largest supplier of electric steering systems and the fifth-ranking steering system supplier.
Today, the Infiniti Q50 sedan has adopted a drive-by-wire system, and other car manufacturers are exploring similar possibilities. Infiniti's remote-controlled driving system was developed in-house by Nissan Motor Co., the parent company of the company.
In the early days of the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show, Honda Motor Co. presented the prototype of its line-controlled steering system to the reporters present.
Infiniti's system has three mutually supported electronic control units to ensure that the system works properly when a unit fails. Even if any problems occur, the vehicle's fault-safety function can re-establish the backup mechanical connection.
Automatic steering
This gives skeptics enough reason to question the limitations of the wire control system.
“Even with a steer-by-wire system, they still have to have a mechanical system just in case,†NSK CEO Toshihiro Uchiyama said in a media event, “unless there is a new change in safety requirements, or a steer-by-wire turn. The reliability of the system has been greatly improved."
He said that if the existing technology can achieve similar results, then there is no need to spend a lot of money to change.
NSK engineers described the "automation" turn in their mouths.
“We believe that steer-by-wire steering does not meet the needs of autonomous driving. Our electric-assisted mechanical systems are more reliable and have a better steering feel.â€
Toshihiro Uchiyama
CEO of NSK
NSK engineers use a number of sensors and software that are compatible with existing electric steering systems to control steering assistance. The application of these functions is common and is generally used to assist the car in automatically centering on crowded sections or correcting oversteer without the driver's attention.
NSK hopes to move its electric steering system from the steering column to a position closer to the wheel. These mechanical gear or rack steering systems are more suitable for larger cars that are more popular in the US and other markets.
“We don’t think wire-steering can meet the needs of autonomous driving,†Uchiyama said. “Our electric-assisted mechanical system is more reliable and has a better steering feel.â€
Advantages and disadvantages
Some analysts agree with NSK's point of view. At the very least, the extra cost of redundant security systems has greatly hindered the application of wire-steering technology.
Eric Fedewa, head of IHS's supplier business unit, said that depending on the self-driving car being tested, we don't have to remove the metal steering column.
Some mid-term projects have also shown that self-driving cars have not yet left the altar. IHS predicts that sales of self-driving cars will not begin until 2020.
But those who support wire-steering technology believe that this technology will go hand in hand with a variety of autopilot functions.
They believe that the market's respect for lighter, more energy-efficient cars is one of the reasons. Although abandoning the traditional steering column, the company needed to install a third computer chip system to ensure the normal operation of the fault-safe system. But it does reduce the critical pounds for the car, and it also gives the designer space to increase the unique in-vehicle connectivity of autonomous vehicles.
In the end, the entire driving experience will be smoother as the driver can no longer feel the bumps on the road from the steering column.
Although there is a negative voice, JTEKT's Agata is still optimistic about the wire-controlled steering technology.
“The jet has adopted a steer-by-wire system,†he said. “The speed of the autopilot system is accelerating. If we have the ability to get rid of the mechanical connection between the steering wheels, we can have more in the car design. The future , wire control technology will become a basic configuration."
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