Recent Developments in the Vehicle Steer-by-Wire System

The next generation of steering systems in the auto manufacturing industry would be steer-by-wire (SBW) in which the mechanical connection between vehicle steering wheel and tires is removed. Numerous advantages are envisaged for this modification, but there are still some under-research technical and safety-related challenges to be addressed. This article presents a thorough review on the history of vehicle steering systems first. The structure and components of the cutting edge technology SBW system are subsequently described with the advantages and disadvantages discussed in detail. The main challenges of this system, including the required motor drives equipped with advanced controllers and reliability concerns, are studied and proposed solutions presented in the literate are reviewed. Finally, a projection of the future of steering systems considering driverless vehicles with integrated steering and traction systems is briefly presented.