Volvo FH tractor offers dynamic steering option
Page 8
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
DESPITE CLAIMING its new FH tractor, which goes into production next month, already has handling and steering approaching that of a modern car, Volvo Trucks has now revealed a new steering system that promises to be even better.
Dubbed Volvo Dynamic Steering, it entails the addition of an electric motor sitting on top of the usual hydraulic steering pump. One end of the motor's shaft is connected to the steering pump, the other to the normal steering column, so the motor serves as an extra link in the chain, delivering up to 25Nm of torque steering input.
Working in conjunction with the hydraulic pump, it is claimed to give several benefits. First, there is straightforward power assistance, reducing the driver's physical input. Second, sensors that compare steering input and feedback 2,000 times a second are controlling the motor's output so that it serves as a buffer, damping out kick-backs through the steering felt by the driver. This is claimed to make driving on rough roads easier, as the motor is handling the continuous minor corrections normally made by the driver.