With steer-by-wire, suspension and steering systems are no longer governed by purely mechanical criteria but must instead be designed according to mechatronic considerations.
However, if the axle impacts violently its bump stops, the reaction forces in the joints can be much higher; contrary to one's intuition, these forces are larger for steering systems with reduced or no bump steer.
Electric steering replaces the hydraulics used on conventional power steering systems with a simple electric motor, a necessary component of steer-by-wire.
Mrs Patten said: "Crucially, the two steering systems were the complete opposite of one another.
Others stand at computers, guiding machines that press together components for cars' steering systems.
Like most electric steering systems, however, it doesn't convey much road feel to the driver.
Adaptive steering systems will let the controls be adjusted to suit the physical abilities of the driver.
Today, Mr. Zetsche and others listed a number of areas for greater sharing: electronic controls from seat warmers to monitoring systems, rear axles, transmissions and steering systems.
The FIA subsequently banned four-wheel steering systems and later, possibly fearing some automotive equivalent of the millipede, stipulated that cars must have four wheels.
While the electric steering is not as crisp and connected-feeling as the steering systems in the best European sedans, it is predictable and generally unobjectionable.
Crossovers also have suspensions and steering systems much like those of cars, compared with the rugged, often less sophisticated, systems of trucks.
