NSK Announces Centering Steering Wheel Control

NSK, one of the most globally renowned bearing manufacturers, has recently developed an electrical power steering (EPS) system equipped with Active On-Centering (steering wheel return) control.

The Japanese company notes that when the driver returns a steering wheel to a center position, the purpose of car movement or trajectory may be off due to a different direction between the car heading and steering operation.

If the steering wheel does not seamlessly return to the center position particularly when making a huge turn at an intersection and then moving straight forward, or when making small corrections when driving straight ahead, the driver should make repeated corrective actions or huge corrective operations.

Aiming to address this issue, NSK has modified the control for adjusting the optimal steering wheel return and changing assistant force. This helps inhibit the worsening of return trajectories—for instance, the wheel does not return to center position or irregular returning speed—because of variable amount of tire counterforce and mechanical friction, making it possible for the steering wheel to seamlessly return to the on-center position.