Naked Science Forum

General Science => General Science => Topic started by: Geezer on 22/09/2010 21:52:50

Title: How far should we turn the steering wheel?
Post by: Geezer on 22/09/2010 21:52:50
Another steering question:

When we are driving a car, how do we know what angle to put the steering at to go round the bend?  We seem to be able to do it automatically too, and yet there are no protractors or anything that tell us where the wheels are pointing and where they should be pointing.
Title: How far should we turn the steering wheel?
Post by: tommya300 on 23/09/2010 03:02:10
Another steering question:

When we are driving a car, how do we know what angle to put the steering at to go round the bend?  We seem to be able to do it automatically too, and yet there are no protractors or anything that tell us where the wheels are pointing and where they should be pointing.

Survival instinct in some people, seeing the edge of the road aproaching, adjusting speed before the turn in the attempt to avoid it, some would over correct and flip.
Some have  a profesional approach and try to angle the vehicle before entering the turn, then some freeze in a panic and over the clift is the next event.
Title: How far should we turn the steering wheel?
Post by: Don_1 on 23/09/2010 07:36:44
'Er indoors seems to have a spot of difficulty in this department, especially when parking. (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Fdoh%2F2.gif&hash=fef6931e562a6dc5fd0fd29a97202c70)
Title: How far should we turn the steering wheel?
Post by: Geezer on 23/09/2010 07:40:31
Erm, do you mean the "Domestic Authorities"?
Title: How far should we turn the steering wheel?
Post by: Don_1 on 23/09/2010 08:09:36
Yes indeed, aka 'She who must be obeyed'.
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ft1.gstatic.com%2Fimages%3Fq%3Dtbn%3AANd9GcSZmr9S3D0x-WN0qUcbiKd5fYwYPhTRKlUU4GAQ5N4OR5AL5Fg%26amp%3Bt%3D1%26amp%3Busg%3D__CMDWD7AAimIynEU6faYBQsremcI%3D&hash=e34a40cf69b70e19d325e2b28ad5fcdb)
Title: How far should we turn the steering wheel?
Post by: BenV on 23/09/2010 11:55:58
I found it odd going from a car without power steering to one that has, but you do seem to adapt very quickly.  I guess it's like this experiment. (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/content/kitchenscience/exp/motor-learning/)
Title: How far should we turn the steering wheel?
Post by: graham.d on 23/09/2010 12:01:51
It's just practice. It's rather the same as knowing how hard to push the brake pedal. Prior to servo assisted braking some cars needed a huge amount of downward pressure to stop them. The first time I drove a vehicle with power braking I nearly ejected myself through the windscreen. I think that today people would be shocked if they had to drive cars (at least big cars) that had not got power assisted braking.
Title: How far should we turn the steering wheel?
Post by: Geezer on 23/09/2010 20:09:12
It was quite impossible to turn the steering wheel on my Chevy Impaler station wagon when it was stopped and the engine was off. You certainly do need to learn the feel of the controls. Just try braking with your left foot and you'll find out what I mean.

I actually asked my dad this question when I was about ten. I think he gave me some vague answer along the lines of "well, you just do" or something, but it wasn't till years later when I was learning about control systems that I think I figured it out.

I think the driver really forms an essential part of a control loop. He/she integrates various feedback sources and uses that information to continuously adjust the steering angle. We become so used to doing it that we not even aware that we are. If you try to imagine what an automatic system would have to be like to do it with the same degree of precision, you realize what a neat trick it is.