Simulation and Experimental Study of Selected Parameters of the Multifunction Steering Wheel in the View of Users’ Abilities and Accuracy of Vehicle Maneuvers

摘要

Individual adjustment of the controls, that are part of the driver interface, for people with different levels of disability requires a specific design approach. Individualization in this respect may result in a larger group of people being able to control the car. The subject of the analysis is a multifunction steering wheel designed for people with paresis of the lower motor system. It is designed to let the driver steer the car and perform the key control functions with the use of the upper limbs only. The designers did their best to make sure that driving the car is as intuitive as possible. The design of the steering wheel is heavily parameterized, i.e. a number of its parameters can be adjusted. Among them is the ratio between the turning angle of the steering wheel and the angle of the front wheels. This feature has been subject to examination in dynamic simulators and simulation studies during special tests.