UN-STOW ASSIST MECHANISM

摘要

Vehicles may be provided with an autonomous driving system diat may control various vehicle movements or maneuvers. An autonomous driving system may have a steering wheel that may be retracted into an instrument panel or dashboard. An actuator may be disposed on at least one of the vehicle structure, the lower jacket, or the upper jacket. The actuator is configured to assist movement of the upper jacket and the steering wheel along the steering column axis between a stowed position (retracted position) and an un-stowed position (extended position), or vice versa. The stowed position, as shown in FIG. 1, may be a position in which the steering wheel may be retracted into or disposed proximate the vehicle structure. The un-stowed position may be a position in which the steering wheel is extended and is in a ready for driving position. The actuator may be an electric actuator, a hydraulic actuator, a pneumatic actuator, an eiectromeclianical actuator, or combination thereof.