Abstract: A fluid-dynamic actuator having a detection system for determining the position of a piston along its path of travel within a cylinder. The piston includes a head and rod extending therefrom. First grooves are machined on respective sections of the rod. Projections of the first grooves onto a first plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rod define segments arranged obliquely with respect to the axis. Second grooves extend along the axis for predetermined lengths such that a respective number of second grooves run across each section. Optical sensors detect the presence of second grooves through a second plane transverse to the axis and a displacement of segments along a line coplanar with the second plane due to movement of the piston. A processor counts detected second grooves to determine the position of the piston as a function of the count of second grooves and the displacement of segments.

Abstract: A steering column, in which a steering wheel is connected to a jointed shaft extending through a steering tube, a first telescopic portion of which, arranged at the lower part thereof, presents a lower end anchorable to a support, and a second portion of which, arranged at the upper part thereof, is coupled to the first portion to rotate about a joint axis; and in which a control member is movable towards an operative position to disengage, against the bias of a spring, a pin element from one of a series of holes obtained on a sector integral with one of the two positions of the steering tube to adjust the angular position of the steering wheel about the joint axis.