Abstract: A cockpit is supported by a motion base in a state of being capable of making swinging movement. A host computer calculate vehicle motion information in accordance with operation of various operation equipments performed by a driver accommodated in the cockpit. A simulation image is formed, the cockpit is controlled for swinging movement, and various meters or the like in the cockpit are controlled on the basis of an obtained result of the calculation. Thus, the drive simulation is carried out in a state approximate to that of a real vehicle.

Abstract: In a method for controlling a front and rear wheel steering system in which front wheels of a vehicle are steered according to a combination of a steering wheel input and an output from a compensatory front wheel steering actuator, and rear wheels of the vehicle are steered by a rear wheel steering actuator. The front wheel steering angle is augmented according to the deviation of the actual yaw rate from a target yaw rate computed from the travelling speed of the vehicle and the steering input from the steering wheel to compensate for the delay in the yaw rate response so that the rear end of the vehicle would not be swung sideways during a turning maneuver, and the vehicle operator would not be subjected to any unfamiliar feeling.

Abstract: In a "steer-by-wire" vehicle steering control system which steers steerable wheels with a powered actuator according to an input signal obtained from a sensor associated with a steering wheel, a secondary actuator is coupled to the steering wheel for the purpose of giving the operator of the vehicle a reaction force. The reaction force on the steering wheel not only gives a familiar sensation to the vehicle operator who is more familiar with a vehicle equipped with more conventional steering system, but also improves the driveability and stability of the vehicle since the reaction force provides information on the condition of the vehicle which aids the vehicle operator in making proper and accurate steering maneuvers.

Abstract: In a "steer-by-wire" vehicle steering control system which steers steerable wheels with a powered actuator according to an input signal obtained from a sensor associated with a steering wheel, to the end of achieving an optimum vehicle response to a steering input, a compensatory transfer function is introduced between the steering wheel and the powered steering actuator. The compensatory transfer function can be obtained by suitable manipulation of the transfer functions of the hardware involved and a desired overall transfer function. The frequency domain compensatory transfer function is transformed into a time-domain input-output relationship, and the steering mechanism is actuated accordingly as a real time operation. By suitable selection of the desired overall transfer function, it is possible to achieve a vehicle response both stable and favorable.

Abstract: In a "steer-by-wire" vehicle steering control system which steers steerable wheels with a powered actuator according to an input signal obtained from a sensor associated with a steering wheel, a secondary actuator is coupled to the steering wheel for the purpose of giving the operator of the vehicle a reaction force. The reaction force on the steering wheel is sharply increased or oscillated when a limit of the angular displacement of the steering wheel has been reached for the purpose of allowing the vehicle operator to know how far the steering wheel has been turned. The limit of the angular displacement of the steering wheel typically corresponds to the maximally steered condition of the steerable wheels.

Abstract: A system for correctively controlling the turning movement of a vehicle, including a device for correcting the turning movement of the vehicle, a sensor for detecting the steering angle of a steering wheel of the vehicle, a steering angle hysteresis storage device for storing the hysteresis of the steering angle, and a reference value arithmetic device for determining a reference value of a physical quantity generated during a turning movement of the vehicle, on the basis of the hysteresis of the steering angle. The system also includes a detector for detecting an actual value of the physical quantity during the turning movement, a calculator for determining a deviation between the reference value and actual value of the physical quantity and a polarity of the deviation, and a control-quantity determining device for determining a control-quantity for the turning movement correcting device on the basis of the deviation obtained in the calculator.

Abstract: A steering angle detecting device employs an analog sensor and a digital sensor to detect a displacement of a component which is displaceable depending on a change in a steering angle in a steering apparatus.

Abstract: A steering system for a vehicle includes a steering mechanism mechanically separated form a steering handle and having a motor for steering road wheels, a steering detector for detecting a steering operation of the handle, a steered angle sensor for detecting steered angles of the road wheels, and a control circuit mechanism for driving the motor to thereby steer the road wheels in response to detected signals from the steering detector and steered angle sensor. The steered angle sensor comprises a measuring member which makes rotational movements in proportion to the steered angles of the road wheels and occupies a constant space relative to the vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus for steering the front and rear wheels of a motor vehicle includes a front wheel steering mechanism for steering the front wheels in response to operation of a steering wheel, a rear wheel steering mechanism for steering the rear wheels at least in the same direction as the direction in which the front wheels are steered, and a connector shaft mechanically interconnecting the front and rear wheel steering mechanisms. A rotation control mechanism employing a viscous fluid is mounted on the connector shaft for applying a resistive force dependent on the speed of rotation of the steering wheel to the connector shaft.

Abstract: A steering gear box mount includes a resilient member interposed between a motor vehicle body and a steering gear box for allowing movement of the steering gear box. The mount also has a structure for limiting allowed movement of the steering gear box. The structure includes a mechanism for selectively rigidly fixing the steering gear box to a motor vehicle body, or a mechanism for continuously adjusting the allowed movement of the steering gear box.

Abstract: A steering gear box mount includes a resilient member interposed between a motor vehicle body and a steering gear box for allowing movement of the steering gear box. The mount also has a structure for limiting allowed movement of the steering gear box. The structure includes a mechanism for selectively fixing the steering gear box to a motor vehicle body, or a mechanism for continuously adjusting the allowed movement of the steering gear box.

Abstract: A steering system for a motor vehicle includes a centering mechanism for establishing a neutral steering position. The steering system includes a steering wheel and a steering assembly for steering vehicle wheels in response to angular movement of the steering wheel. The centering mechanism is mounted on at least a portion of the steering assembly for establishing the neutral steering position of the steering assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed is an actuator for steering the rear wheels in front and rear wheel steering device for vehicle in which the external forces, such as the self aligning torque of the rear wheels and irregularities of the road surface, which may be applied to the rear wheels are prevented from being transmitted to the actuator for controlling the steering angle of the rear wheels. Thereby, the steering angle of the rear wheels are determined solely by the control action of the front and rear wheel steering device and the motion of the vehicle is not affected by external forces. As a result, the vehicle motion is stabilized. When the force for steering the front wheels is transmitted to the rear wheels to steer them, elimination of the reaction from the road to the actuator prevents undesirable variation in the force required to steer the vehicle or the force required to hold a steering angle.

Abstract: In a front and rear wheel steering device for a vehicle in which the steering angle ratio of the rear wheels relative to the front wheels is variable according to the vehicle speed, by accounting for the magnitude of vehicle acceleration in determining the steering angle ratio of the rear wheels by using a mathematical function in the form of f(u) - g(u')where u is a vehicle speed and u' is a change rate of the vehicle speed, it is possible to reduce the slip angle of the vehicle to zero irrespective of the vehicle speed and the vehicle acceleration and the phase delay of the lateral response of the vehicle can be reduced, whereby the driveability of the vehicle is substantially improved and, thus, driving a car can be made easier, safer and less tiring.

Abstract: The front and rear wheel steering device of the present invention not only has a means for allowing the manual selection of a mathematical function which determines the steering angle ratio of the rear wheels relative to the front wheels from a plurality of mathematical functions but also has a means for limiting such a manual selection depending on the condition of the vehicle. Since manual selection of a mathematical function for the steering angle ratio may not be appropriate under certain vehicle conditions, the device of the present invention limits such a manual selection when the vehicle speed, the vehicle acceleration, the shift position of the transmission, the steering speed or the steering acceleration is greater than a certain value. Thereby, the convenience of the manual selection of the steering angle ratio is preserved yet any undesirable vehicle response from improper manual selection of the steering angle ratio is prevented.

Abstract: A front and rear wheel steering device which varies the steering angle ratio of rear wheels relative to the steering angle of front wheels in relation with vehicle speed is utilized to improve the drive response of a vehicle, as well as to improve the maneuverability of the vehicle. By varying the steering angle ratio which is a function of vehicle speed according to the running condition of the vehicle, the interference of the running condition of the vehicle upon the driving response can be reduced. The driving response may be evaluated in terms of yaw rate or lateral acceleration of the vehicle for a certain steering input. The running condition of the vehicle may comprise any combination of vehicle acceleration, friction between tires and the road surface, load acting between front wheels and the road surface, and load acting between rear wheels and the road surface.

Abstract: An actuator for steering the rear wheels in front and rear steering device for a vehicle in which the steering angle of the rear wheels can be manually neutralized should the actuator fail with the rear wheels steered to a certain angle. The actuator may be a type which either directly steers the rear wheels following command from control means or varies the state of means for setting up the steering angle ratio of the rear wheels. In either case, a preferably detachable handle may be engaged to an output end of power means of the actuator. Thus, the situation in which the rear wheels are frozen at a certain steering angle and the driving of the vehicle becomes difficult is safely avoided.

Abstract: In a front and rear wheel steering device for a vehicle in which the steering angle ratio of the rear wheels relative to the front wheels is variable according to the vehicle speed, by accounting for the magnitude of vehicle acceleration in determining the steering angle ratio of the rear wheels by selecting a mathematical function from a plurality thereof, the vehicle response particularly in high speed range can be improved. Smooth transition from a certain characteristics to another may be achieved either by preparing a number of mathematical functions of vehicle speed for the steering angle ratio of the rear wheels or providing some time delay in the transition from one characteristics to another, preferably in proportion to the magnitude of the vehicle acceleration.

Abstract: In a front and rear wheel steering device contive for vehicle in which the steering angle ratio of the rear wheels relative to the front wheels is variable according to the vehicle speed, provision of a manual selection means for fixing the steering angle ratio to certain fixed values which may be either positive or negative can greatly improve the maneuverability of the vehicle in both high speed and low speed ranges. However, inadvertent manual selection of the steering angle ratio is not desirable since it may cause a sudden change in the steering angle of the rear wheels. Therefore, this invention provides means for preventing the manual selection of the steering angle ratio when it is not proper. This means may be an active prohibition control of manual steering angle ratio selection means, an alarm to warn the driver or a vehicle speed control which limits the vehicle speed.

Abstract: In a front and rear wheel steering device for vehicle for variably controlling the steering angle ratio of rear wheels relative to the steering angle of front wheels according to a certain mathematical function of vehicle speed in such a manner that the rear wheels are steered in opposite phase relationship in a low speed range and in same phase relationship in a high speed range, by providing a selection means for manually selecting a special mathematical function for an extremely low speed range which will cause a same phase relationship at an extremely low speed and a smooth transition to the certain mathematical function, parking the car along a curbstone and changing the lateral position of the vehicle in a limited space are simplified since the rear part of the vehicle will not swing laterally.