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Subject: 
Re: Rack and Pinion Steering
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.robotics
Date: 
Thu, 4 Nov 1999 21:30:44 GMT
Viewed: 
673 times
  
Ralph Hempel <rhempel@bmts.com> wrote in message
news:000001bf263e$d7634be0$0500000a@pro150...
Robert wrote:

I think you should look at a design in which each steering wheel's pivot • axis
is NOT in the same plane as the steering wheel's axle. Specifically, each
wheel's axle should be behind its pivot axis, where "behind" is referenced • in
terms of the intended direction of motion.

A caster is a good example of such a wheel design -- it requires no • special
effort to make it "point" straight ahead. As long as the thing to which • the
caster is attached is being pushed forwards, the caster automatically • swivels
into alignment.

Automobiles and bicycles also implement a type of "passive centering" in • which,
when you let go of the steering wheel, the forward motion of the car • pushes the
wheels towards center. The bicycle's design relies entirely on weight • (downward
force) and is notable because the pivot axis is not vertical. Automobile
designs are much more complicated (particularly when the steering wheels • are
also drive wheels) and are probably not worth the effort.

<plant tongue in cheek>

Bicycles also implement an "active buck" mode of Darwinian selection. If
you ride your bicycle in hands-off mode and tilt the bicycle slightly by
shifting your centre of gravity, the wheel will turn. Outside of the range • of
"slightly", which is different on every bike and complicated by spring • shocks,
you get a radically modified behaviour.

The front forks will quickly spin and put the wheel at 90 deg to the • intended
direction of travel. At this point, the front wheel will either stay intact
but stop, throwing the rider forward, or "taco" and crumple, pitching the • rider
forward and down.


This undesirable result can also be obtained by "cross-braking," or attempting
to apply the left brake with the right hand.  Fortunately for me, sometimes
the "less-fit" do survive.

-John Van



Message is in Reply To:
  RE: Rack and Pinion Steering
 
(...) <plant tongue in cheek> Bicycles also implement an "active buck" mode of Darwinian selection. If you ride your bicycle in hands-off mode and tilt the bicycle slightly by shifting your centre of gravity, the wheel will turn. Outside of the (...) (25 years ago, 3-Nov-99, to lugnet.robotics)

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