BIRMINGHAM, UK - 12 January 2005 - TRW Conekt, the engineering and consultancy arm of TRW Limited, in partnership with Stirling Dynamics, has developed a new Active Steering Wheel System (ASWS) focused on military and commercial driving simulators. The new steering wheel system, ASWS has evolved through combining Conekt's extensive engineering experience in electrically powered steering systems (EPS), with Stirling Dynamics' military and aerospace simulator expertise.
Based on the widely used TRW Electric Power Steering Technology, the unit is fully integrated and contains a brushless AC electric motor, electronic control unit(ECU), gearbox and a sensor to measure driver torque, handwheel position and rate of turn. A simple command and communication interface allows dynamic changes of stiffness and torque to be fed from the host system. The system provides steering profiles that can be easily reconfigured to simulate a wide range of different vehicles from sports cars to commercial vehicles.
Alan Williams, technical business development, TRW Conekt commented: 'The ASWS is one of a range of new products to be launched by Conekt over the next year and is a significant component of the Conekt/Stirling Dynamics portfolio.'
'The advantages of this system are clear as it enables the driver to experience the 'real' feel of a vehicle steering in an artificial simulated environment. Recent feedback indicates the ASWS is extremely well positioned in terms of performance and price.'
The ASWS was recently exhibited at the ITSEC simulation show in Florida, US, at which it attracted significant attention from representatives from a range of industries from military to commercial driver training and entertainment.
