The transition from mechanical to electronic control in automotive chassis systems has reached a critical inflection point. Nexteer Automotive has announced the start of series production for its Steer-by-Wire (SbW) system, bringing the world’s first production passenger vehicle with a full drive-by-wire chassis to market.
This landmark achievement signifies a major leap forward for software-defined vehicles and autonomous driving platforms. By completely decoupling the mechanical link between the steering wheel and the road wheels, the SbW system replaces physical connections with electronic signals and actuators. This opens up unprecedented flexibility for vehicle designers and engineers, allowing for variable steering ratios, customizable steering feel through software-defined feedback simulation, and simplified vehicle packaging.
For engineering designers, the critical advancement is the system’s certification. The SbW system achieved ASIL D functional safety approval from the German Accreditation Body (DAkkS), the highest level of automotive safety integrity. This certification, achieved through close collaboration with a leading Chinese new energy vehicle manufacturer, validates the system’s robust, multi-layered redundancy design.
The architecture features dual controllers, dual power supplies, and multiple communication and actuation paths, ensuring that steering function is maintained even in the event of a single fault, with backup paths engaging in milliseconds.
https://www.nexteer.com/nexteer-puts-steer-by-wire-into-series-production/
