Volvo patent reveals the steering wheel of the future

At a time when many manufacturers are concentrating on the challenges of electrification and autonomous driving, a recently revealed Volvo patent appears to address the “problem” of where to store the steering wheel while the car drives itself.

Although it was filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office in early 2019, the patent only came to light at the end of September, offering Volvo’s vision of the “steering wheels of the future”.

The drawings in the Volvo patent show a steering wheel designed to slide from right to left, and even to sit in the middle of the dashboard, as in the iconic McLaren F1.

In this arrangement, the steering wheel moves along a rail and sends the driver’s inputs through a by-wire system, meaning there is no physical connection to the wheels.

For autonomous cars and beyond

The apparent purpose of this Volvo patent is to create a system that can, without major expense, make the steering wheel “disappear” from in front of the driver when the vehicle is operating autonomously. It would most likely be a cheaper alternative to the retractable steering wheels used on most prototypes.

However, the proposal offers another advantage. Allowing the steering wheel to move from one side to the other could significantly cut production costs, enabling the same car to be sold in right-hand-traffic and left-hand-traffic countries without modifications. For that reason, it would not be surprising to see this technology reach “conventional” models.

What about the pedals and instrument panel?

Volvo puts forward two options for the instrument panel. The first involves a display that travels with the steering wheel, while the second integrates a digital screen across the entire dashboard, displaying driving information behind the steering wheel.

Like the steering, the pedals would operate through a by-wire system. The most interesting aspect, however, is Volvo’s proposed answer to fitting pedals on both the right- and left-hand sides of the car.

According to the Volvo patent, conventional pedals would be replaced with “touch-sensitive pads” operated hydraulically or pneumatically. Installed in the floor, they would only respond to pressure once sensors had detected that they were aligned with the steering wheel.

Will the Volvo patent ever reach production?

While the system outlined in the Volvo patent could bring considerable cost savings and make better use of interior space, it may encounter the consistently strict safety regulations, particularly because its steering uses a by-wire system.

Infiniti unveiled a similar solution for the Q50 in 2014. Although its system did not require a physical steering column, the company was nevertheless forced to fit one. When the system is operating, the steering column is automatically disconnected, chiefly because of existing regulations and also as a safety fallback.

That fallback was vindicated in 2016, when the Japanese manufacturer had to issue a recall to correct its by-wire steering system, which occasionally failed to work perfectly immediately after the car was started.

As autonomous cars draw ever closer and technology continues to advance, will Volvo be able to secure approval for this system without reservations from legislators? Only time will tell.