Have you scrolled through some articles on the latest supercar released overseas and spotted something called “steer-by-wire”? What is that, and how does it work? We have broken the concept down for the daily driver, so you can get excited about looking for this new technology in your future new car.

Driving Your Car with Fewer Moving Parts

A traditional steering system includes a physical steering column and linkage that connects the actual steering wheel to a set of gears, ultimately moving your wheels in the proper direction. The feel of the road surface is transmitted through your tires up into the steering wheel. The driver has a physical connection to the road.

Steer-by-wire replaces the steering column and some of the gears with wires, electronic sensors, and a control unit. When you turn the steering wheel, electrical impulses are sent to the computer via wire, which directs electric motors to change the direction of your wheels.

Steer-by-Wire Requires Less Driver Input

Your old steering system is limited by its gearing system. In order to turn your wheels to take a corner, you will always have to turn the wheel a certain degree. Moving the steering wheel nets the same change in direction each time.

Steer-by-wire is able to include the slope of the road surface, your speed, and even wind conditions. Faster than the human brain can react, it works to optimize the need to turn the wheel to achieve the desired turn. You will not need to move the steering wheel as much to navigate a winding road or change lanes in traffic. Also, because you don’t feel all the changes in the road surface, drivers are less distracted and able to focus on simply aiming their SUV in the right direction.

The Potential for Improved Safety Systems

As the industry continues to develop driver-assist technologies, the steer-by-wire concept can be incorporated in road departure mitigation, collision avoidance, and other systems where the vehicle will steer clear of trouble before you can react. Also, removing the steel steering column in front of the driver may help to minimize injury in a severe accident.

Paves the Road for Automotive Innovation

Nearly every car and truck on the road in the 21st century is designed around some basic requirements, including that bulky traditional steering column and gears. It limits where the engine, exhaust, radiator, and other mechanical systems can be placed under the hood. As steer-by-wire grows alongside electric vehicle concepts, those bulky systems are eliminated or moved to other locations in the car. We may see more radical design changes, including where the driver sits, cargo areas, or even extra airbags, as engineers explore all the possibilities.

What rides will have steer-by-wire?

While international auto racing has seen steer-by-wire take trophies for the last decade, it has struggled to enter the consumer market. However, you will start to see it on dealer lots in the next few years as manufacturers all work towards a U.S. launch. If you head to Europe, this technology has been helping drivers turn their wheels for the past few years.