A Force Feedback System for Steer-by-Wire Applications Based on Low-Cost MR Fluids Design Hints

In the automotive research scenario, the main purpose of a steer-by-wire system is the elimination of all mechanical connections between wheels and the steering wheel. The driver gets just a virtual and configurable feedback through the steering wheel, which becomes a stand-alone component. Among the emerging alternatives, magnetorheological (MR) fluids exhibit interesting properties that could well fit for safe and reliable force feedback systems. Through the collected data, this paper offers the essential information for the realisation of a force feedback device for steer-by-wire application. The paper includes the design and test of a pre-industrialised system, exploited for the measurements of low-cost, homemade MR fluids. Experimental results and their discussion conclude the paper.