New technology could 'improve steering precision'
Date: 08 February 2008
New technology could see hauliers who drive heavy goods vehicles maintain better control of their lorries, it has been reported.
All-wheel steering – which has been introduced on some tractor semi-trailers – could be used by hauliers to improve steering precision.
The new technology can also improve safety on large vehicles as it can help to cut the risk of a lorry rolling over when they change lanes and make sure it stays on the road during bad weather conditions.
Professor David Cebon, professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Cambridge University's Department of Engineering, which designed the new system, said that it intends to provide "electronic control of all the wheels so that the back-end of the vehicle truly follows the front for all conditions".
The researchers believe that all-wheel steering could allow for heavy goods vehicles to be made longer as it would simplify manoeuvres such as driving round roundabouts and well as making the vehicle more stable when driving at a high speed.
Increasing the length of vehicles would be better for the environment, as it would mean more goods could be packed into one lorry – instead of having to put two on the road.
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