Re:Mechanics invent an axle that can achieve steering angles...
by Brian_K_White on Monday July 25, 2022 @10:38AM
(#32224935)
Now you're making me imagine a complicated arrangement with essentially 2 vertical hinges, where the wheel only swings out away from the car regardless which way it's turned. Then it needs no more room in the engine bay. It would rattle and klunk near the center/straight position, but aside from that it's physically possible. It would probably need some kind of belt to drive the axle so that it can bend around a pulley and a changing angle while still delivering the power. Ok I've gone off the deep end...
[ Parent
| on HN ]
Re:Mechanics invent an axle that can achieve steering angles...
by elihu on Tuesday July 26, 2022 @01:23AM
(#32234574)
I think I get what you're saying. The wheels would stick out more on turns. I'm not sure how much of a problem that would be. I could see it potentially being a threat to bicyclists if you're passing one on a corner.
Also, if you tried to turn the wheels while at a stop it would cause the wheels to skid. There'd be a lot of friction in general. Ccoordinating the right and left wheels might be complicated enough you'd need to give each wheel its own power steering unit and have drive-by-wire. (Canoo is making a drive-by-wire car, so I guess it's not a regulatory impossibility these days.)
Other drive options include electric hub motors, or just sticking with rear-wheel drive.
Re:Mechanics invent an axle that can achieve steering angles...
by Brian_K_White on Tuesday July 26, 2022 @07:45AM
(#32236981)
The wheels would scrub like crazy. You just made me realize that essentially the wheels would spread apart on both sides of the car. As the left wheel swings away from the car, so is the right wheel, so either both wheels scrub or if on wheel is agsinst a curb, the other wheel scrubs twice as far.