Steering

Steering a wheelchair can be a strenuous, inefficient process, in that you have to brake with one rear wheel while pushing harder on the other. A clever new chair addresses that problem in a brilliant fashion, by using a moveable backrest to steer.

When riding over rough terrain, a fair bit of effort goes into keeping the front wheel from being deflected to one side by roots, rocks or other obstacles. Canyon has set out to make things easier, with its KIS self-centering steering system.

US/German auto parts company ZF has released an innovative strut suspension front axle concept that allows the front wheels to turn up to a ludicrous 80 degrees, delivering incredibly tight u-turns and extraordinary agility for parallel parking.

Yamaha is sending a motocross racing team into battle this year equipped with prototype power steering systems that also act as steering dampers. It might look crazy at first glance, but there's fascinating implications for future motorcycle design.

There's no motorcycle on the planet like this one. British company WMC has put land speed record holders on notice with a 2WD, hydraulically hub-steered electric motorcycle designed around a great big hole it says can reduce drag by nearly 70 percent.

Electric boats could soon be getting even quieter and more maneuverable, according to Yahama. The company's new Harmo steering and propulsion system is promised to deliver on both counts.

Autonomous mobility pods of the future could gain themselves exceptional tight-space manoeuvring capabilities if Protean's 360-degree integrated wheel systems come to fruition. Each one packs steering, suspension, motors and pneumatic ride-height adjustment into a single unit.

​While it's important for seniors to stay active, their decreased sense of balance does increase their risk of being in a bicycle accident. The Netherlands' Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) is attempting to address that situation, with a steering-assist-equipped e-bike.

A new Indiegogo project wants to bring a tech-enabled, touch-controlled steering wheel to a car near you. The Radiomize steering wheel cover converts a standard steering wheel into a touchpad controller for a paired smartphone, safely adding connected car options to any vehicle.

To mark Drowsy Driving Awareness Day on April 6, Nissan is presenting its Driver Attention Alert system as part of the safety package for the 2016 Nissan Maxima, which is debuting at the New York International Auto Show.

On select models from next year, Ford will introduce its Adaptive Steering system, which adjusts the steering ratio – that is, the number of turns of the steering wheel required to turn the front wheels a certain amount – based on the speed of the vehicle.

If thieves really want to get past the lock on something, they can. The trick is to simply not make it worth their while, by adding extra hassles. The Stemlock is just such a hassle. It internally disconnects a bike's handlebar stem from its fork, making it impossible for a thief to steer.