Steering Facts for Kids

Part of car steering mechanism: tie rod, steering arm, king pin axis (using ball joints)

Steering is the collection of mechanical parts which allow a vessel (ship, boat) or vehicle (car, motorcycle or bicycle) to follow the desired course. Rail transport is an exception because the rail tracks provide the steering function. Vehicle steering is usually classed as a second order of control. The turning on the steering wheel directly controls the rate of the turn. Submarines and ships are classed a third order of control. There is a delay between the steering controls and the time it takes for the system to respond.

Images for kids

Rack and pinion unit mounted in the cockpit of an Ariel Atom sports car chassis, atypical of contemporary production automobiles
Non-assisted steering box of a motor vehicle
Honda Prelude Mk III rear steering box
Early example of four-wheel steering. 1910 photograph of 80 hp Caldwell Vale tractor in action.
1937 Mercedes-Benz Type G 5 with four-wheel steering.
Sierra Denali with Quadrasteer, rear steering angle.
Articulated Arnhem trolleybus demonstrating its four-wheel steering on front and rear axles (2006).
Heavy transport trailer with all-wheel steering remote controlled by a steersman walking at the rear of the trailer (2008).
2007 Liebherr-Bauma telescopic handler using crab steering.
Hamm DV70 tandem roller using crab steering to cover maximum road surface (2010).
Agricultural slurry applicator using crab steering to minimise soil compaction (2009).
Front loader with articulated steering (2007).
1971 Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) with joystick steering controls.
2012 Honda EV-STER "Twin Lever Steering" concept.
Ackermann steering
Bell-crank steering
Rack-and-pinion steering
Short rack-and-pinion steering

Steering facts for kids

Images for kids

See also