ZF Unveils New Steering Wheel for Automated Driving

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For this purpose, the design features an LCD display in the middle and hand detection technology for gesture control, allowing the driver to control certain vehicle functions. For example, a single tap on the cover could activate the horn. Other gestures include double tapping or swiping certain parts of the steering wheel rim. 

These gestures are supported and confirmed by the central display and accompanying graphics and light signals. “As new automated functions become more commonplace, advanced technologies employed in the steering wheel are important and can help improve driver safety and awareness of the current vehicle control mode,” says Jürgen Krebs, Vice President of Engineering for Steering Wheel Systems and Driver Airbags.

Integrated driving mode recognition and display

The seven-inch display indicates the current driving mode. This is further aided by an LED light strip on the outer edge of the steering wheel, which glows blue in autonomous driving mode, white in manual mode and red for warnings. A yellow light could illuminate when indicating, while flashing and blinking lights are also possible. 

Electronic capacitative sensors on the outside rim and sensors on the inside rim tell the system if and how the driver is gripping the wheel. This accurate hand detection is used to determine whether the driver or the vehicle is currently in control. Due to the position of the display, the airbag is located on the back of the steering wheel and deploys through the rim.