The automobile industry can always surprise us with some innovative designs. However, sometimes these surprising designs can also produce unsuccessful results. One of these was the “Wrist-Twist” steering system of Ford Motor Company in 1965…
In this unusual steering wheel design, both wrists were bent together. what we know from the steering system This much different structure raised many questions about security and functionality.
However, as you can imagine, this design did not achieve the expected result. So this idea Why and how did it develop?
In the 1960s, Ford hired aerospace engineer Robert J. Rumpf to develop creative solutions in automobile design.
Rumpf aimed to offer a different perspective to the automobile industry by benefiting from its experience in projects such as missile technology and nuclear defense. As a result of this idea, “Wrist-Twist” He introduced the steering system. In this system, the driver would turn the handwheels instead of turning the steering wheel.
This system is traditional steering wheel Unlike the wheel, it allowed the driver to steer the car using two small wheels with his hands. This design, which promises to increase the comfort of the driver, especially by adding armrests, was not limited to improving ergonomics.
Of course, this design created mechanical difficulties rather than providing the expected benefits in some aspects.
Wrist-Twist steering wheel One of the most distinctive featuresThis was because it made a significant difference in terms of speed and precision compared to normal steering systems. Test drives have shown that this steering system makes it possible to turn at a speed that is unusual for some drivers. However, there were also some concerns about how this system worked in practice.
According to observations, this system required drivers to spend more time and mental energy to get used to it. Besides in maneuvers It had a system that could cause a terrible mistake.
This system, which was more practical for some, required more energy for others.
It was not without some potential advantages. to conventional steering wheels By comparison, it had a system that reduced the likelihood of hitting the driver’s head or knees during collisions. However, the disadvantages outweighed the advantages.
your steering wheel hydraulic If the system malfunctioned, the driver could not obtain enough leverage from the small handwheels, which could lead to complete loss of steering control.
To overcome this difficulty, a dual hydraulic steering system was developed.
However, this application could not reach the production stage due to its costs and technical difficulties. The design is ready to be implemented.trustworthyAlthough it was not visible, it inspired other innovations over time.
Tesla’s 2022 Model S Plaid The steering arm used in the vehicle is similar to Mercury’s “Wrist-Twist” system in 1965. Both designs aimed to use larger display areas and compact systems. Of course, Tesla’s design promises much more advanced and safe systems.
Ford’un Although this steering wheel design was a bold move in 1965, it could not go into production due to design errors and difficulties. Maybe it was not a design that was implemented like many others, but it is certain that it pioneered designs that are hungry for improvement in terms of security…
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