Recently, I felt uncomfortable with the steering of the Audi A-3 DBA-8PCAX, so I measured the thrust angle with a laser pointer device. As a result, the angle value was a plus of 0.6 minutes. Because it is a sufficiently acceptable value of 3 digits or less, if the thrust angle is 10 minutes that is torrelance of European Automobile Safety Standard, if you go straight for 100 m, you will draw an arc to either the left or right for about 3 m. This deviation is unknowingly corrected by the driver. Then, if you continue to drive the car while correcting such a deviation, how about 0.6 minutes? Since the deviation is positive under the same conditions, it will occur 23 cm to the left and you will go straight while correcting this. As the thrust angle increases, the amount of correction increases. The driver has to concentrate on checking and correcting the state of deviation, which is very tiring. The amount of correction of the rudder when receiving a external disturbance varies, so it is unpredictable and driving, I feel sick in such a driving condition.
The recent car is equipped with EPS, and by memorizing the steering position when going straight, it is possible to take the thrust angle to zero in a Pseudo manner, but since it is always running while correcting the thrust, it is not possible to predict disturbance. The countersteering cannot be solved, and the difference between the left and right steering sensations remains the same, so the contribution of the EPS-Cal is only Pseudo.
From the idea of trimming adjustment for neutral position, vehicles need a geometric and physical establishment of axle and wheel alignment.
In the case of an aircraft, the position of the center of gravity changes depending on the condition of the load and burdened fuel, so the pilot always makes trim adjustments to maintain level flight, no matter how it is Autopilot or Human one.
From this point of view, I think that it is necessary to adjust the thrust trim in the direction of travel for automobiles as well, but although some concepts of 4WS have been mentioned, there is no report that delves into this point.
In the case of automobiles, four wheels, it is unlikely that everything is exactly aligned with the all-wheel steering, but the front vector direction is always present independently, and therefore the rear is always present alone. Therefore, match these vector directions, that is, make the thrust zero discrepancy respectively. Should be possible as a matter of fact.
It should be aware of any driver as he gets a bit sticky and stable steering position near the center when the zero thrust discrepancy is established. Almost no one has never experienced this feeling that is difficult to verbalize.
If you want safety and comfort in a vehicle, it's the first to introduce a "Thrust trim mechanism", not an electric motor.
This fact and truth should be known to every car maker.
I'm about to mention on the ultimate difficulty to establish the condition of "Zero Thrust Discrepancy" for ordinary vehicle.