Hyundai Mobis unveils foldable steering wheel

South Korea’s Hyundai Mobis Co., an auto parts unit of Hyundai Motor Group, has unveiled a foldable steering wheel along with other technologies to become a provider of both hardware and software for future mobility solutions and expand its presence in the global market.

Hyundai Mobis showcased the technology, which enables the folding and unfolding of a steering wheel during autonomous driving, at the 2021 Seoul Mobility Show. The global auto industry has yet to apply the technology to mass production. 

“We are knocking on the door of the future car market with technologies to provide differentiated convenience for mobility,” said a Hyundai Mobis official. “We are preparing for commercialization.”

The system, which features a steering wheel that can move forward and backward up to 25 centimeters, allows for more space in the driver’s seat and innovative design.

The steering wheel adapted the company’s various future technologies such as the steer by wire (SBW) steering system. The SBW system controls steering with electrical signals by connecting the steering wheel with a device designed to deliver the steering force generated from the steering wheel to the wheels, according to the company.

It also enables the provision of optimal steering performance on the various driving conditions and minimizes the vibrations to the steering wheel that come from a rumble strip or a speed bump, allowing the driver to drive in a comfortable and stable manner. In addition, the redundancy design of some core electronic parts, such as sensors and an electronic control unit (ECU) in the system, ensures that the vehicle is capable of maintaining normal steering in an emergency.

AIRBAGS, NEW PARKING SYSTEM FOR SELF-DRIVING CARS

Hyundai Mobis unveiled airbags for self-driving vehicles that require different airbags from the existing ones since passengers may face each other or take a break while driving. The company is developing airbags to protect the head and chest of passengers who may be laying down on their seats during an incident requiring airbag protection.

In addition, Hyundai Mobis developed the Mobis Parking System (MPS), a next-generation parking control system specialized in South Korea and Europe where parking can be difficult due to the more narrow roads. The system enables vehicles to pass through a narrow street by avoiding obstructions, drive through the revolving gate of an underground parking lot, or drive backward at a dead-end where two cars are facing each other. All these functions are possible at the press of a button.

The system is one of the core technologies for urban autonomous driving systems as it combines various features such as remote automatic parking, three-dimensional surround view monitors and collision prevention.

In October, it unveiled a technology to allow wheels to turn by 90 degrees, aiding in sharper vehicle cornering and easier parking.

Write to Hyung-Kyu Kim at khk@hankyung.com
Jongwoo Cheon edited this article.