[Moto] Motorcycles with power steering? Yes, and it seems that Yamaha already has a system ready

[#Wittels-]

Yamaha wants to introduce power steering on its production bikes and for this it has created a first prototype that will be tested in the Japanese motocross championship.

The system will ease movement of the handlebars at low speeds but will also act as an active steering damper when raised. At the moment it does not have a date of arrival on the market but knowing that it will be tested in competition, its development could end up in production vehicles very soon.

A bike-inspired power steering

Power steering has become an essential element in cars. However, this device has never been seen as something necessary on motorcycles as it initially lacks sense since the effort required to move the handlebar of a motorcycle is not the same as that of a car's steering.

 

However, Yamaha wanted to go beyond this first assumption by creating an electric steering prototype with the aim of improving the motorcycle's stability and agility. In addition, to accelerate its development, it has been introduced in the motorcycles of the Japanese motocross championship, serving as a unique testing laboratory.

This EPS steering assistance system is part of the 'Transforming Mobility' project, which in turn is integrated into ART's 'Long-term vision for human possibilities' strategy, with which the brand intends to bring robotics to the market with solutions that help people have fun, safety and comfort, but also create technologies that help solve social problems.

But back to the subject, the EPS works in a similar way to the electric motor of pedal-assist bicycles. Thanks to a sensor placed on the handlebar, the amount of force exerted to move it is measured. This sends a signal to the ECU (or control unit) to order the electric motor the amount of assistance it should grant based on the extracted data.

Thanks to this, two things are achieved: on the one hand, moving the steering at low speed in a much more comfortable way, while at high speed it works as an active steering damper. According to Yamaha, in the first tests carried out, the movement feels as natural as when it is not carried.

The system is physically made up of a magnetostrictive torque sensor that, as we said before, detects the rotation of the steering head. Coupled to this instrument we find the control unit and all of this united in the upper yoke of the suspension system.

As convoluted as the system may seem, it has not brought about a dizzying change in direction for motorcycles or added excessive weight. In fact, the brand ensures that it is quite light, although it has not revealed its weight.

 

Those of Iwata intend to introduce this system in their production models in the future, although they have not yet set a date for it. At the moment, those in charge of gathering information about this system and its development will be the Yamaha Factory Racing Team that will compete in the Japanese Motocross Championship, with its two YZ450FM and YZ250F, equipped with this EPS system.

 

Link: https://www.motorpasionmoto.com/gadgets/motos-direccion-asistida-parece-que-yamaha-tiene-sistema-a-punto