Modern tracked vehicles are equipped with continuously variable steering transmissions. Within each gear stage the dynamic steering of these vehicles is comparable to that of wheeled vehicles but gear shifting operations cause step-like changes in steering sensitivity, i.e. the ratio between path curvature and steering angles. An anthropotechnical investigation of the handling qualities of these vehicles was carried out in a driving simulator. The effects of step- like changes in steering sensitivity were examined, and a comparison has made with two other types of steering. The three steering systems are distinguished by the dependence of steering sensitivity on speed. Results show that steering systems in which the sensitivity is inversely proportional to speed are superior. See also IRRD abstract No. 205244.
Samenvatting