- Rivian is developing its own steer-by-wire system without a physical steering wheel connection.
- A program manager will oversee development, supplier relations, and quality control processes.
- Steer-by-wire offers packaging advantages, variable steering ratios, and proven reliability in aviation.
Automakers are always working on new innovations, updates to products, and ways to improve their cars. What they rarely do is reinvent the wheel, so to speak. That’s almost what Rivian is trying to do right now. Put more directly, it’s trying to reinvent how its customers connect their steering wheel to their front wheels.
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More: Rivian’s R2 Spotted With A Very Interesting Rear Window
Most new cars on sale today, except for a few models like the Tesla Cybertruck, Nio ET9, and overseas Lexus RZ, retain a physical connection between the steering wheel and front wheels. Tesla’s setup uses three sensors to interpret the driver’s inputs and instruct the front tires to match them. When it works, it earns plenty of praise, but when it doesn’t, it attracts just as much criticism. Rivian is now working on its own version.
A Glimpse Into Rivian’s Plans
Spotted by the folks over at Rivian Forums, the automaker recently posted an interesting job listing to its website. It’s for a Senior Staff Technical Program Manager. That program is for a steering actuator system. Essentially, it’s the brain behind a steer-by-wire system, and Rivian openly mentions that in the listing. “You’ll have full cradle-to-grave ownership of the SBW subsystem,” it says.
Essentially, whoever Rivian hires is going to be the head honcho in this endeavor. The company says they’ll oversee supplier relationships, risk management, coordinate with other teams, handle problem-solving, and quality assurance, among other duties. They’ll even have to report on progress to shareholders, so we could hear from them on earnings calls in the future.
Why Steer-by-Wire Appeals to Automakers
In some ways, it makes sense that Rivian and other automakers look into steer-by-wire more. It has the potential to reduce engineering challenges related to packaging. On the flip side, it also provides the benefit of variable steering ratios. As mentioned, the Cybertruck already shows us how this would work.
Review: The Lexus RZ’s Yoke And Steer By Wire System Are Solutions Looking For A Problem
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The steering wheel doesn’t have to turn over and over to get a full sweep from left to right. Instead, the Tesla reads input from the driver and then provides steering angle changes based on speed.
When it works, people seem genuinely impressed by it, and to Tesla’s credit, we have yet to see a failure leading to an accident. Notably, the technology was already mature way before Elon Musk’s company adopted it. Commercial airplanes all use a steer-by-wire system, and it’s notoriously reliable.
It’s unclear when we’ll see this technology go live in a production Rivian, but expect it to take at least a year or two. When it does arrive, we expect it’ll be in several models as the listing calls it “a critical technology that will define the future of our vehicles.”
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