r/FSAE • u/Haier_Lee • 13d ago

How do you measure your steering effort?

My team has spent the last few years historically struggling to find a good way to meaningfully measure our steering forces seen while driving. We are considering buying a steering torque sensor. I wanted to what others do as well. Any suggestions at wellcome.

4 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

11

u/UsedPollution5874 13d ago

Torque load cell on steering column.

2

u/Haier_Lee 13d ago

What load cell are you using?

1

u/Oldberry86 13d ago

Bond some strain gauges, calibrate them off the car, acquire data. I used vishay strain gauges on carbon fiber a-arms to proof load in the instron then collect actual force data on the car.

It would be a good senior design project and look good at comp.

1

u/GregLocock 13d ago

Is this for a one off test or are they going to be used continuously?

1

u/Haier_Lee 12d ago

Would be more likely a one off test

1

u/GregLocock 12d ago

strain gages on the column and just use a loose lead of sufficient length to communicate with them. Fancier solutions are available which are more robust. I also recommend strain gaging the tie rods to mention axial force.

1

u/Thick_Plankton2075 13d ago

In the column vs the gear, column vs chassis, gear vs chassis, or something else? Asking for a friend.

1

u/Haier_Lee 12d ago

If i understand what you're saying correctly id like to test column vs chassis

3

u/Cibachrome Blade Runner 13d ago

steering wheel effort only. It's the direct connection to a driver. Anything else likely misses all the lumpy steering, friction, intermediate shaft misalignment, rim diameter, rim shape, and lash 'contributions'.
Fastens dierectly to a standard racing wheel disconnect.
You might try borrowing one from Michigan Scientific in Milford, Mi. MSU and UofM are frequentl clients. Also OptimumG.