- Autoliv and Tensor have introduced the steering wheel of the future.
- It folds and retracts into the dashboard when in fully autonomous mode.
- The car has two separate driver airbags to ensure safety in both settings.
Following a preview last year, Autoliv and Tensor have unveiled the world’s first foldable steering wheel for autonomous driving. Set to debut in the latter company’s Robocar, the steering wheel can be retracted when not needed.
As you can see in the videos, when the Robocar enters Level 4 mode, the rim of the steering wheel automatically folds down at the same angle as the steering column. It then retracts into the dashboard to increase space and comfort for the ‘driver.’ Speaking of which, the center-mounted screen slides over to keep them entertained while the car handles all the work.
More: The First Autonomous Robocar You Can Own Hides Its Steering Wheel Until It Wants You To Drive
When the car transitions out of Level 4 mode, everything happens in reverse. In this case, the screen slides back into the middle of the dashboard and the steering wheel is deployed.
While this is undoubtedly futuristic, the lack of a fixed steering wheel brings up some interesting questions about safety. Since airbags are typically found in the steering wheel, Autoliv and Tensor had to come up with a solution.
In this case, they’ve developed a new system that uses two different airbags and can determine if the car is being driven manually or autonomously. When being driven by humans, the steering wheel airbag deploys as normal.
However, in autonomous mode, an airbag installed in the instrument panel is enabled and will deploy in the event of an accident. The companies went on to say “both configurations provide an equally high level of protection.”
In a statement, Tensor CEO Jay Xiao said “Fully self-driving technology provides a groundbreaking user experience, but manual driving in certain scenarios is still desired by many people. Our dual-mode approach with a foldable steering wheel combines the best of both worlds and gives customers the freedom to choose.”
He added, “Foldable steering wheels previously existed only in concept cars – now we are bringing this innovation to volume-production vehicles for everyday use.”
As we’ve previously reported, the Tensor Robocar is scheduled to be launched later this year and will be built in Vietnam by VinFast. It’s billed as a “luxury crossover SUV” that features rear coach doors as well as SignalScreens that can communicate with other road users via CarMoji.
The company hasn’t released full details, but the Robocar is slated to have a 112 kWh battery pack and an advanced sensor suite that consists of 37 cameras, 5 lidars, 11 radars, 22 microphones, 10 ultrasonic sensors, 3 IMUs, GNSS, 16 collision detectors, 8 water-level detectors, 4 tire-pressure sensors, and 1 smoke detector. It’s also worth noting the vehicle is designed for private use, rather than in fleets.