Steer-By-Wire (SBW) is an advanced steering technology that replaces traditional mechanical connections with electrical signals. By eliminating the physical drive shaft between the steering wheel and the wheels, it achieves steering control entirely through sensors, electronic control unit (ECU), and actuating motors.

Compared to traditional steering system, Steer-By-Wire (SBW) offers advantages including lighter wight, reduced road shock, lower noise, and enhanced vibration isolation. By eliminating the mechanical connection between the steer wheel and wheel, SBW enables more flexible vehicle architecture design. It dynamically adjusts steering assistance intensity and characteristics based on real-time data such as vehicle speed, steering angle, and lateral acceleration, delivering firmer steering feedback at high speed and lighter maneuverability at low speed, thereby enhancing both safety and driving comfort. Additionally, SBW seamlessly integrates with active safety systems (e.g., Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)) and significantly reduces mechanical components like steering columns, universal joints, and drive shafts, which lowers maintenance costs and improves system reliability by minimizing failure risks.

Safety Enhancements and Redundancy Design:

By eliminating mechanical components like steering columns, SBW prevents potential injuries caused by steering column intrusion during collisions. The intelligent ECU continuously monitors driving conditions to assess the rationality of driver inputs and automatically makes compensatory adjustments. In extreme scenarios, the system proactively stabilizes the vehicle to enhance crash safety.

Redundancy mechanisms - including dual power supplies, redundant communication channels, and duplicated hardware components to ensure the system capability. Even if critical modules fail, the system retains essential steering functionality to maintain driver control.

Improve driving characteristics and enhance maneuverability:

The SBW system dynamically adjusts the steering ratio based on real-time parameters such as vehicle speed, traction control status, and driving conditions. At low speeds, a lower steering ratio reduces the required steering wheel rotation angle for tight turns or parking maneuvers. At high speeds, an increased steering ratio optimizes straight-line stability while maintaining precise directional control, thereby balancing agility and confidence across all driving scenarios.

Enhancing Driver Road Feeling:

Since there is no mechanical connection between the steering wheel and wheels, the driver's "road feel" is simulated. The most relevant information reflecting the vehicle's actual driving state and road conditions can be extracted from signals and used as a control variable for the self-aligning torque of the steering wheel. This ensures that the steering wheel provides only useful information to the driver, delivering a more realistic "road feeling."

Optimized Cabin Space Configuration:

By removing traditional mechanical components like steering columns, Steer-By-Wire (SBW) significantly enhances packaging efficiency for cabin subsystems. This liberation of spatial constraints allows for innovative interior design solutions, such as enabling a greater telescopic adjustment range for the steering wheel and optimizing driver’s seat ergonomics through expanded legroom.

High-effective response and energy conservation:

The transmission delay of electrical signals is as low as the millisecond level, and the response speed far exceeds that of traditional hydraulic or electric power steering systems (EPS). There is no mechanical transmission loss, and the energy utilization efficiency is higher.

Industry research shows that 2025 will be the landmark year for Steer-By-Wire mass production. With the maturation of regulatory frameworks and accelerated adoption of intelligent vehicle technologies, SBW systems are expected to enter a phase of rapid commercialization, creating a promising growth trajectory. Domestic Tier 1 suppliers demonstrating technological leadership and rapid product implementation capabilities—particularly those with vertically integrated SBW solutions—are positioned to capture significant market share. As the market matures, intensifying competition will drive manufacturers to prioritize R&D innovation, optimize system performance and reliability, and achieve cost efficiencies through scalable production, ultimately delivering compelling value propositions to OEM partners.

Steer-By-Wire (SBW) technology is undergoing continuous upgrades and refinements:

To meet higher safety and reliability requirements, SBW systems are optimizing redundancy designs, such as multi-layer safety redundancies including dual power supplies, dual communication channels, dual hardware, and dual software. On the other hand, road feeling simulation technology is being enhanced to provide more realistic and driver-aligned feedback. Meanwhile, steering motor performance is improving to meet higher power demands and achieve more precise control.

As a core component for advanced automatic driving, SBW will deeply integrate with:

Automatic driving systems (e.g., automated parking, battery-swap alignment)

Vehicle dynamics control systems (e.g., adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping)

This integration enables automated steering control, enhancing overall intelligent driving capabilities through precise and reliable steering support.

HOLS has been deeply engaged in the intelligent manufacturing field of intelligent chassis production line for many years, with a professional and efficient technical team and rich mature and stable case experience, to provide customers with customized intelligent equipment production line, to help the rapid development of intelligent chassis, and to provide intelligent solutions for SBW.