Presentation and Abstract:
The FSAE Steering System from the Road Wheel to the Steering Wheel
Design and development of the FSAE steering system influences vehicle response to steering wheel input, driver effort, comfort, and safety. In this presentation, participants will analyze the steering system from the road wheel to the steering wheel.

The presentation will begin with a deep dive into the anatomy and architecture of the lower steering system (wheel end suspension geometry, linkages and steering gear), its effect on vehicle response and how forces and moments at the contact patch are converted to a torque at the pinion. Next, the anatomy and architecture of the upper steering system (steering column and intermediate shaft) will be explored as well as the topics of steering non-uniformity, and how torque and angle at the pinion is converted to torque and angle at the steering wheel.

Biography:
Tim Drotar is currently a lead engineer in advanced vehicle dynamics at Stellantis. Previously, he spent 30 years at Ford Motor Company where he specialized in chassis systems and vehicle dynamics for passenger cars and light trucks. Tim is a member of SAE, SCCA and The Tire Society. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Lawrence Technological University and a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

Tim also teaches the following professional development seminars for SAE:
Advanced Vehicle Dynamics for Passenger Cars and Light Trucks
https://www.sae.org/learn/content/c0415/

Fundamentals of Steering Systems
https://www.sae.org/learn/content/c0716/

To schedule a lecture with Tim, reach out to Rachel Wetzel at [email protected].