This project aims to design a lightweight, ergonomic, and durable steering wheel. The design will focus on improving driver comfort and minimizing mass through optimized geometry and material selection, comparing milled aluminum versus steel sheet construction. Manufacturing methods such as CNC milling or laser cutting will be evaluated based on the chosen design. Final adjustments will depend on the electrical team’s button layout, with design completion targeted for mid November.
• Improve driver ergonomics and comfortability.
• Reduce steering wheel mass to contribute to the overall weight reduction of 8%.
• Steering wheel must be capable of safely withstanding up to 20 kN of force transferred through the steering system.
We are currently in the early stages of the Aluminum Steering Wheel project, focusing on understanding and evaluating the 2024 steering wheel design as a baseline for improvement. As part of our initial analysis, a 20 kN load was applied to the wheel to assess its structural performance. The results from this test will provide valuable insights into stress distribution, potential failure points, and overall rigidity, which will guide the optimization of the new design for improved strength and weight efficiency.