A control method and system to control a car; the following steps are carried out: determining a position of a joystick, which is designed to be grabbed by a hand of a driver of the car; adjusting a longitudinal motion and a transverse motion of the car as a function of the position of the joystick; determining a position of at least one pedal, which is designed to be pressed by a foot of the driver of the car; and controlling a dynamic behaviour of the car, which is different from the longitudinal motion and from the transverse motion, a function of the position of the pedal.

A lever assembly (20) has a lever (24) mounted to a lever housing (22), a plunger (26), an auto-return housing (28) pivotable relative to the lever housing (22), a trigger mechanism (30) movable relative to the auto-return housing (28), and a yoke member (32) pivotable relative to the auto-return housing (22) independent of the auto-return housing. The trigger mechanism (30) is movable to an extended position in response to movement of the plunger (26) for engaging a cam element (12) of the steering column (10) for auto-return of the lever to a rest position. The yoke member (32) interacts with the plunger (26) when the plunger (26) pivots with the lever (24) to cause the yoke (32) to pivot toward an engaged position, and the yoke (32) interacts with the trigger mechanism (30) when the yoke (32) is pivoted to move the trigger mechanism (30) toward the extended position.

A lever assembly (20) has a lever (24) mounted to a lever housing (22), a plunger (26), an auto-return housing (28) pivotable relative to the lever housing (22), a trigger mechanism (30) movable relative to the auto-return housing (28), and a yoke member (32) pivotable relative to the auto-return housing (22) independent of the auto-return housing. The trigger mechanism (30) is movable to an extended position in response to movement of the plunger (26) for engaging a cam element (12) of the steering column (10) for auto-return of the lever to a rest position. The yoke member (32) interacts with the plunger (26) when the plunger (26) pivots with the lever (24) to cause the yoke (32) to pivot toward an engaged position, and the yoke (32) interacts with the trigger mechanism (30) when the yoke (32) is pivoted to move the trigger mechanism (30) toward the extended position.

A vehicle steering system has a pitman arm being pivotable about a pitman arm pivot axis in response to pivoting of a steering column, a link pivotally connected to the pitman arm, an idler arm pivotally connected to the link and being pivotable about an idler arm pivot axis, the link extending between the pitman arm and the idler arm, a first tie rod pivotally connected to the pitman arm and extending from the pitman arm in a first direction, and a second tie rod pivotally connected to the idler arm and extending from the idler arm in a second direction, the second direction being opposite the first direction. A vehicle having the vehicle steering system is also described.

In some embodiments, a vehicle may include a frame having longitudinal axis. The vehicle may include a steering assembly having a steering input and at least one wheel. The steering assembly may be coupled to the frame and configured to steer the vehicle based on input from a steering input. The vehicle may include a first drive wheel and a second drive wheel. The vehicle may include a steering position sensor configured to detect steering input including a position of the steering input and at least one of i) a rate of change of position of steering input and ii) steering position time. The vehicle may include at least one controller configured to process a signal from the steering position sensor and, in response to the processed signal, drive the first drive wheel and the second drive wheel, the first drive wheel being driven independent of the second drive wheel.

In some embodiments, a vehicle may include a frame having longitudinal axis. The vehicle may include a steering assembly having a steering input and at least one wheel. The steering assembly may be coupled to the frame and configured to steer the vehicle based on input from a steering input. The vehicle may include a first drive wheel and a second drive wheel. The vehicle may include a steering position sensor configured to detect steering input including a position of the steering input and at least one of i) a rate of change of position of steering input and ii) steering position time. The vehicle may include at least one controller configured to process a signal from the steering position sensor and, in response to the processed signal, drive the first drive wheel and the second drive wheel, the first drive wheel being driven independent of the second drive wheel.

A vehicle includes a front axle having left and right front wheels and a rear axle having left and right rear wheels. A steering-wheel assembly is used to control at least the front wheels. Left and right driver-actuatable inputs are supported by the steering wheel assembly. A vehicle controller is programmed to, responsive to actuation of the driver-actuatable inputs, place the vehicle in one or more operating modes such as tank turn, trail turn assist, or diagonal driving mode.

A vehicle includes a front axle having left and right front wheels and a rear axle having left and right rear wheels. A steering-wheel assembly is used to control at least the front wheels. Left and right driver-actuatable inputs are supported by the steering wheel assembly. A vehicle controller is programmed to, responsive to actuation of the driver-actuatable inputs, place the vehicle in one or more operating modes such as tank turn, trail turn assist, or diagonal driving mode.

A steering handle of a vehicle includes a support structure, which is mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation and at each end of which an angled gripping element for a hand of a driver is provided such that the gripping element can be rotated relative to the support structure. In at least one defined driving state of the vehicle, the two gripping elements are or have been positioned by way of an actuating device in such a way that portions of the gripping elements that are provided for grasping with the hands of the driver lie on a line, the free ends of the portions facing one another.

A vehicle steering input device comprising: a first knob (102) configured to be rotatable around a first axis of rotation and operatively coupled to a steering column (200) so that rotating the first knob (102) results in rotation of the steering column (200); and a second knob (1112) configured to be rotatable around a second axis of rotation and operatively coupled to rotate the steering column (200) so that rotating the second knob (112) results in rotating the steering column (200), wherein the first and second rotatable knobs (102, 112) are operatively coupled so that rotating one knob (102; 112) in a clockwise (CW) or counter clockwise (CCW) direction results in rotating the other knob (112; 102) in a same direction, and the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation define an angle.