This SAE Information Report establishes a uniform procedure for assuring the manufactured quality, installed utility and performance of automotive remote steering controls other than those provided by the vehicle manufacturer (OEM). These products are intended to provide driving capability to persons with physical disabilities. The adaptive modifications seek to compensate for lost or reduced function in the extremities of the driver with a disability. Remote steering controls are designed to provide a steering input device alternative to the OEM steering wheel that either reduces the required input force, changes the required range of motion or changes the location of the steering control or any combination of the above. These controls supplement by power, other than by the driver's own muscular efforts, the force output of the driver with a disability. Because this is an Information Report, the numerical values for performance measurements presented in this report and in the accompanying Test Procedure, while based upon the best knowledge available at the time, have not been validated by a testing of the Test Procedure.

Inclusions

This document is specifically concerned with mechanical and electrical products intended by the manufacturer to meet the following criteria.

Is operated by a vehicle driver with a physical disability.

Substitutes for the use of the OEM steering wheel.

Output of the remote steering device is applied to the OEM steering system in order to change the force or range of motion or ability to reach the steering control required of the driver with a disability.

Exclusions

This document specifically excludes any automotive adaptive product which:

Is applied to vehicles without powered steering unless it is specifically designed for that application and clearly states that in its product literature.

Modifies the OEM steering effort control system as identified in J 2672 (Reduced Effort Steering document).

Is considered to be Group B Control or Secondary Control.

Is intended as a special control for driver evaluation, training, or research.

Purpose

The purpose of this document is to provide criteria to evaluate remote steering control system design, manufacture, installation, operation, maintenance and performance. Methods to measure those criteria are included in the Recommended Test Procedures (RTP) attached as an Appendix to this Information Report.