Ackermann
Steering

Explore how the steering rack positions the front wheels on different turning circles. Compare geometrically correct and parallel steering.

Simulation playback

Vehicle parameters

Steering wheel angle0°

−360° LEFTCENTRERIGHT +360°

Road speed3.5 m/s

0 m/s15 m/s

Steering response125 °/s

20 °/s220 °/s

Steering design

Model tools

Component labels Exploded assembly Transparent rack housing

Select any part to inspect its function. Drag to orbit, scroll to zoom, and use camera presets to change perspective.

What does this teach?

In a turn, the inside front tyre follows a smaller radius. Ackermann geometry changes the two steering angles to reduce geometric tyre scrub. The model is idealised and is not a roadworthiness or vehicle-dynamics analysis.

3D MECHANICAL EXPLORER

Steering & turning geometry

RACK & PINION● RUNNING

DRAG TO ORBIT · SCROLL TO ZOOM · CLICK A PART TO INSPECT

Component

Inside wheel

0.0 °

Outside wheel

0.0 °

Turning radius

∞ m

Rack displacement

0 mm

The science

Steering wheel −360° to +360°: target steering input, gradually approached at the selected response speed. Positive means vehicle right turn.

Road speed 0–15 m/s: drives the road wheels' spin and calculated yaw rate (the chassis is stationary on the teaching rig).

Response 20–220 °/s: rate-limits the actual steering input, demonstrating time-based motion.

Ackermann / Parallel: compares ideal separate inner and outer angles with equal steering angles.

Run / Pause / Step + / Reset: operates a deterministic 120 Hz fixed-timestep physics loop. Step + advances 1/60 second, even while paused.

Exploded / Transparent rack cover / Labels: changes actual 3D node transforms, material opacity and on-screen annotations.

Camera presets / Orbit / Zoom: isometric, top, front, close-up rack views; moving camera controls.

Definitions: wheelbase \(L=2.65\,m\), front track \(T=1.48\,m\), tyre radius \(rw=0.337\,m\), ratio \(i=13\), pinion pitch radius \(rp=0.0175\,m\).

This is an educational, illustrative model of a fictional product: part names, masses, materials and operating figures are simplified and are not a manufacturer's drawing, a design basis or a safety/acceptance document.

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