The Steering Pump is driven by hydraulic or electric power and needs to obtain energy from the engine or motor. In order to improve overall efficiency, the vehicle's power system can use intelligent control to prioritize power distribution when power assistance is needed, and reduce energy consumption under low load or no-load conditions. For example:
When the engine is idling, optimize the pump speed to reduce the flow and power consumption of hydraulic oil.
Dynamically increase the output of the steering pump in high-load scenarios to meet steering needs.
Some advanced vehicles can convert the energy generated during braking or deceleration into electrical energy through energy recovery mechanisms, providing additional driving force for the electric steering pump, thereby reducing overall energy consumption.
The Steering Pump is connected to the vehicle's ECU (electronic control unit) to sense the vehicle's steering needs (such as steering wheel angle, speed, and load) in real time. The ECU dynamically adjusts the pump's output pressure and flow based on these data to optimize the power assistance effect and avoid over- or under-assistance.
At low speeds (such as parking and slow turning), higher power output is required, and the pump provides greater flow and pressure. When driving at high speeds, the steering demand is reduced, and the system reduces the pump output through the electronic control module, saving energy and improving steering stability.
In vehicles equipped with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) or autonomous driving functions, the Steering Pump works with the electronic steering module to assist in automatic steering operations. For example:
In functions such as lane keeping and automatic parking, the electronic control system accurately controls the pressure output of the steering pump based on environmental data. When the system detects an emergency avoidance need, it responds quickly to provide higher assistance to improve driving safety.
The Steering Pump dynamically adjusts the output according to the actual load and steering angle by linking with vehicle sensors (such as steering angle sensors and vehicle speed sensors). For example:
When the sensor detects a sharp turn, the pump flow and pressure are increased to provide greater assistance.
When driving in a straight line, the pump output is reduced to reduce energy consumption and reduce component wear.
The operating temperature of the hydraulic oil or pump body is monitored through a temperature sensor to ensure that the system operates in an efficient and safe state. The system can also record working data to help predictive maintenance and avoid failures due to overheating or abnormal pressure.
In intelligent vehicles, the Steering Pump uses artificial intelligence algorithms to analyze the driver's operating habits, road environment and other factors, and adaptively adjusts the power level to provide the driver with a more accurate and comfortable steering experience.
In the Steer-by-Wire system, although the physical hydraulic connection is cancelled, the Steering Pump may still exist as a redundant system. It cooperates with the main control system to provide basic steering assistance when the electronic control system fails to ensure driving safety.
For vehicles equipped with start-stop function, the Steering Pump needs to work in coordination with the power system. In the brief moment when the engine is turned off, the pump continues to provide steering assistance through the energy storage device or electric drive to avoid steering failure.
The Steering Pump can detect system abnormalities (such as insufficient pressure and hydraulic oil leakage) through the self-check function, and take countermeasures in coordination with the vehicle control system, such as:
Limit the output of the pump to extend the working time. Issue a warning to the driver or switch to the backup mode to ensure safety.
In the future, the Steering Pump may be completely electronic, and through the connection with the vehicle electronic control system and the cloud, remote monitoring, data analysis and OTA (online upgrade) capabilities can be realized to continuously optimize the steering performance.
The steering pump will be further integrated with the active safety system to quickly respond to dangerous situations, such as emergency lane changes or obstacle avoidance, through intelligent control, thereby improving the safety and driving experience of the entire vehicle.
Through close coordination with the power system and electronic control system, the Steering Pump can achieve more efficient, energy-saving and intelligent operation, while significantly improving the vehicle's controllability and driving safety. This multi-system collaborative design is the core direction of modern automotive technology development.