Often we put ourselves in a deadlock the most basic questions: What was the first - the chicken or the egg? Why the sky is blue? Why the wind blows? One such topic for reflection is the question - why the wheel round? And it is the same as the above mentioned questions has a rational explanation.
In the first machine wheel was a semblance of poker - the type of sailboat tiller. But in the late 19th century, people realized that the wheel - almost perfect form of the basic vehicle control. Why it is popular so far?
To make sure that the circle - the best form of automotive steering is enough to remember that from stop to stop "Steering wheel" We have to rotate significantly greater than 180º. If you reduce the angle of rotation, it will be too hard to turn the front wheels car at the slightest deviation from the steering neutral position. Because of this, a random perturbation "donut" at high speed will necessarily lead to an emergency situation. For this reason, the steering wheel is designed so that turning the machine wheels need to seize the steering wheel at least once.
The round shape wheel - convenient for hand movements and rapid response. That is why the handlebars make ring-shaped, to a person even with his eyes closed, not thinking about their movements, could intercept him, regardless of the current wheel position. That is, the round wheel - is both a convenience, and the need for safe driving.
Exceptions to the rule
We can not say that today is absolutely all cars have steering wheels round shape.
Sometimes come across a model in which designers are "cut" a small segment - the lowest part of the "circle", which is in close proximity to the driver's stomach. This is done, as a rule, due to "be like everyone else", as well as for the greater convenience Embarking driver (for example, if the driver chubby). But note - it is cleaned a small segment of that, God forbid, not breaking overall "roundness" of the steering wheel.
In this sense, the exception can be considered steering "wheel" racing car, for example, in a series of Formula 1. There's "square" wheel - rather the rule. First of all, this is due to the fact that the racing car does not need to park backwards, eliminating the need to turn the wheel at large angles. And to control it at high speeds, enough to turn even the wheel, and the wheel (like a plane) to angles less than 90º on each side, which eliminates the need for the pilot to intercept it during management.
From time to time the creators of concepts equip their offspring square rudders or something like airplane wheel. Perhaps these machines and will be the future - when the manage traffic and parking in the parking lot will not be a man, and the electronic autopilot.
In the meantime, this has not happened yet, baubles knowledge about the history of cars (in particular, the form of steering wheel), the next time you will be standing with her husband in a traffic jam. We promise it will be surprised!
