Steering wheel

A steering wheel is type of steering control used in most modern land vehicles, including all mass-production automobiles. The steering wheel is the part of the steering system that is manipulated by the driver; the rest of the steering system responds to the movements of the steering wheel. This can be through direct mechanical contact in rack and pinion steering, with the assistance of hydraulics in power steering, or in some concept cars entirely through computer control.

Steering wheels for automobiles are usually circular, the wheel being attached to the steering column by two or more spokes. Other types of vehicles may use the circular design, a butterfly shape, or some other shape.

As a driver may have his hands on the wheel for hours at a time, steering wheels are designed with ergonomics in mind. However, the most important concern is that the driver can effectively convery torque to the steering system; this is especially important in vehicles without power steering. A typical design for circular steering wheels is a steel wheel with a rubberized grip molded around it. Some drivers purchase steering wheel covers to enhance the grip or comfort of the wheel, or simply decoration. Another device used to make steering easier is the brodie knob.

Besides its use in steering, the steering wheel is the usual location for a button to honk the car's horn. In addition, many modern automobiles have cruise control and even radio controls built into the steering wheel to minimize the extent to which the driver must take his hands off the wheel.

Certain input devices for computers and console games are designed to look and feel like a steering wheel, and are intended for use in racing games. Some go so far as to employ force feedback to simulate the feedback a real driver feels from a steering wheel.

A similar device in aircraft is the yoke.