ABSTRACT
To enhance the on-center steering feel, a design method of equivalent friction control was proposed for electric power steering (EPS). In this method, friction torque was generated artificially by motor control for a low speed steering maneuver because it was easier to generate friction torque than mechanical elements. The proposed method was used to design the steering torque characteristics and it was found that the friction torque had the appropriate torque range. When the steering torque characteristics was designed with considering the appropriate range of friction, the on-center steering feel was enhanced. Finally the proposed method was validated in actual vehicle tests.
