steering wheel
Reimagining the steering wheel
Concept designed for Toyota's innovation culture
[ 2025 | Product / CAD Designer - SolidWorks - Fusion 360 ]
Steering wheel concept | 3D rendering
The challenge
Designing for mobility often overlooks users with disabilities, leaving critical gaps in accessibility and inclusivity. Traditional steering wheels fail to address the needs of individuals with physical challenges, such as having one leg or no legs, limiting or preventing their ability to drive. 😑Additionally, spreading controls across the dashboard compromises safety, as actions are slower when relying on lower-body movement. This project seeks to bridge these gaps, creating a steering wheel that prioritizes accessibility and enhances safety through centralized controls.
Initial sketch
First iteration very close to the initial sketch
Project Objectives
Enhance Ergonomics: Develop a design that ensures superior usability and comfort for all drivers, while remaining fun to drive.
Integrate Technology & Sustainability: Incorporate intuitive features such as voice controls and haptic feedback, while utilizing eco-friendly materials.
Prioritize Safety: Centralize controls to rely on upper-body movements, enabling faster and more efficient driver reactions.
Why It Matters
People and continuous improvement are at the core of Toyota's philosophy. By embracing innovation and enhancing the driving experience, Toyota not only meets user needs but also stays ahead of the competition. Considering specific users often benefits a broader audience 😶, which is the case here, making the driving experience safer as the user relies only on the upper-body to drive, which has quicker reaction times than the lower-body.
3D renderings and sketching
relying on upper body
The lower body is generally stronger than the upper body when it comes to raw strength and force generation. This is because the lower-body muscles, like the quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes, are larger and designed to support the body’s weight and perform activities like walking, running, and lifting.
However, strength and reaction time are different things:
Strength: The lower body is indeed more powerful because it has to support and move the entire body.
Reaction Time: The upper body often has faster reaction times because the neural pathways and motor control for hands and arms are more refined for precision tasks like grabbing or controlling objects. Reaction time also depends on the task; tasks requiring fine motor skills (e.g., steering) are generally better suited for the upper body, while tasks requiring gross motor control (e.g., pressing pedals) fit the lower body.
faster Upper Body Reaction Time
Why Upper Body Reaction Time Can Be Faster:
Proximity to the Brain: Hands and arms are closer to the brain and spinal cord, which can reduce the delay in signal transmission.
Neural Specialization: The upper body is often involved in more frequent, precise, and reflexive actions.
Task-Specific Training: People use their hands and arms for quick and repetitive tasks far more often than their legs, which can improve reaction speed.