Magnetorheological-damper-based steering apparatus and methods for reducing steering wheel jerk resulting from off-road wheel impact

A method comprising:

• detecting, via a sensor, an angular velocity associated with a steering column shaft;
• comparing, by executing one or more instructions via a controller, the angular velocity to an angular velocity threshold, the angular velocity threshold being associated with steering wheel jerk resulting from an off-road wheel impact;
• and
• energizing, by executing one or more instructions via the controller, a magnetorheological (MR) rotary damper in response to determining that the angular velocity exceeds the angular velocity threshold, the MR rotary damper mounted to a steering column assembly, the MR rotary damper including an output shaft offset from the steering column shaft, the output shaft operatively coupled to the steering column shaft via a belt and pulley system.

A steering damper apparatus comprising:

• a magnetorheological (MR) rotary damper operatively coupled to a steering column shaft of a steering column assembly;
• an angular velocity sensor operatively coupled to the steering column shaft, the angular velocity sensor to detect an angular velocity of with the steering column shaft;
• and
• a controller to energize the MR rotary damper in response to determining that the angular velocity exceeds an angular velocity threshold, the angular velocity threshold being associated with steering wheel jerk resulting from an off-road wheel impact.