Steering input devices for steer-by-wire systems

A steer-by-wire steering system for a vehicle, comprising:

• a steering output device;
• an actuator;
• a first steering input device including a first hand wheel and a first plurality of sensors, said first hand wheel being disposed in a first hand wheel area defined in an instrument panel of said vehicle such that said instrument panel extends rearward in said vehicle a distance equal to or farther than said first hand wheel, said first plurality of sensors being configured to generate first signals representative of a position of said first hand wheel;
• and
• an electronic control unit in electrical communication with said actuator, said first plurality of sensors, and said steering output device, wherein said electronic control is configured to activate said actuator to control the position of said steering output device based upon said first signals from said first plurality of sensors.

A method of steering a vehicle, comprising:

• reaching into a hand wheel area defined within an instrument panel of said vehicle;
• grasping a hand wheel disposed in said hand wheel area, said hand wheel being disposed in said hand wheel area such that said instrument panel extends rearward in said vehicle a distance equal to or farther than said hand wheel;
• and
• moving said hand wheel to steer said vehicle.