electric steering ..help with electronics

Hey PnB, how about a syncro/servo setup, the primary servo is your wheel, the the other is attached to the motor axis and the output drives the wiper motor until the frequancy is equal again. The only problem is you need to produce an AC frequancy. This is very much an analog circuit, with limited uses of op-amps.

 

Dave ...comparing voltges or comp frequency ...whats the difference ?
The linear actuator has a built in pot ( in stock end july) so that seems simpler.Have just purchased a 150 lb 4 inch linear actuator from fugelli to use as a trim tilt on an outboard and its much slower than I expected ...which is good ..an 8 inch for the steering should be perfect.

 

in a dc servo as suggested above the pot outputs a variable voltage and works as a voltage divider. this in turn causes the controller to output a variable timing at a set frequency in the case of a servo. with a powerful enough servo you could move any rudder or motor. if you use the linear actuator you will have more power again, the drawback is that it will be slower to move so it will not steer or turn as responsively as you may need.

in place of a servo motor you can also use a powerful dc motor though you will also need a couple of pwm motor drivers as well as some gearing with a belt drive or similar.

 

Well, for one thing comparing voltages is infinitely more easy....

Btw, Firgelli has standard and fast moving actuators. In my opinion they better call them slow and very slow.

I think for your project they are perfect.