A steering input device for a steer-by-wire system is provided. The input device
comprises a first shaft and a hand wheel. The first shaft is rotatably installed
in a first housing. The hand wheel is connected to the first shaft such that the
hand wheel and the first shaft drive one another. The hand wheel has a range of
motion of between about 45 degrees and about 90 degrees. The hand wheel
also has an outer dimension of about 12 inches. The range of motion and the outer
dimension allow the steering input device to be installed in a vehicle in a non-conventional
position relative to a twentieth century conventional position including at least
one of the hand wheel extending from the first shaft extending along a length defining
the vehicle on one of two sides thereof and the hand weel extending rearward in
the vehicle farther than an instrument panel.