US Patent 10569799 Automatically retracting and extending a vehicle steering wheel

A system for automatically adjusting a steering wheel of a vehicle may include a controller configured to generate a control signal for retracting a steering wheel to a collapsed position. The steering wheel may include a first half and a second half, and the system may include an actuator configured to collapse the steering wheel in response to the control signal. The actuator may be configured to fold the first and second halves of the steering wheel in a direction orthogonal to a direction of a longitudinal axis defined by a steering column, and retract the steering wheel along the direction of the longitudinal axis, towards a dashboard.