Lenkbare

Lenkbare is a term used in engineering and robotics to describe systems, components, or devices that can be steered or directed by a control input. The word is derived from German lenken (to steer) and bar (able to), and in German-language technical literature lenkbar functions as an adjective meaning steerable or controllable. In English-language texts the term is sometimes used descriptively or as a loanword for concept discussions rather than as a formal specification.

In practice, lenkbare elements include wheels, joints, or actuators that respond to control signals to alter the path or orientation of a platform. In automotive engineering, steerable subsystems range from traditional mechanical linkages to electronic steer-by-wire configurations where steering commands are transmitted by sensors and actuators rather than direct mechanical tie rods. In mobile robotics and automation, lenkbare platforms refer to chassis or assemblies whose steering is achieved through actuated wheels or articulated joints, enabling dynamic path planning and reconfiguration.

Technical aspects involve control architectures that may be feedback-based (for example, PID or model predictive control), sensor suites providing pose information, and actuators converting electrical energy into mechanical motion. Common actuation methods include electric motors, hydraulics, and pneumatics. Design decisions trade off latency, accuracy, energy consumption, and reliability. Variants may be passive steerable mechanisms or active systems with closed-loop control, with redundancy and fail-safety considerations important in critical applications.

See also: steer-by-wire, steerable actuator, vehicle dynamics.