It provides just the right amount of resistance and effort for spirited driving, but falls a bit short in terms of feedback, like many other modern electronic steering systems.

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Electronic steering was developed in part to provide a lighter, more compact form of power-steering for small cars and for hybrid vehicles, which require steering assistance when running on batteries alone.

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Soon, some of theses machines will use electronic steering.

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Electronic steering is replacing hydraulic power-steering in many cars.

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Reuters reports that Nissan will be bringing an all-electronic steering system to select Infiniti models within a year that would promise quicker response, but would effectively disconnect the driver from the road.

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Controlling steering using electric motors also helps to reduce fuel consumption and hence carbon-dioxide emissions. (Electric motors require power only when the steering wheel is turned, whereas a hydraulic pump drains power from the engine all the time.) Ford reckons 90% of its cars will have electronic steering within three years.

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The innovation works by sending electronic signals from the steering wheel to a computerised unit that then controls the movement of the tyres, rather than using mechanical links.

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Together, the camera and laser sensors monitor the white lines and, if the car strays out of its lane, an electronic control unit attached to an electric power-steering unit corrects it.

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Braking, gear-shifting and steering commands in the lead truck would be beamed via a wireless connection called an electronic tow-bar to the trailing vehicles.

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