Wednesday 31st March 1779

Born on this day, Georg Lankensperger, the German wheelwright who invented the steering mechanism that is today known as Ackermann steering geometry. Lankensperger invented his steering mechanism in 1816 as Hofwagner (Head waggoner) in Munich, to allow the front wheels of a carriage to individually follow the natural arc of its turning circle, rather than skidding and slipping when they are forced to each share a common arc with the conventional pivoted axle. It continues to be used in horse-drawn carriages and passenger cars to this day.. He patented the invention in Germany, but his agent Rudolph Ackermann filed for the patent in the UK.