ROTATION CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A STEERING WHEEL AND METHOD

A rotational control system for a steering wheel includes a steering wheel, the entire steering wheel switchable between a rotational condition and a non-rotational condition, a steering wheel angle of the entire steering wheel in a straight ahead position in the non-rotational condition. The rotational control system also includes a steering gear operatively coupled to the plurality of road wheels, the steering wheel and the steering gear electrically coupled to each other. The rotational control system further includes a controller in operative communication with the steering wheel and the steering gear, the controller configured to control the steering gear independent of the entire steering wheel when the vehicle is in an autonomous vehicle driving condition, and the controller configured to allow switching between the rotational condition and the non-rotational condition at any time while the vehicle remains in the autonomous vehicle driving condition