(ET) power steering?

[Pieter <pvcl plitch com>]

All this discussion of using linear actuators as front or rear lifts got me 
thinking.

My E-15 has a very heavy loader on it, and the steering is a real two 
handed job.  I was looking around the 'net for info on linear actuators to 
use for a lift and came across an article on an old Yanmar diesel tractor 
converted to electric.

http://www.angelfire.com/ca4/renewables/tracpage.html

Well - why not do the same thing to an ET??  He used a linear actuator 
controlled by a joystick of sorts to steer.  It would be a simple matter to 
place a linear actuator between the frame and a steering knuckle parallel 
to the tie rod.  I don't think too much force would be required, which is 
good because you want fairly fast response (screw travel), so leverage will 
be reduced.  There are a number of dish positioners that run on 36 volts 
and use a revolution counting circuit to stop at a predetermined 
position.  If the steering wheel ran an encoder that "told" the actuator 
where you were pointing it, the actuator would then move to that position, 
steering the front wheels.  A dish positioner would be very cheap to 
try.  The hardest part for me to design is the steering wheel encoding 
mechanism.  Any engineers out there?