Some automakers have turned to all-wheel steering steering to make automobiles extra maneuverable, however Ford is trying to patent an alternate resolution.
A patent software filed with the USA Patent and Trademark Workplace (USPTO) describes a approach to scale back turning radius on future automobiles by various torque to particular person wheels.
Ford turn-assist mode patent picture
Within the proposed system, an onboard controller would monitor elements like steering angle and wheel velocity to find out if turning-radius discount will probably be useful. That is known as “turn-assist mode” within the software.
When activated, this mode reduces torque to the within rear wheel, producing added yaw, or sideways motion. It then applies extra torque to each entrance wheels to assist steadiness out that yaw and pull the automobile out of the flip. That sounds a bit just like the torque-vectoring techniques already utilized in some manufacturing vehicles to enhance dealing with, however particularly geared toward reducing turning radius.
Ford turn-assist mode patent picture
The torque discount for the within rear wheel might be achieved by way of braking, so this method might be utilized in front-wheel drive automobiles with out pushed rear axles, Ford famous within the software. In all-wheel-drive purposes, the rear axle may be disconnected from the entrance axle in turn-assist mode, the applying suggests.
As with all patent purposes, it is unclear if Ford will put torque-based flip help into manufacturing. However this is not the primary software for a patent of this class from the automaker; earlier this 12 months it filed for a tank flip function, and it has filed others describing using four-wheel-steering to show the entrance and rear wheels in reverse instructions for an off-roading crawling function. These in flip appear to construct on a four-wheel-steering patent software revealed in 2019.
