Ford patents solution to scale back turning radius on future autos

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Some automakers have turned to all-wheel steering steering to make autos extra maneuverable, however Ford is seeking to patent another resolution.

A patent software filed with the US Patent and Trademark Workplace (USPTO) describes a solution to scale back turning radius on future autos by various torque to particular person wheels.

Ford turn-assist mode patent image

Ford turn-assist mode patent picture

 

Within the proposed system, an onboard controller would monitor components like steering angle and wheel pace to find out if turning-radius discount can 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 car out of the flip. That sounds a bit just like the torque-vectoring methods already utilized in some manufacturing automobiles to enhance dealing with, however particularly aimed toward reducing turning radius.

Ford turn-assist mode patent image

Ford turn-assist mode patent picture

 

The torque discount for the within rear wheel could possibly be achieved by way of braking, so this method could possibly be utilized in front-wheel drive autos with out pushed rear axles, Ford famous within the software. In all-wheel-drive purposes, the rear axle is also disconnected from the entrance axle in turn-assist mode, the appliance 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 yr it filed for a tank flip function, and it has filed others describing the usage of 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 printed in 2019.

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