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

A patent software filed with the USA Patent and Trademark Workplace (USPTO) describes a strategy to cut back turning radius on future automobiles by various torque to particular person wheels.

 

Within the proposed system, an onboard controller would monitor elements like steering angle and wheel velocity to find out if turning-radius discount will likely 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 programs already utilized in some manufacturing automobiles to enhance dealing with, however particularly aimed toward lowering turning radius.

 

The torque discount for the within rear wheel might be achieved through 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 functions, the rear axle is also disconnected from the entrance axle in turn-assist mode, the applying suggests.

As with all patent functions, 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.