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Some automakers have turned to all-wheel steering steering to make autos extra maneuverable, however Ford is trying to patent another answer.
A patent utility filed with the USA Patent and Trademark Workplace (USPTO) describes a approach to scale back turning radius on future autos by various torque to particular person wheels.
Ford turn-assist mode patent picture
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Within the proposed system, an onboard controller would monitor elements 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 utility.
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 aimed toward reducing turning radius.
Ford turn-assist mode patent picture
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The torque discount for the within rear wheel may very well be achieved by way of braking, so this technique may very well be utilized in front-wheel drive autos with out pushed rear axles, Ford famous within the utility. In all-wheel-drive functions, the rear axle is also disconnected from the entrance axle in turn-assist mode, the appliance 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 utility 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 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 utility printed in 2019.
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