Inside Rear Wheel Torque Control for Tighter Vehicle Turns

Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicles with long wheelbases, such as trucks, face challenges in maneuvering tight spaces due to large turning radii, which can lead to difficulties in parking and completing U-turns, and existing brake-assisted turning systems increase tire wear and reduce vehicle range.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle control system that strategically applies positive and negative torque to the inside rear wheel during turns, using a controller to determine a target speed based on driving surface information, ensuring seamless reduction of turning radius with minimal tire wear and power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If brake-assisted turning is applied to reduce turning radius, then vehicle maneuverability is improved, but tire wear increases and vehicle range is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle maneuverabilityVSAvoidtire wear

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the target speed parameter of the inside rear wheel based on real-time detection of driving surface conditions (coefficient of friction). By changing the speed parameter adaptively rather than applying fixed brake assistance, the system achieves turning radius reduction while minimizing tire wear and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The vehicle's own propulsion system provides the torque needed for turning radius reduction, eliminating the need for external brake assistance. The controller applies positive or negative torque through the propulsion system to achieve the target speed, allowing the vehicle to self-regulate its turning performance without consuming additional energy or causing excessive tire wear.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If brake-assisted turning is applied to reduce turning radius, then vehicle maneuverability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle maneuverabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the target speed parameter of the inside rear wheel based on real-time detection of driving surface conditions (coefficient of friction). By changing the speed parameter adaptively rather than applying fixed brake assistance, the system achieves turning radius reduction while minimizing tire wear and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The vehicle's own propulsion system provides the torque needed for turning radius reduction, eliminating the need for external brake assistance. The controller applies positive or negative torque through the propulsion system to achieve the target speed, allowing the vehicle to self-regulate its turning performance without consuming additional energy or causing excessive tire wear.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Speed

If the vehicle operates on low friction surfaces with high target speed, then turning performance is improved, but tire wear and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetarget speedVSAvoidtire wear

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors the coefficient of friction of the driving surface and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust the target speed parameter. When friction is low, the system reduces target speed to prevent excessive tire wear and power consumption, while still maintaining adequate turning performance through adaptive control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the target speed parameter of the inside rear wheel based on real-time detection of driving surface conditions (coefficient of friction). By changing the speed parameter adaptively rather than applying fixed brake assistance, the system achieves turning radius reduction while minimizing tire wear and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12459493B2System and method for brake assisted vehicle turning radius reduction

Publication Date: 2025.11.04 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC

AI summary

A vehicle control system for reducing turn radius of a vehicle may include a speed sensor to determine a vehicle speed, a steering angle sensor to determine turn angle, and a controller operably coupled to the speed sensor and the steering angle sensor to determine a tight turn event based on the vehicle speed and the turn angle, responsive to the tight turn event, determine driving surface information for a surface on which the vehicle is operating, and set a target speed for an inside rear wheel of the vehicle during a turn causing the determination of the tight turn event based on the driving surface information.