Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Nithesh Maddi Reddy

Neil Hurst

Matthew John Shelton

Jose Velazquez Alcantar

Rohit Hippalgaonkar

Abhinav Kumar

Kyle Culek

Zubair Feroz

Cameron Dillon

Oliver Legel

A vehicle includes a primary axle powered by an actuator and a secondary axle powered by a motor and including a wheel and a clutch selectively coupling the wheel to the motor via mating components. A controller is electrically connected to the clutch and the motor. The controller is programmed to, in response to an engagement of the clutch being unsuccessful within a first duration of time, command a series of speeds to the motor based on wheel speed and an alternating offset that changes between positive and negative signs at predefined periods so that relative speeds between the mating components oscillate due to the alternating offset to jiggle the clutch into engagement.

Oscillating torque strategy for wheel disconnect clutch

A method of controlling torque in an all-wheel-drive vehicle limits the duration of loss of traction. During wheel slip events, a controller reduces the commanded torque from a driver demanded level. The controller calculates a normalized wheels speed for each wheel based on a measured yaw rate, measured wheel speeds, and calculated wheel diameters. The controller determines the end of the wheel slip event by comparing the normalized speeds of each while to one another.

Traction control for all-wheel drive vehicles

An electrified vehicle includes a controller programmed to implement performance mode control of first and second electric machines and wheel brakes associated with wheels of respective first and second axles to provide a braking force to a first axle while providing torque to the second axle to intentionally spin the tires of the second axle to provide a peelout and associated heating or smoking of the tires to improve traction and provide a visual display of power. The maneuver may be repeated for the first axle by providing torque to the first axle while applying braking force to the second axle. A sequential maneuver that spins tires of the first axle followed by tires of the second axle may be performed by specified manipulation of the brake pedal and accelerator pedal.

Electrified vehicle performance mode with intentional wheel spin for tire heating

Growing community of inventors

Canton, MI, United States of America

Nithesh Maddi Reddy