Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Rajiv K Gupta

Christopher E Borroni-Bird

Robert Gordon Storc

Robert M Hunt

Leon F Van Eden

An apparatus to turn a vehicle in a low speed zero slip turning maneuver includes a vehicle body and a vehicle chassis including a plurality of wheels, wherein every wheel of the chassis is steerable, and an electric propulsion system. The apparatus also includes a low speed turning maneuver module monitoring a desired low speed zero slip turning maneuver, determining a desired instant center of rotation for the vehicle based upon the desired low speed zero slip turning maneuver, determining a wheel orientation for each of the wheels perpendicular to the desired instant center of rotation, and controlling each of the wheels according to the corresponding determined wheel orientation.

Vehicle configuration for improving low speed maneuverability

A pick up truck configuration is adaptable for carrying a cargo load longer than the cargo box and preferably at or above the wheel covers protruding into the cargo box. An adaptable pick up truck configuration includes a cab portion and a cargo box. A box panel portion is pivotally connected to a front wall of the cargo box and is movable to a generally horizontal position in which the box panel portion partially overlies and is supported by the wheel covers. The cargo box includes a cargo box opening when the box panel portion is in the generally horizontal position. A cab panel portion is pivotally mounted to the cab portion and is movable between a generally vertical closed condition and a generally horizontal open position. The cab portion has a cab opening when the cab panel portion is in the generally horizontal position and the cab opening is at least partially aligned with the cargo box opening. Thus, the pick up truck configuration is adaptable to carry the cargo load longer than the cargo box through both the cab portion and the cargo box and also advantageously can carry a wider load above the wheel covers.

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Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Rajiv K Gupta