System and method for situationally optimized turning assistance

A vehicle control system comprising:

• electric motors associated with front and rear wheels of the vehicle;
• a plurality of vehicle sensors to receive information including driving surface type, vehicle speed and handwheel position;
• and
• a controller operably coupled to the electric motors and the sensors to control wheel slip during a turn based on the driving surface type, the vehicle speed and the handwheel position,
• wherein a torque control module is operably coupled to the controller and to the front wheels and rear wheels of the vehicle
• wherein the controller controls wheel slip based on a selected slip table from a plurality of slip tables, the selected slip table defining an amount of slip between an inside wheel and an outside wheel of one or both of the front wheels and the rear wheels, and
• wherein the selected slip table is chosen based on the driving surface type,
• wherein the torque control module applies different torque values during the turn responsive to operator selection of a corresponding one of the modes of operation and detection of a trigger event, and
• wherein the trigger event comprises detecting that a limit of rotation of a handwheel is reached when a current steering wheel angle of the handwheel is equal to a maximum steering wheel angle, and responsive to the detecting the limit of rotation of the handwheel is reached, measuring additional torque placed on the handwheel to apply the different torque values based on the additional torque measured.

A method of providing automated application of turn radius reduction for a vehicle, the method comprising:

• receiving a mode selection selecting a turning radius reduction mode;
• receiving steering wheel angle and vehicle speed information to determine if turn radius reduction criteria are met during a turn;
• determining a surface type on which the vehicle is operating;
• and
• in response to the turn radius reduction criteria being met, applying a torque differential to at least an inside rear wheel and an outside rear wheel of the vehicle based on a steering wheel angle, vehicle speed information, the surface type and a selected mode of operation,
• wherein a torque control module applies different torque values during the turn responsive to operator selection of a corresponding one of the modes of operation and detection of a trigger event, and
• wherein the trigger event comprises detecting that a limit of rotation of a handwheel is reached when a current steering wheel angle of the handwheel is equal to a maximum steering wheel angle, and responsive to the detecting the limit of rotation of the handwheel is reached, measuring additional torque placed on the handwheel to apply the different torque values based on the additional torque measured.