System and method for vehicle turning radius reduction

A vehicle control system for reducing turn radius of a vehicle, the system comprising:

• a controller operably coupled to components and sensors of the vehicle to receive information including vehicle wheel speed and steering wheel angle;
• and
• a torque control module operably coupled to the controller and to front wheels of a front axle of the vehicle and rear wheels of a rear axle of the vehicle, the torque control module being operable, responsive to control by the controller, to apply a negative torque to an inside rear wheel during a turn and apply a positive torque to the front axle during the turn to compensate for the negative torque applied to the inside rear wheel to reduce the turn radius based on the steering wheel angle and the vehicle wheel speed,
• wherein the torque control module detects a trigger event and immediately thereafter determines a slip value for the inside rear wheel prior to applying the negative torque to the inside rear wheel and applying the positive torque to the front axle,
• wherein the controller disconnects the front axle from the rear axle prior to applying the negative torque to the inside rear wheel, and
• wherein the vehicle is a battery electric vehicle.

A method of providing automated application of turn radius reduction in a driver assist mode, 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;
• in response to the turn radius reduction criteria being met, applying a negative torque to an inside rear wheel;
• and
• applying a positive torque to front wheels of the vehicle to compensate for the negative torque applied to the inside rear wheel,
• wherein the negative torque is defined by a slip value for the inside rear wheel that is based on a vehicle wheel speed and a steering wheel angle,
• wherein the slip value for the inside rear wheel is a peak coefficient of friction for the inside rear wheel,
• wherein immediately after the turn radius reduction criteria are met, the slip value for the inside rear wheel is determined prior to applying the negative torque to the inside rear wheel and applying the positive torque to the front wheels, and
• wherein the front wheels are disconnected from a rear axle prior to applying the negative torque to the inside rear wheel.