Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for an adaptive braking and steering adjustment on a slope system that may be used in future Ford vehicles, Ford Authority has learned.
The patent was filed on August 31st, 2022, published on September 3rd, 2024, and assigned serial number 12077141.
The Ford Authority Take
Ford has explored various ways to make drive modes smarter in its future vehicles in recent months, filing a bevy of patents revolving around that singular concept. Most recently, that list includes ideas for a special sand drive mode aimed at helping prevent vehicles from getting stuck on that sort of surface, as well as a system capable of automatically switching drive modes based on the conditions that one is facing. Now, this newly published patent adds another to that list, this time, an idea for an adaptive braking and steering adjustment on a slope system that may be used in future Ford vehicles, too.
Driving down a steep slope presents its own share of unique challenges for drivers, but that’s especially true if the surface they’re driving on is covered in sand, dirt, mud, snow, or ice. As Ford points out in the patent, these things can alter steering and braking response in a vehicle, which is what inspired the creation of this patent.
This particular system could help in those situations by using sensors to detect when a vehicle is traveling down a slope, after which it would automatically adjust braking and steering parameters to ensure that the vehicle remains on track and retains traction. If the system detects that understeer is occurring, for example, it could change the force distribution on the brakes, making it an intriguing potential addition to future Ford vehicles.
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