IP Library Granted Patent US 12668232
Granted Patent B2
US 12668232 · App. 18/333,550 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Reverse drive and dig mode

Inventors: Aed M. Dudar (Canton, MI); Thomas G. Leone (Ypsilanti, MI)
B60W30/045B60W10/184B60W10/20B60W2540/18B60W2710/083
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12668232
App. No.
18/333,550
Granted
Jun 30, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for implementing reverse dig mode and/or reverse drive mode. Reverse dig mode may involve determining an inner front wheel and outer front wheel relative to steering controls and simultaneously applying a forward torque to the inner front wheel of the vehicle and a reverse torque to the outer front wheel of the vehicle. Reverse drive mode may involve determining steering controls of a vehicle and applying inverted controls to the rear wheels of the vehicle that provides a simulated sense that the driver is handling the vehicle in the forward direction.

Claims (30)

1 . A method, comprising:

determining, by one or more processors of a controller system of a vehicle, engagement of reverse dig mode;

determining, by the one or more processors and based on a direction that a steering wheel of the vehicle is turned, an inner front wheel and an outer front wheel;

simultaneously applying a forward torque to the inner front wheel of the vehicle and a reverse torque to the outer front wheel of the vehicle; and

applying a reverse torque to rear wheels of the vehicle.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the reverse dig mode is engaged by a user commands received via a human-machine interface (HMI) of the vehicle.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

determining, by the one or more processors, that one or more front wheels of the vehicle are stuck; and

presenting, by the one or more processors and using the HMI, a recommendation to engage the reverse dig mode.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the forward torque to the inner front wheel of the vehicle comprises applying a brake to the inner front wheel.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a motor applies the reverse torque to the outer front wheel of the vehicle.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

a counterclockwise turn of the steering wheel results in a clockwise turn of the vehicle; and

a clockwise turn of the steering wheel results in a counterclockwise turn of the vehicle.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying, based on the direction that the steering wheel of the vehicle is turned, a conventional turn to the rear wheels of the vehicle.

8 . A vehicle, comprising a controller system with one or more processors and executable instructions, as a result of execution by the one or more processors, causes the vehicle to:

determine engagement of reverse dig mode;

determine, based on a direction that a steering wheel of the vehicle is turned, an inner front wheel and an outer front wheel;

simultaneously apply a forward torque to the inner front wheel of the vehicle and a reverse torque to the outer front wheel of the vehicle; and

apply a reverse torque to rear wheels of the vehicle.

9 . The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the reverse dig mode is engaged by a user commands received via a human-machine interface (HMI) of the vehicle.

10 . The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the executable instructions further cause the vehicle to:

determine that one or more front wheels of the vehicle are stuck; and

present, using the HMI, a recommendation to engage the reverse dig mode.

11 . The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the forward torque to the inner front wheel of the vehicle is applied by one or more brakes of the vehicle.

12 . The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein a motor is used to apply the reverse torque to the outer front wheel of the vehicle.

13 . The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein:

a counterclockwise turn of the steering wheel results in a clockwise turn of vehicle; and

a clockwise turn of the steering wheel results in a counterclockwise turn of the vehicle.

14 . The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the controller system is further configured to apply, based on the direction that the steering wheel of the vehicle is turned, a conventional turn to the rear wheels of the vehicle.