IP Library Granted Patent US 12679456
Granted Patent B2
US 12679456 · App. 18/624,455 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Vehicle steering modes

Inventors: Rahul Reddy Nagavally (Dearborn, MI); Ajinkya Joshi (Dearborn Heights, MI); Souri Gadepalli (Dearborn, MI); Kevin Wegienka (Novi, MI); Mengxiong Wan (Troy, MI); Shane Larkin (Berkley, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
B62D6/10
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12679456
App. No.
18/624,455
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system includes a computer including a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to determine a steering torque of a vehicle and to select one of a hands-on mode or a hands-free mode for operating the vehicle along a portion of the roadway based on comparing the steering torque to a steering torque threshold.

Claims (23)

1 . A system comprising:

a computer including a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to:

determine a steering torque, a speed, and a lateral acceleration of a vehicle; and

select one of a hands-on mode or a hands-free mode for operating the vehicle along a portion of the roadway based on comparing the steering torque to a steering torque threshold, comparing the speed to a speed threshold, and comparing the lateral acceleration to a threshold lateral acceleration.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to select the hands-on mode at the portion of the roadway is further based on the lateral acceleration and the steering torque exceeding the threshold lateral acceleration and the steering torque threshold.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the speed threshold includes an upper limit and wherein the instructions further include to, based on a determination that the speed is greater than the speed threshold, adjust the speed to be below the upper limit.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the steering torque threshold is based on the lateral acceleration.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the steering torque threshold is based on the speed of the vehicle.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the selection is initiated based on approaching a curved portion of the roadway upcoming within a specified time from the curved portion.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the selection of one of the hands-on mode or the hands-free mode is initiated based on the speed of the vehicle being greater than an upper limit.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to select one of the hands-on mode and the hands-free mode for operating the vehicle along a second portion of the roadway.

9 . A method comprising:

determining a steering torque, a speed, and a lateral acceleration of a vehicle; and

selecting one of a hands-on mode or a hands-free mode for operating the vehicle along a portion of the roadway based on comparing the steering torque to a steering torque threshold, comparing the speed to a speed threshold, and comparing the lateral acceleration to a threshold lateral acceleration.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein selecting the hands-on mode at the portion of the roadway is further based on the lateral acceleration and the steering torque exceeding the threshold lateral acceleration and the steering torque threshold.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the speed threshold includes an upper limit and further comprising, based on a determination that the speed is greater than the speed threshold, adjusting the speed to be below the upper limit.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the steering torque threshold is based on the lateral acceleration.

13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the steering torque threshold is based on the speed of the vehicle.

14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the selection is initiated based on approaching a curved portion of the roadway upcoming within a specified time from the curved portion.

15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the selection of one of the hands-on mode or the hands-free mode is initiated based on the speed of the vehicle being greater than an upper limit.

16 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising selecting one of the hands-on mode and the hands-free mode for operating the vehicle along a second portion of the roadway.

17 . The system of claim 1 , wherein selection of the hands-on mode or hands-free mode is initiated based on approaching a curved portion of the roadway upcoming within a specified time from the curved portion.

18 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the selection of one of the hands-on mode or the hands-free mode is initiated based on a speed of the vehicle being greater than an upper limit.