System and method of differentiating torque between wheels of a vehicle

1. An electric drive unit configured for driving a first wheel and a second wheel of a vehicle, the electric drive unit comprising:

a rotor;

a stator radially surrounding the rotor about a drive axis;

wherein the rotor rotates about the drive axis, relative to the stator;

a first planetary gear set operatively connected to the rotor and rotatable about the drive axis in response to rotation of the rotor about the drive axis to transmit torque to the first wheel;

a second planetary gear set operatively connected to the rotor, opposite the first planetary gear set, and rotatable about the drive axis in response to rotation of the rotor about the drive axis to transmit torque to the second wheel;

wherein the first and second planetary gear sets each include:

a carrier configured to be rotatably connected to a respective one of the first and second wheels;

a plurality of planetary gears operatively supported by the carrier; and

a ring gear radially surrounding the planetary gears, such that the planetary gears are in meshing relationship with the ring gear;

a first motor shaft rotatably extending along the drive axis and operatively connecting the rotor to the first planetary gear set;

a second motor shaft rotatably extending along the drive axis and operatively connecting the rotor to the second planetary gear set;

wherein each of the first and second motor shafts include a sun gear; and

wherein the sun gear of the first motor shaft is in meshing engagement with the planetary gears of the first planetary gear set and the sun gear of the second motor shaft is in meshing engagement with the planetary gears of the second planetary gear set;

wherein the rotor is operatively disposed along the drive axis between the first planetary gear set and the second planetary gear set;

wherein rotation of the rotor causes each of the first and second planetary gear sets to rotate about the drive axis; and

a pair of engagement mechanisms;

wherein each engagement mechanism is configured to selectively engage a respective one of the first and second planetary gear sets to vary the torque transmitted to the respective first wheel and second wheel.

2. The electric drive unit, as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each engagement mechanism includes a slip element; and

wherein the slip element is configured to selectively engage the ring gear of the respective planetary gear set to vary the torque transmitted to the respective wheel.

3. The electric drive unit, as set forth in claim 2 , wherein each engagement mechanism includes an actuator operatively connected to the respective slip element; and

wherein the actuator is configured to be selectively actuated to cause the slip element to engage the respective ring gear.

4. A vehicle comprising:

a first wheel and a second wheel;

a controller configured for transmitting a signal; and

an electric drive unit having:

a rotor;

a stator radially surrounding the rotor;

wherein the rotor rotates relative to the stator;

a first planetary gear set operatively connected to the rotor and rotatable about a drive axis in response to rotation of the rotor to transmit torque to the first wheel;

a second planetary gear set operatively connected to the rotor, opposite the first planetary gear set, and rotatable about the drive axis in response to rotation of the rotor to transmit torque to the second wheel;

wherein the first and second planetary gear sets each include:

a carrier configured to be rotatable connected to a respective one of the first and second wheels;

a plurality of planetary gears operatively supported by the carrier; and

a ring gear radially surrounding the planetary gears, such that the planetary gears are in meshing relationship with the ring gear;

a first motor shaft rotatably extending along the drive axis and operatively connecting the rotor to the first planetary gear set;

a second motor shaft rotatably extending along the drive axis and operatively connecting the rotor to the second planetary gear set

wherein each of the first and second motor shafts include a sun gear; and

wherein the sun gear of the first motor shaft is in meshing engagement with the planetary gears of the first planetary gear set and the sun gear of the second motor shaft is in meshing engagement with the planetary gears of the second planetary gear set

wherein the rotor is operatively disposed between the first planetary gear set and the second planetary gear set;

wherein rotation of the rotor causes each of the first and second planetary gear sets to rotate about the drive axis; and

a pair of engagement mechanisms operatively connected to the controller;

wherein each engagement mechanism is configured to selectively engage a respective one of the first and second planetary gear sets to vary the torque transmitted to the respective first wheel and second wheel in response to receiving a signal from the controller.

5. The vehicle, as set forth in claim 4 , wherein each engagement mechanism includes a slip element; and

wherein the slip element is configured to selectively engage the ring gear of the respective planetary gear set to vary the torque transmitted to the respective wheel.

6. The vehicle, as set forth in claim 5 , wherein each engagement mechanism includes an actuator operatively connected to the respective slip element; and

wherein the actuator is configured to be selectively actuated to cause the slip element to engage the respective ring gear.

7. The vehicle, as set forth in claim 4 , further comprising:

a first driveshaft rotatably connecting the carrier of the first planetary gear set to the first wheel; and

a second driveshaft rotatably connecting the carrier of the second planetary gear set to the second wheel;

wherein the first driveshaft transmits torque to the first wheel in response to rotation of the carrier of the first planetary gear set and the second driveshaft transmits torque to the second wheel in response to rotation of the carrier of the second planetary gear set.

8. The vehicle, as set forth in claim 4 , further comprising an energy storage device operatively connected to the controller and the electric drive unit;

wherein the energy storage device is configured for supplying power to the electric drive unit in response to receiving a signal from the controller.