Ford Introduces Adaptive Steering Technology For Its 2017 Truck Range

Ford has patented an adaptive steering system that will be available in its range of trucks known as the F-Series Super Duty.

The system was launched on the 2016 Ford Edge, but the idea and technology were also implemented for the 2017 model year of Ford’s truck range.

The Blue Oval says that its system reduces the steering ratio by up to 30 percent, which means that up to a turn of the steering wheel is eliminated from the driver’s actions just for a single direction change.

Ford is the only manufacturer of pick-up trucks that offers an adaptive steering system, which obviously makes the Dearborn automaker very proud. Eight patents have been awarded to Ford for this technology, and 11 more have been filed to protect the intellectual property of the corporation founded in Michigan.

Ford implemented the system within the steering wheel, and it is constituted of an electric motor, a gear unit, and a small computer. A set of sensors monitors key parameters from driving speed and steering angle to throttle operation and driver input.

When specific metrics are reached, the driver is assisted by the steering wheel in turning it, so that the drivers does less work when switching direction.

In layman’s terms, the system uses gears to multiply the driver’s actions depending on the required work. When steering lock-to-lock, up to one full revolution can be eliminated thanks to the utilization of this system.

Anyone that has driven a pick-up truck and had to perform a three-point-turn or a parallel park know just how many times the steering wheel must be turned from one side to the other for the maximum rotation of the wheels.

Since the system is electrically operated and has many sensors onboard, it will “know” when to ease off the added force, so that the car is more relaxed at higher speeds, while also being easy to drive in slow conditions.

In the case of the 2016 Edge Sport, the system is configured with two operating modes - Normal and Sport. It is offered as an option on the Titanium equipment grade for the Ford Edge.