Patent ID: 7648002
Filing Date: 2010-01-19
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
1. A vehicle comprising: a steering input sensor coupled to a steering wheel and generating a steering wheel position value; Ackerman steerable front wheels; differentially driven left and right rear drive wheels; a steered wheel angle sensor coupled to the front wheels and generating a steered wheel angle signal; a front steering unit for steering the front wheels in response to a front steering control signal; a differential drive unit for driving the rear wheels in response to a rear drive/steering control signal; a control unit coupled to the steering input sensor, the steered wheel angle sensor, the front steering unit and the differential drive unit, the control unit generating the front steering control signal and the rear drive/steering control signal, and the control unit coordinating differential driving of the rear wheels with steering operation of the front wheels, and upon startup, the control unit setting the steering wheel position value according to the steered wheel angle signal.