Free-Wheel Tow Mode (Flat Towing) patent filed by Rivian

[Electric Rivilution]

https://www.motorauthority.com/news...xplores-2-speed-transmission-for-off-road-evs

In the patent application in question, which was published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on Feb. 13 (but filed on May 12, 2021), Rivian proposes adding a software mode for free-wheel towing to its electric pickup trucks and SUVs, alongside the various drive modes and other software-enabled features already available.

Free-wheel towing mode would disconnect the motor or motors that normally power the rear wheels, but keep the front-axle motor or motors engaged. Torque would still be applied to the front wheels to keep the vehicle from rolling out of sync with the tow vehicle. Software would use a vehicle's existing sensors to measure wheel speed and gradient, applying torque when necessary and cutting it off at a predetermined threshold.

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[Magicbus]

Sounds like you could tow it behind an RV and not even need a separate braking system.

 

[SPITmadFIRE]

sounds like you'd be consuming battery just to be flat towed. what happens when the rivian battery gets too low while being towed?

 

[Eric9610]

If its set to coast or regen only then you would not use any battery. Actually, the opposite.

 

[Hillbilly]

Oh God, yes please

 

[johnnylawson]

https://www.motorauthority.com/news...xplores-2-speed-transmission-for-off-road-evs

In the patent application in question, which was published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on Feb. 13 (but filed on May 12, 2021), Rivian proposes adding a software mode for free-wheel towing to its electric pickup trucks and SUVs, alongside the various drive modes and other software-enabled features already available.

Free-wheel towing mode would disconnect the motor or motors that normally power the rear wheels, but keep the front-axle motor or motors engaged. Torque would still be applied to the front wheels to keep the vehicle from rolling out of sync with the tow vehicle. Software would use a vehicle's existing sensors to measure wheel speed and gradient, applying torque when necessary and cutting it off at a predetermined threshold.

Correct URL is here: https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1142370_rivian-free-wheel-towing-patent

 

[CharonPDX]

sounds like you'd be consuming battery just to be flat towed. what happens when the rivian battery gets too low while being towed?

I would imagine it would use less power than directly necessary, engaging regenerative braking to maintain charge level, while thereby increasing the tow-load on the towing vehicle.

 

[HaveBlue]

That would be super cool considering there's no way to tow one off the trail right now.

 

[socaladam]

What a concept… wonder where they got the idea. Hmmmm

 

[Zoidz]

Like any patent, this is not an indicator that Rivian intends to actually implement it on a Rivian vehicle, so don't expect "Flat Tow" Mode to show up in OTA 2024.50 or whatever. According to the patent, the update could be delivered via floppy disk, CD, DVD, etc. Whaaatt, you say? Read on.

The real gem here is that it appears to be the first to address this concept at all, and if you read the patent, it is a quite broad patent which could lead to licensing benefits to Rivian. Some might find this boring, but they extensively mention generic terms to make this as broad of scope as possible. Basically they are qualifying that if you use ANY type of software and hardware, this patent applies. This is a catch-all, whether it's controlled by a general purpose microprocessor or an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).

"Those skilled in the art will recognize", lol.

Patent

Those skilled in the art will recognize that at least a portion of the ECU 30, the BMU 36, the on-board charger 44, the HMI 40, controllers, components, devices and/or processes described herein can be integrated into a data processing system. Those having skill in the art will recognize that a data processing system generally includes one or more of a system unit housing, a video display device, memory such as volatile or non-volatile memory, processors such as microprocessors or digital signal processors, computational entities such as operating systems, drivers, graphical user interfaces, and applications programs, one or more interaction devices (e.g., a touch pad, a touch screen, an antenna, etc.), and/or control systems including feedback loops and control motors (e.g., feedback for sensing position and/or velocity; control motors for moving and/or adjusting components and/or quantities). A data processing system may be implemented utilizing suitable commercially available components, such as those typically found in data computing/communication and/or network computing/communication systems.
...
In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the mechanisms of the subject matter described herein are capable of being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, and that an illustrative embodiment of the subject matter described herein applies regardless of the particular type of signal bearing medium used to actually carry out the distribution. Examples of a signal bearing medium include, but are not limited to, the following: a recordable type medium such as a floppy disk, a hard disk drive, a Compact Disc (CD), a Digital Video Disk (DVD), a digital tape, a computer memory, etc.; and a transmission type medium such as a digital and/or an analog communication medium (e.g., a fiber optic cable, a waveguide, a wired communications link, a wireless communication link (e.g., transmitter, receiver, transmission logic, reception logic, etc.), etc.).

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