Here;s a diagram of how it worked, for interest.
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Jeep May Have Told Us What Hummer's "Crab Mode" Is...15 Years Ago
So by total chance, I came across this today. Meet the Jeep Hurricane Concept.
This was a 2005 concept car from Jeep that features TWO Hemi engines, one in the front, and one in the rear. Not unlike two electric motors...sound familiar?
Anyways, the Jeep used a four-wheel steering system to turn both front wheels in towards the front of the car, and both rear wheels in towards the back of the car. Then using some special differentials connected to the two engines, the wheels began to spin and move the car in a perfect circle. Jeep called this "Crab Steer."
Unlike Rivian's "Tank Turn," which just has the motors turn opposite directions both front and back without turning the wheels...I think the Hummer may do something close, but with all wheels turned into a perfect circle. It requires FAR less power to do this, as Rivian's system really only works on loose dirt or sand, where wheel resistance is low.
Check out the article, and especially the video. Depending on how possible this is to do with 3 electric motors (I assume that the front motor can choose to drive just one of the front wheels, with the two motors in the rear powering each rear wheel independently) ...I really believe this is exactly what Crab Mode is.
auto.howstuffworks.com
This was a 2005 concept car from Jeep that features TWO Hemi engines, one in the front, and one in the rear. Not unlike two electric motors...sound familiar?
Anyways, the Jeep used a four-wheel steering system to turn both front wheels in towards the front of the car, and both rear wheels in towards the back of the car. Then using some special differentials connected to the two engines, the wheels began to spin and move the car in a perfect circle. Jeep called this "Crab Steer."
Unlike Rivian's "Tank Turn," which just has the motors turn opposite directions both front and back without turning the wheels...I think the Hummer may do something close, but with all wheels turned into a perfect circle. It requires FAR less power to do this, as Rivian's system really only works on loose dirt or sand, where wheel resistance is low.
Check out the article, and especially the video. Depending on how possible this is to do with 3 electric motors (I assume that the front motor can choose to drive just one of the front wheels, with the two motors in the rear powering each rear wheel independently) ...I really believe this is exactly what Crab Mode is.
How the Jeep Hurricane Works
The Jeep Hurricane is meant to be an extreme vehicle. It's certainly not intended for the average driver. According to Trevor Creed, Senior VP of Chrysler Group Design, "Jeep Hurricane is simply the most maneuverable, most capable and most powerful 4x4 ever built."
auto.howstuffworks.com
