The engineering team at Mercedes-Benz must be getting tired of Chinese EVs that can float and Elon Musk’s hilariously disproven claims that the Cybertruck can work like a boat. That’s because CarBuzz has just found a new patent from Benz for an invention that makes its own SUVs “perform a swimming operation.” Their words, not ours.
It also lets you get in and out of the water more easily, which is handy for that busy boat ramp.
The Next G-Wagen Could Be Ready For An Amphibious Invasion
2019-2024 Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUVMercedes-Benz
“The invention relates to a vehicle control unit for carrying out an entry into and exit from a body of water.” That’s how the patent starts, and so the rest has our full and undivided attention.
Mercedes-Benz doesn’t pretend that it can just drive an SUV into a lake and hope for the best. The patent starts with inflatable or foam inserts that are designed to go into the wheel arches to keep the SUV above water.
The inflatable inserts in particular can be inflated and deflated by the computer control unit. This would let them deflate when you’re high and dry. They also let the controller adjust buoyancy at each corner of the vehicle. This keeps it as stable as possible while you’re in the water, especially if the vehicle’s load is unbalanced or there is a strong current.
With the inserts in place, the SUV’s tires and wheels would still be able to turn and steer as well as be raised and lowered. It doesn’t need to do that for suspension travel over bumps, but it would use suspension travel to help maintain control.
How Do You Steer A Floating Car?
G-Class Water FordMercedes-Benz
Because an SUV doesn’t have a rudder or a propeller, it has to steer and drive itself using the wheels and tires. Using the vehicle’s adaptive suspension to drop the steering wheels further into the water helps them to act like a rudder, improving steering control. Finding the perfect height for the turning tires optimizes propulsion.
On an electric SUV, the system could apply tiny changes to power output between each of the four tires, and even reverse one or more. That would help the SUV stay on course when it’s going for a swim.
The patent even covers storing the buoyancy devices, inflatable or foam, where the spare tire would normally live. It could use the compressor from the tire slime kit to inflate them for installation.
How would you hold the bladders in place? Magnets or clips. Or “another way.” Okay, then.
For getting in and out of moving water, the Benz patent describes controlling the power at each wheel to keep the vehicle pointed at the shore. It would also closely control traction to the tire touching shore as soon as it made contact, so the wheel wouldn’t slip or dig into the bank.
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters:
Yangwang U8 floating on waterYangwang U8
Is Mercedes-Benz going after the YangWang U8? Maybe not directly, but the company is clearly thinking about it.
The company that invented the car isn’t going to invent the amphibious SUV. But it could probably do it better than anyone else. Add that to the list of fun stuff Benz off-roaders can do along with the sand bounce and the tank turn.
Patent filings do not guarantee the use of such technology in future vehicles and are often used exclusively as a means of protecting intellectual property. Such a filing cannot be construed as confirmation of production intent.
Source: DPMA
