GM Trademarks Sidewinder for Future Steering Systems

GM has filed a trademark application under the name Sidewinder for a new steering system to be used in future vehicles.

The application, filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on October 5, covers "electronic controllers for steering systems for land vehicles." While we have not seen an accompanying patent application for such hardware, it makes sense that GM would develop a new steering system to keep up with its rivals.

GM started the trend for trick steering features with the GMC Hummer EV Pickup club walk, which allows the massive electric truck to travel sideways (at an angle) at low speeds. However, other automakers have also devised their own steering gimmicks for electric vehicles.

Rivian has shown that its R1S SUV and R1T pickup can do a tank turn and can turn within the length of its body like its eponymous tracked military vehicle, but this feature does not yet appear to have been added to production vehicles. Mercedes-Benz has also promised to include the tank-turning feature in its EQG electric G-Wagen, which is scheduled to be introduced in 2024.

Ford has filed at least two patents for the tank-turn feature: one version describes using the EV's motor to drive the front and rear wheels in opposite directions, while the other version uses four-wheel steering to turn the front and rear wheels in opposite directions explained that.

All of these ideas have been applied to EVs because of the precise control possible with electric motors. Also, things like tank turns are likely to be easiest on loose surfaces like dirt, hence the focus on off-road applications. Perhaps GM is planning its own version of the tank turn for a future update of the Hummer EV, or for the Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra Denali EV pickups.