Nissan Patents a Wild Anti-Hydroplaning System That Shakes Your Front Wheels

Nissan has filed a patent for a new anti-hydroplaning system, and the way it works is genuinely unsettling. According to a filing uncovered by CarBuzz, the system would use the car's advanced driver assist features, including acceleration, braking, and steering, to detect when a layer of water lifts the tires off the road.

When it senses hydroplaning, it steps in to help you regain control.

Here's where it gets strange: the system uses a steer-by-wire setup to rapidly sweep the front wheels back and forth, up to 20 times per second. The patent says the tires could move as much as 45 degrees in either direction. The idea is that this sweeping motion clears water, mud, or sand from under the tires, helping them regain grip.

The steering wheel itself won't move, thanks to steer-by-wire, but you'd still feel the tires wobbling beneath you while driving down the road.

The system can also assist if you're trying to steer out of a hydroplane. If the car isn't responding to your steering input, it can add or subtract steering and braking to get you back on track.

CarBuzz notes that this is the opposite of traditional advice for hydroplaning, which is to ease off the gas and avoid sudden movements. The outlet also points out that a patent filing doesn't guarantee the technology will ever reach production, it's often just a way to protect intellectual property.

So while the idea is intriguing, it may never make it to a showroom near you.