Dynamic lateral trailer hitch positioning system
AssigneeToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
InventorEthan W. Pomish
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems for adjusting a trailer attached to a vehicle. The system includes a hitch of the vehicle located on a track along a rear end of the vehicle and configured to couple the vehicle to the trailer and move along the track. The system also includes cone or more actuators coupled to the hitch and configured to move the hitch along the track. The system also includes an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to instruct the one or more actuators to move the hitch along the track.
Claims20
A system for adjusting a trailer attached to a vehicle, the system comprising:
- a hitch of the vehicle located on a track along a rear end of the vehicle and configured to couple the vehicle to the trailer and move along the track;
- one or more actuators coupled to the hitch and configured to move the hitch along the track;
- and
- an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to instruct the one or more actuators to move the hitch along the track.
A vehicle coupled to a trailer, the vehicle comprising:
- a hitch located on a track along a rear end of the vehicle and configured to couple the vehicle to the trailer and move along the track;
- one or more actuators coupled to the hitch and configured to move the hitch along the track;
- and
- an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to instruct the one or more actuators to move the hitch along the track.
A method for adjusting a trailer attached to a vehicle, the method comprising:
- detecting, by one or more sensors of the vehicle, sensor data indicating a location and an orientation of the trailer relative to the vehicle;
- determining, by an electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle, an ideal hitch location based on the sensor data;
- and
- instructing, by the ECU, one or more actuators to move the hitch located on a track along a rear end of the vehicle to the ideal hitch location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.