Sensing mechanism for hitch articulation angle

A hitch assembly for a vehicle-trailer combination comprising:

• a hitch ball rotatably coupled to the vehicle, said hitch ball defining at least one generally flat coupling surface;
• an angle sensor configured to measure rotation of the hitch ball;
• a coupler housing, coupled to the trailer, said coupler housing defining a cavity configured to receive the hitch ball, said coupler housing further defining a bearing surface configured to interface with the coupling surfaces,
• wherein the interface of the bearing surface with the coupling surface prevents rotation of the hitch ball with respect to the coupler housing.

A hitch assembly for a vehicle-trailer combination comprising:

• a support structure coupled to the vehicle;
• a hitch ball rotatably coupled to the support structure, said hitch ball having a pair of generally flat coupling surfaces forming one of a slot or a keyed surface;
• an angle sensor configured to measure rotation of the hitch ball;
• a coupler housing coupled to the trailer, the coupler housing defining an interior cavity configured to receive the hitch ball, the coupler housing defining a pair of bearing surfaces configured to interface with the coupling surface and prevent the rotation of the hitch ball with respect to the coupler housing.