Offset compensation for trailer backup assist steering input device

A trailer backup assist system for a vehicle reversing a trailer, comprising:

• a steering input device disposed in the vehicle and having a position indicator, the steering input device movable from a biased position to a number of positions, each position of the steering input device outputting a signal aligned with the position indicator and indicative of a desired curvature for a backup path of the vehicle and the trailer;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• determine a signal offset when the steering input device is returned to the biased position and the signal outputted from the knob is out of alignment with the position indicator;
• apply the signal offset to the signal such that the signal is realigned with the position indicator;
• and generate a steering command for the vehicle to guide the trailer on the desired curvature according to the signal to which the signal offset was applied.

A method for reversing a vehicle attached to a trailer, comprising:

• providing a knob inside the vehicle and having a position indicator, the knob rotatable from a biased position to a number of positions, each position of the knob outputting a signal aligned with the position indicator and indicative of a desired curvature for a backup path of the vehicle and the trailer;
• and
• providing a controller configured to:
• determine a signal offset when the knob is returned to the biased position and the signal outputted from the knob is out of alignment with the position indicator;
• apply the signal offset to the outputted signal such that the outputted signal is realigned with the position indicator;
• and
• generate a steering command for the vehicle to guide the trailer on the desired curvature according to the outputted signal to which the signal offset was applied.