Trailer backup assist system with active trailer braking for curvature control
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorErick Michael Lavoie
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A trailer backup assist system for a vehicle, according to one embodiment, includes a trailer coupled with the vehicle. The trailer of the trailer backup assist system has a braking system. The trailer backup assist system also includes a sensor that senses a hitch angle between the vehicle and the trailer. In addition, the trailer backup assist system includes a steering input device that provides a desired curvature of the trailer. The trailer backup assist system further includes a controller generating a steering command based on the hitch angle for the vehicle to guide the trailer on the desired curvature and an actuation command for the braking system to reduce a rearward travel distance for the trailer to achieve the desired curvature.
Claims18
A trailer backup assist system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a trailer having a braking system;
- a steering input device providing a desired curvature for the trailer;
- and
- a controller generating a steering command for the vehicle and an actuation command for the braking system to guide the trailer on the desired curvature and to reduce a rearward travel distance to achieve the desired curvature, wherein the steering command and the actuation command are configured for a first trailer to achieve the desired curvature in substantially the same rearward travel distance as a second shorter trailer.
A method for reversing a trailer having a braking system, comprising:
- receiving a desired curvature of the trailer via a steering input device;
- sensing a hitch angle between the trailer and a vehicle via a hitch angle sensor;
- and
- providing a controller configured to:
- generate a steering command for the vehicle to guide the trailer on the desired curvature based on the hitch angle;
- and
- generate an actuation command for the braking system to reduce a rearward travel distance to achieve the desired curvature, wherein the actuation command for the braking system is generated when the rearward travel distance for the trailer to achieve the desired curvature without the actuation command is greater than a threshold distance;
- and wherein the threshold distance is determined based on a length of the trailer, such that a longer length has a greater threshold distance than a shorter length.
A method for backing a trailer with a vehicle, comprising:
- providing a desired curvature for the trailer;
- and
- generating a steering command for the vehicle and an actuation command for a braking system of the trailer to guide the trailer on the desired curvature, wherein the steering command and the actuation command are configured for a first trailer to achieve the desired curvature in substantially a same rearward travel distance as a second shorter trailer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.