Rear Wheel Steering Control for Trailer Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rear wheel steering systems for vehicles lack an efficient method to determine if a trailer is attached and adjust the steering angle accordingly, relying on additional sensors and driver switches, which increases costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A control apparatus using sensors from a conventional parking assist system to determine if a trailer is attached and calculate a target rear wheel steering angle, eliminating the need for separate switches and additional sensors by utilizing threshold distance and change rate values, and hitch angle calculations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional sensors and driver mode switches are used to determine trailer mode, then trailer detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling existing parking assist sensors to serve dual purposes: their original parking detection function and the new function of trailer detection. The same sensors, signal processing units, and control algorithms are reused to determine trailer mode, eliminating the need for dedicated trailer detection hardware and reducing system complexity while maintaining detection accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies self-service by having the existing sensor network automatically detect trailer presence without requiring additional specialized sensors or manual driver input. The control apparatus autonomously determines trailer mode by analyzing data from the parking assist sensors, and the driver mode switch automatically adjusts steering parameters based on detected trailer presence, eliminating the need for separate trailer detection systems
2Reliability
If additional sensors are installed for trailer detection, then trailer mode detection reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces manufacturing cost by making the existing parking assist sensors perform dual functions. The same sensors, processors, and control units are used for both parking assistance and trailer detection, eliminating the need to manufacture and install additional specialized sensors or control modules, thereby reducing overall system cost while maintaining reliable trailer mode detection
3Manufacturing precision
If preset trailer parameters are used for calculating target rear wheel steering angle, then control accuracy in trailer mode is improved, but adaptability to different trailer configurations decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from static preset trailer parameters to dynamic, real-time parameter determination. The system continuously calculates actual trailer parameters (such as trailer mass, yaw moment, and cornering stiffness) based on real-time sensor data including distances from multiple sensors to the trailer. This dynamic adaptation allows the control system to accurately determine target rear wheel steering angles for various trailer configurations without relying on fixed preset values, thereby maintaining control accuracy while enhancing adaptability
Data Source
AI summary
A control apparatus for a rear wheel steering system is provided to control the rear wheel steering system by calculating a target rear wheel steering angle using sensors included in a parking assist system. The control apparatus includes a first sensor and a second sensor spaced apart from each other and mounted on a rear portion of a vehicle, a determiner configured to determine whether a trailer is mounted at a rear side of the vehicle using the first sensor or the second sensor, and a controller configured to control the rear wheel steering system according to a target rear wheel steering angle calculated using the first and second sensors when it is determined that the trailer is mounted at the rear side of the vehicle.