Trailer Back-Up Assist Path Correction and Jack-Knife Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Backing a vehicle with a trailer is challenging due to the need for counter-steering, potential jack-knife conditions, and navigating around obstacles, which existing trailer back-up assist systems often complicate with complex Human Machine Interfaces and requirements for known paths and obstacle avoidance.
Innovation Solution
A trailer back-up assist system that uses proximity information from sensors to correct the vehicle's path and prevent collisions, automatically or through driver input, while detecting and mitigating jack-knife conditions, using existing sensor technologies and electromechanical systems to simplify the process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If trailer back-up assist systems assume a zero curvature path to simplify control, then the control algorithm becomes simpler, but the system loses adaptability to real-world curved path requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts the path curvature based on detected obstacles and available space. The curvature parameter is not fixed but adjusts in real-time during the back-up maneuver, allowing the system to transition between straight and curved paths as needed to avoid obstacles while maintaining manageable control complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes path parameters (curvature, target position) based on obstacle proximity and spatial constraints. By modifying these parameters dynamically rather than assuming fixed zero curvature, the system achieves adaptability to curved paths without requiring complex manual path specification interfaces
2Loss of information
If the system requires known paths from maps or path planners to assist trailer back-up, then path planning capability is improved, but the Human Machine Interface complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary obstacle detection and path adjustment calculations before the back-up maneuver begins or during early stages. By pre-computing safe paths based on currently detected obstacles rather than requiring pre-stored map data, the system provides path information without complex HMI requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically detects obstacles and computes appropriate back-up paths without requiring driver input for path specification. The trailer back-up assist system serves itself by using sensor data to determine safe paths, eliminating the need for complex HMI elements where drivers would need to specify paths, obstacles, or goals
3Measurement precision
If the system uses high precision GPS, inertial navigation, or cameras to determine path following accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses existing multi-functional sensors already present in modern vehicles (cameras for backup cameras, ultrasonic sensors for parking assist, radar for collision warning) to also provide path following measurement. By making these existing sensors serve multiple functions including trailer back-up monitoring, the system achieves measurement precision without adding dedicated expensive navigation hardware
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback using available sensor data to monitor trailer position and path following accuracy during the back-up maneuver. By continuously measuring actual position versus desired path and providing feedback for real-time corrections, the system achieves precise path following using existing sensor feedback loops rather than requiring dedicated high-precision navigation systems
4Device complexity
If drivers manually control trailer back-up without assist systems, then system complexity is reduced, but the difficulty of operation increases due to counter-steering and jack-knife prevention requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual mechanical counter-steering operations with automated electronic control. The control system automatically calculates and executes the counter-steering actions needed to prevent jack-knife conditions, substituting the driver's manual mechanical steering adjustments with an electronic control system that processes sensor data and actuates steering accordingly
Solution Approach 2:
The trailer back-up assist system acts as an intermediary between the driver's simple reverse command and the complex coordinated actions required (counter-steering, braking, acceleration control). The system mediates by automatically performing the complex maneuvers needed to safely back up the trailer while preventing jack-knife conditions, reducing the driver's operational burden without requiring full automation
Data Source
AI summary
A trailer back-up assist apparatus comprises an obstacle sensing system operable to output information characterizing proximity of a object adjacent to a vehicle-trailer combination while the vehicle-trailer combination is being backed toward a targeted location and a trailer back-up assist system correction apparatus coupled to the obstacle sensing system. The trailer back-up assist system uses the information characterizing proximity of the object to determine if a path of the vehicle-trailer combination needs to be altered to limit a potential of the vehicle-trailer combination colliding with the object and implements a path correction action to alter the path of travel of the vehicle-trailer combination to reduce the potential for the vehicle-trailer combination colliding with the object.