Trailer Backup Assist System Path Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reversing a vehicle while towing a trailer can be challenging due to opposite steering inputs, amplified errors leading to the trailer departing from the desired path, limited space, and the risk of jackknife conditions, which can result in damage to the vehicle or trailer.
Innovation Solution
A trailer backup assist system that includes sensors to detect the hitch angle and object proximity, generating a set of available backing paths that avoid obstacles and prevent jackknife conditions, allowing the driver to input a desired path using a steering input device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the driver manually controls the trailer during reverse operations, then the driver can adjust to different situations and objects, but the difficulty of operation increases due to opposite steering inputs, amplified errors, and jackknife risks
Solution Approach 1:
The trailer backup assist system performs self-monitoring and self-correction by automatically detecting hitch angle deviations and generating steering corrections without continuous driver intervention. The system serves itself by monitoring its own operational state and making adjustments to maintain safe operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical steering control with an automated electronic control system that uses sensors to detect hitch angle and objects, processes this information through a controller, and automatically adjusts steering to prevent jackknife conditions and avoid obstacles.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the driver steers to avoid objects in the perimeter field, then collision risk is reduced, but the complexity of control increases due to the need to simultaneously manage object avoidance and jackknife prevention
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors hitch angle, object proximity, and trailer position, then uses this feedback to automatically adjust steering commands. The controller receives real-time data from sensors and makes dynamic corrections to maintain safe operation while avoiding objects and preventing jackknife conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary between the driver's backup command and the actual steering execution. It processes multiple inputs (hitch angle, object proximity, trailer position) and generates appropriate steering corrections, mediating between conflicting requirements of object avoidance and jackknife prevention.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the steering system allows full range of motion for manual control, then the driver has maximum flexibility to correct errors, but the risk of inducing jackknife conditions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts steering angle limits based on real-time hitch angle measurements. When the hitch angle approaches critical values that could lead to jackknife, the controller automatically reduces the available steering range. This dynamic adaptation maintains steering flexibility when safe while preventing jackknife conditions when risk is present.
Data Source
AI summary
A trailer backup assist system, according to one embodiment, includes a steering input device for inputting a desired backing path of a trailer. The trailer backup assist system also includes a first sensor that senses a hitch angle between a vehicle and the trailer. Further, the trailer backup assist system includes a second sensor that senses a proximity of an object in a perimeter field of at least one of the vehicle and the trailer. A controller of the trailer backup assist system generates an available set of backing paths for the trailer based on the proximity of the object and the hitch angle. The available set of backing paths does not include backing paths that cross a space occupied by the object or that cause a jackknife condition between the vehicle and the trailer.