Trailer Backup Assist Hitch Angle Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reversing a vehicle while towing a trailer is challenging, especially for inexperienced drivers, due to the need for opposite steering inputs and amplified steering errors leading to the trailer deviating from the desired path, and the risk of jackknife conditions.
Innovation Solution
A trailer backup assist system that monitors the hitch angle and adjusts the operating range to prevent jackknife conditions by measuring the steering and hitch angles, allowing for intuitive path control and safe reverse operations by determining the maximum controllable hitch angle and estimating trailer length.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the operating range of hitch angle is set to a minimum range for safety, then jackknife conditions are prevented, but the maneuverability and control flexibility during reverse operations are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the operating range of the hitch angle based on observed hitch angles during forward operation. The processor monitors the hitch angle and increases the operating range from a minimum range to an expanded range, allowing the system to adapt between safety constraints and operational flexibility rather than maintaining a fixed range.
Solution Approach 2:
The processor performs preliminary monitoring of the hitch angle during forward operation before the reverse maneuver begins. This preliminary action establishes the observed hitch angle range that informs the subsequent adjustment of the operating range during guided reverse operation, preparing the system in advance for optimal performance.
2Reliability
If trailer length is underestimated to ensure safety margins, then jackknife conditions are avoided, but the accuracy of trailer path control and curvature calculation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the monitored hitch angle during forward operation to correct the estimated trailer length. The processor compares the observed hitch angle behavior against expected patterns and adjusts the trailer length estimate accordingly, improving accuracy while maintaining safety through iterative refinement rather than static underestimation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces direct mechanical measurement of trailer length with an estimation approach based on hitch angle monitoring and computational analysis. Instead of relying on physical measurement devices or conservative mechanical safety margins, the system uses sensor data and algorithms to determine trailer length, enabling more precise control.
3Ease of operation
If the operating range is increased based on observed hitch angles, then maneuverability and path control flexibility are improved, but the risk of approaching jackknife conditions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-validation by monitoring its own hitch angle operations and using this information to safely expand its operating range. The processor analyzes the vehicle's actual hitch angle behavior during forward operation and uses this self-generated data to determine a safe expanded operating range for reverse operations, eliminating the need for external conservative margins.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for determining a jackknife condition of a vehicle and trailer is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a processor operable to set an operating range of a hitch angle to a minimum range. The processor monitors the hitch angle while the vehicle is operated in a forward direction and increases the operating range based on the hitch angle observed during the monitoring. The processor is further operable to utilize the increased operating range to prevent a jackknife condition during a guided reverse operation of the vehicle.