Trailer Reverse Assist Control on Uneven Road Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing trailer reverse assist systems deactivate undesirably when traveling over uneven road surfaces, leading to customer dissatisfaction due to loss of control during reverse maneuvers.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that estimate trailer pitch and roll angles, surface unevenness, and adjust parameters such as maximum yaw angle, speed, and dynamic response of the trailer reverse assist system using data processing hardware and sensors to prevent deactivation and enhance control during reverse maneuvers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the trailer reverse assist system uses fixed threshold parameters to detect jackknife events, then the system can reliably detect actual jackknife events, but the system deactivates undesirably on uneven road surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the reverse assist system parameters adaptive rather than fixed. The system dynamically adjusts jackknife detection thresholds and control parameters based on real-time road surface conditions detected by sensors. This allows the system to maintain reliable jackknife detection while adapting to uneven surfaces, preventing false deactivation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical parameters of the control system based on detected road conditions. Specifically, it modifies threshold values for jackknife detection, maximum yaw angle limits, and control response parameters according to the measured surface unevenness. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction between maintaining detection reliability and ensuring adaptability to varying road conditions.
2Reliability
If the system deactivates on uneven surfaces to prevent false jackknife detection, then false deactivation is reduced, but loss of control assistance during reverse maneuvers occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring road surface conditions through sensors and using this information to adjust system parameters in real-time. The feedback loop ensures that the system maintains control assistance availability by adapting to uneven surfaces rather than deactivating, while still preventing false jackknife detection through condition-aware threshold adjustment.
3Device complexity
If the system maintains fixed control parameters, then the control logic remains simple, but the system cannot adapt to varying road surface conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling the control system to automatically adjust its own parameters based on sensor feedback from road conditions. The system serves itself by autonomously modifying control thresholds and parameters without requiring external intervention, thereby maintaining adaptability while keeping the overall control architecture relatively simple.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for operating a vehicle's trailer reverse assist system is disclosed, including receiving vehicle sensor system data from one or more sensors supported by the vehicle. Based upon the received vehicle sensor data, a trailer pitch angle and a trailer roll angle of a coupled trailer are estimated relative to the vehicle. Surface unevenness of a surface traversed by the vehicle and the trailer is estimated, based upon the estimated trailer pitch angle and the estimated trailer roll angle. One or more parameters of the trailer reverse assist system or of the tow vehicle are adjusted based upon the estimated road surface variance. The trailer reverse assist system of the tow vehicle is subsequently operated using the adjusted one or more parameters.