Virtual Vehicle Hitching Control for Alignment and Jackknife Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for hitching vehicles require manual maneuvering and physical connections, leading to alignment issues and potential jackknifing during towing.
Innovation Solution
A system that controls a following vehicle to autonomously align and hitch with a lead vehicle through a wireless communication link, generating a kinematically feasible path and controlling the vehicle's movements to follow the lead vehicle without a physical connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If hitching aids are used to assist driver in aligning vehicles, then the burden of reversing and aligning is reduced, but the towing vehicle still needs to move to the towed vehicle and alignment issues may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical hitching system with an automated electronic control system. The following vehicle's hitching system autonomously maneuvers to align with the lead vehicle using wireless communication, path generation algorithms, and automated steering control, eliminating the need for manual driver operation and physical hitch connection attempts.
Solution Approach 2:
The following vehicle performs self-alignment and self-hitching operations without requiring the lead vehicle to be stationary or for a driver to manually maneuver. The system autonomously generates and executes hitching paths, automatically steers the vehicle into proper alignment, and maintains connection stability through continuous automated adjustment.
2Reliability
If physical hitch connection is used to tow vehicles, then vehicles can be connected, but alignment issues cause jackknifing during movement
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the relative position and orientation between the lead and following vehicles using sensors and wireless communication. Real-time feedback data is used to dynamically adjust the hitching path and maintain proper alignment during towing operations, preventing jackknifing by constantly correcting any deviation from the ideal towing configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic hitching system that adapts to changing conditions during towing. The automated control system continuously adjusts steering angle, speed, and position based on real-time vehicle states and environmental factors, maintaining optimal alignment and connection stability rather than relying on fixed mechanical hitching.
3Measurement precision
If autonomous vehicle control is implemented for hitchless towing, then precise alignment can be achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated hitching system integrates multiple functions into a unified control architecture. The same control module that manages normal vehicle operation also handles autonomous hitching maneuvers, path generation, and alignment maintenance, reducing overall system complexity despite the advanced capabilities required for precise autonomous alignment.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to improving initiating hitchless towing between a lead vehicle and a following vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes in response to initiating hitchless towing between a lead vehicle and a following vehicle, generating a hitching path that provides a route from the following vehicle to the lead vehicle, controlling the following vehicle to travel the hitching path, aligning the following vehicle with the lead vehicle, and controlling the following vehicle to perform the hitchless towing by following the lead vehicle without a physical connection.