TRAILER REVERSE ASSIST CONTROL

• US 20140229070A1
• Filed: 02/12/2013
• Published: 08/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Witting, Daniel F.
• Application Number:
  US13/765,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20140229070A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/42
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/245 for facilitating push back or parking of trailers
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/62 involving supply lines, electric circuits, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 13/06 for backing a normally drawn trailer
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0275 by overlaying a vehicle path based on present steering angle over an image without processing that image

Abstract

A trailer reverse assist system for a vehicle coupled to a trailer is provided. The trailer reverse assist system includes a park assist controller configured to receive a distance input from at least one rear distance sensor. The park assist controller is configured to determine a pitch angle of the trailer relative to the vehicle based on the distance input. An electronic power steering system is coupled to the park assist controller. The electronic power steering system is configured to adjust a hand wheel angle of the vehicle based on the pitch angle of the trailer.

Claims

1. A trailer reverse assist system for a vehicle coupled to a trailer, the trailer reverse assist system comprising:

a park assist controller configured to receive a distance input from at least one rear distance sensor, the park assist controller configured to determine a pitch angle of the trailer relative to the vehicle based on the distance input; and

an electronic power steering system coupled to the park assist controller, the electronic power steering system configured to adjust a hand wheel angle of the vehicle based on the pitch angle of the trailer.

2. The trailer reverse assist system of claim 1, wherein the park assist controller comprises a distance determination module configured to determine a distance between the vehicle and a target location of the trailer based on the distance input.

3. The trailer reverse assist system of claim 2, wherein the park assist controller further comprises a pitch angle determination module in communication with the distance determination module and configured to determine the pitch angle of the trailer relative to the vehicle based on the distance between the vehicle and the target location of the trailer.

4. The trailer reverse assist system of claim 3, wherein the target location of the trailer is a wheel of the trailer.

5. The trailer reverse assist system of claim 1, wherein the at least one rear distance sensor comprises one or more of:

an ultrasonic sensor, an infrared sensor, and a rear vision system.

6. The trailer reverse assist system of claim 1, further comprising a control module configured to:

receive a vehicle speed, the hand wheel angle, the pitch angle of the trailer, and an intended path of the trailer;

determine a hand wheel command to adjust the hand wheel angle and align the pitch angle of the trailer with the intended path of the trailer based on the vehicle speed, the hand wheel angle, the pitch angle of the trailer, and the intended path of the trailer; and

output the hand wheel command to a power steering motor of the electronic power steering system.

7. The trailer reverse assist system of claim 6, wherein the control module is in communication with a trailer reverse assist control switch and a transmission gear selector, and the trailer reverse assist system is enabled responsive to a state of the trailer reverse assist control switch being enabled and the transmission gear selector being set to reverse.

8. The trailer reverse assist system of claim 6, further comprising a display system configured to display the intended path of the trailer, the display system comprising one or more of:

an active display rearview mirror and a dashboard display.

9. The trailer reverse assist system of claim 6, wherein the control module updates the hand wheel command such that a difference between the pitch angle of the trailer and the intended path of the trailer is maintained within a predetermined angle threshold.

10. The trailer reverse assist system of claim 9, wherein the intended path of the trailer is a fixed angle based on an initial alignment of the vehicle relative to the trailer upon enabling the trailer reverse assist system, and the pitch angle of the trailer is further determined based on a variation from the initial alignment.

11. A method for trailer reverse assist for a vehicle coupled to a trailer, the method comprising:

receiving, at a park assist controller, a distance input from at least one rear distance sensor;

determining, by the park assist controller, a pitch angle of the trailer relative to the vehicle based on the distance input;

providing the pitch angle of the trailer and a hand wheel angle of the vehicle to an electronic power steering system; and

adjusting, by the electronic power steering system, the hand wheel angle of the vehicle based on the pitch angle of the trailer.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining a distance between the vehicle and a target location of the trailer based on the distance input.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining the pitch angle of the trailer relative to the vehicle based on the distance between the vehicle and the target location of the trailer.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the target location of the trailer is a wheel of the trailer.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one rear distance sensor comprises one or more of:

an ultrasonic sensor, an infrared sensor, and a rear vision system.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a vehicle speed, the hand wheel angle, the pitch angle of the trailer, and an intended path of the trailer at a control module;

determining, by the control module, a hand wheel command to adjust the hand wheel angle and align the pitch angle of the trailer with the intended path of the trailer based on the vehicle speed, the hand wheel angle, the pitch angle of the trailer, and the intended path of the trailer; and

outputting the hand wheel command to a power steering motor of the electronic power steering system.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

determining a state of a trailer reverse assist control switch and a transmission gear selector; and

performing the adjusting of the hand wheel angle based on the trailer reverse assist control switch being enabled and the transmission gear selector being set to reverse.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising displaying the intended path of the trailer on a display system, the display system comprising one or more of:

an active display rearview mirror and a dashboard display.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising updating the hand wheel command such that a difference between the pitch angle of the trailer and the intended path of the trailer is maintained within a predetermined angle threshold.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the intended path of the trailer is a fixed angle based on an initial alignment of the vehicle relative to the trailer upon enabling trailer reverse assistance, and the pitch angle of the trailer is further determined based on a variation from the initial alignment.