A trailer assist system includes a controller configured to determine whether a trailer is in a jackknife condition based on an angle of the trailer relative to a vehicle. Determination is made whether the jackknife condition can be corrected by utilizing vehicle brakes, trailer brakes, or vehicle steering.

A brake fluid pressure control device for vehicles with bar handle which is configured to start a holding control of a fluid pressure of a wheel brake according to wheel deceleration calculated based on a wheel speed of the vehicle is provided. In the brake fluid pressure control device, the vehicle includes an acceleration sensor which is configured to detect acceleration in a front-rear direction of the vehicle, acceleration, detected by the acceleration sensor, which occurs in a rearward direction when the vehicle is decelerating is detected as a positive value, and the holding control is started when it is judged that the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor is larger than or equal to a detection acceleration threshold value and the wheel deceleration is smaller than or equal to a wheel deceleration threshold value.

A vehicle combination comprising a tractor vehicle and a trailer vehicle, each vehicle including wheels on different sides of the vehicle and wheel brakes associated with the wheels. A method for controlling the vehicle combination includes determining a yaw rate difference between a yaw rate of the tractor vehicle and a yaw rate of the trailer vehicle; determining, on the basis of the yaw rate difference, that an orientation of one of the vehicles deviates from an intended travel direction of the vehicle combination; and activating a wheel brake of the vehicle on only one side of the vehicle in order to counter the orientation deviation of the vehicle relative to the intended travel direction.

A collision avoidance support device for a vehicle that includes an obstacle detection device for detecting an obstacle in front of the vehicle and an electronic control unit configured to perform automatic brake control that automatically applies braking force to a vehicle when it is determined that the obstacle detection device have detected an obstacle and the vehicle may collide with the obstacle, and the electronic control unit is configured to prohibit the automatic brake control when the vehicle is towing a trailer and a friction coefficient of a road surface is determined to be lower than a standard value.

A method and device for stabilizing a tractor vehicle-trailer combination during travel, in which tractor vehicle and trailer are connected via at least one pivot joint, including: ascertaining a setpoint buckling angle for a driving-stable setpoint movement of the combination, and/or a setpoint buckling angle velocity for a driving-stable setpoint movement of the combination, between the combination or between two trailers; ascertaining an actual buckling angle for the effective actual movement of the combination, and/or an actual buckling angle velocity for the effective actual movement of the combination, between the tractor vehicle and trailer or between multiple trailers; ascertaining a deviation between the setpoint and actual buckling angles and/or between the setpoint and actual buckling angle velocities, and if the deviation exceeds a threshold value, generating a control signal to activate at least one vehicle component to control movement of the combination in a direction toward a driving-stable movement state.

A dolly stabilizer is mounted onto a rear end of a trailer and has a stabilizer plate, a stabilizer pin, and a control box. The stabilizer plate is mounted to a chassis having at least one pair wheels. The stabilizer plate may comprise a plurality of mounting holes. It includes a dolly tongue stabilizer pin hole that receives the stabilizer pin. The stabilizer plate includes an internal piston that is selectively driven into a recess or opening in the stabilizer pin to straighten a position of a subsequent trailer or dolly relative to a preceding one. The control box includes a pneumatic input for receiving pressurized air and a pneumatic output to brakes on the dolly. A speed sensor may be coupled to the control box for allowing speed control of the dolly wheels. Electrical connections accept power for operating lights and other electrical devices on the dolly.

A trailer sway warning system, according to one embodiment, includes a hitch angle sensor for sensing a hitch angle between a vehicle and a trailer. The trailer sway warning system includes a vehicle sensor for sensing a dynamic parameter of the vehicle, such as a steering angle rate or a yaw rate of the vehicle. Further, the trailer sway warning system includes a controller that generates a warning signal when the hitch angle is oscillating at a magnitude that exceeds a warning threshold and the dynamic parameter is substantially constant.

Systems and methods are described for monitoring movement of a trailer relative to the towing vehicle and providing driver-assistance information to the driver of the towing vehicle. The system determines a velocity vector for the host vehicle at a location near a rear of the host vehicle at a defined lateral distance from a trailer hitch installed on the host vehicle. The system also determines a velocity vector for the trailer at a corresponding location on the trailerthat is a location on the front of the trailer at approximately the same defined lateral distance from the trailer hitch. The system compares the velocity vector for the host vehicle to the velocity vector for the trailer and determines, based on the comparison, whether a jack-knife condition is likely to occur. If a jack-knife condition is likely to occur, the system generates a warning signal.

A system for assisting a vehicle in reversing a trailer includes a vehicle steering system, a vehicle sensor outputting a vehicle velocity and a trailer sensor outputting a trailer yaw rate. The system further includes a controller controlling the vehicle steering system in reversing the trailer to cause a control parameter based on the trailer yaw rate and the vehicle velocity to converge toward a predetermined value.

A system for assisting a vehicle in reversing a trailer includes a vehicle steering system, a vehicle sensor outputting a vehicle velocity and a trailer sensor outputting a trailer yaw rate. The system further includes a controller controlling the vehicle steering system in reversing the trailer to cause a control parameter based on the trailer yaw rate and the vehicle velocity to converge toward a predetermined value.