Systems and methods are provided for controlling operation of a trailer brake system associated with an agricultural vehicle-trailer combination. A coupling force between the vehicle and the trailer is determined and used to control operation of the trailer brake system in dependence thereon. A primary control strategy is used in dependence on the determined coupling force being within a coupling force range; and one or more secondary control strategies are used in dependence on the determined coupling force being outside of the coupling force range.

In exemplary embodiments, methods and systems are provided that include: sensors configured to obtain sensor data for a vehicle having both friction braking and regenerative braking capabilities and coupled to a trailer, the sensor data including: friction braking data as to a vehicle friction braking force for the vehicle; and regenerative braking sensor data as to a vehicle regenerative braking force for the vehicle; and a processor coupled to the sensors and configured to at least facilitate controlling braking of the trailer by providing trailer braking force, via instructions provided by the processor, based on both the friction braking data and the regenerative braking sensor data, with a sensitivity toward the vehicle regenerative braking force such that the trailer braking force is affected differently by the vehicle regenerative braking force versus the vehicle friction braking force.

Various examples are directed to systems and methods for operating a vehicle comprising a tractor and a trailer attached for pulling behind the tractor. A center-of-mass system may determine a mass of the trailer and a tractor understeer. The center-of-mass system may determine the tractor understeer using steering input data describing a steering angle of the tractor and yaw data describing a yaw of the tractor. The center-of-mass system may determine a load center of mass using the tractor understeer and a mass of the trailer. The center-of-mass system may further determine that the load center of mass transgresses a center-of-mass threshold and send an alert message indicating that the load transgresses the load center-of-mass threshold.

A method for operating a braking system for a motor vehicle is proposed. The method includes the step of operating at least one rear wheel brake and at least one front wheel brake to perform a parking braking function when there is a requirement for parking braking. Furthermore, a braking system, a method for controlling it, a computer program, a control unit and a motor vehicle are proposed.

A vehicle control device 1 has a prediction unit 122 that predicts a stopping position of a vehicle T, a gradient identification unit 123 that identifies the amount of gradient in the road surface at the stopping position predicted by the prediction unit 122, a weight identification unit 124 that identifies the weight of the vehicle T, and a braking control unit 125 that brakes the vehicle T by changing the pressure of the brakes of the vehicle T at a changing velocity determined on the basis of the amount of gradient identified by the gradient identification unit 123 and the weight of the vehicle T.

Various examples of a controller, method and system for monitoring a tractor-trailer vehicle train are disclosed. In one example a tractor controller is manually-initiated or a user-initiated tractor controller and includes an electrical control port for receiving an electrical sync signal and an electrical start signal, and a communications port for receiving data. A processing unit of the tractor controller includes control logic and is in communication with the electrical control port. The control logic is capable of receiving a data signal at the communications port which includes a time value and a unique identification which corresponds to the towed vehicle in response to the electrical start signal. At a predetermined response time, the tractor controller determines the position of the towed vehicle in the tractor-trailer vehicle train based on the data received from the towed vehicles.

An apparatus and method are provided for determining the braking status of trailers and dollies in a multi-trailer vehicle train. A vehicle controller receives inputs from the vehicle to determine an estimate of the total vehicle mass from the dynamic response of the vehicle to an input such as application of engine torque, and to determine an estimate of the loads of the vehicle based on information provided from trailers and dollies communicating with the vehicle controller. A plausibility analysis is conducted to determine whether the estimates are within a tolerance range indicative of whether all of the trailers and dollies are communicating with the vehicle controller. If the vehicle controller determines that not all of the trailer and dolly anti-lock braking and/or stability control systems are available, the vehicle controller may in subsequent braking events command trailer and dolly brake application at a reduced level intended to avoid trailer and dolly wheel skidding.

Provided is a wheel load estimation device configured to acquire wheel speed information of each wheel included in a vehicle from a wheel speed sensor provided in the vehicle; to calculate a front-rear load ratio and a left-right load ratio based on the wheel speed information; and to calculate a wheel load ratio expressing a relative wheel load between the wheels included in the vehicle, with respect to at least one wheel of the vehicle, based on the front-rear load ratio and the left-right load ratio. The front-rear load ratio is a ratio between a load applied to a front wheel of the vehicle and a load applied to a rear wheel of the vehicle, and the left-right load ratio is a ratio between a load applied to a left wheel of the vehicle and a load applied to a right wheel of the vehicle.

A controller can display via an instrument cluster a brake capacity based on a temperature of friction material of at least one brake of a vehicle and a predicted brake fade threshold that is derived from a speed, mass, and current angle of inclination of the vehicle.

A method for estimating the mass of a vehicle system includes a number of steps including a first step of providing a vehicle system having at least a powertrain and a vehicle control module. Three different mass estimates are assigned with the last mass estimate being the most accurate. The mass estimates are used in the vehicle control module calculations for vehicle control parameters in the event that the weight of the vehicle changes.