A regenerative braking control system for a vehicle can include one or more user interface elements located in a cabin of the vehicle. The user interface element(s) can correspond to a plurality of regenerative braking settings. Each of the regenerative braking setting(s) can correspond to a different amount of regenerative braking torque to apply to the wheel(s) of the vehicle. The system can include a processor operatively connected to the user interface element(s). The processor can be configured to detect a condition, the condition being at least one of a weight of the vehicle, a center of gravity of the vehicle, a weight of a trailer operatively connected to the vehicle, and a center of gravity of a trailer operatively connected to the vehicle. The processor can be configured to cause the amount of regenerative braking torque for the regenerative braking setting(s) to be adjusted based on the condition.

A method for operating a motor vehicle including a drive mechanism having at least a first drive unit and at least a second drive unit is provided. The method includes providing a drive torque directed at the driving of the motor vehicle in a first setting of the drive mechanism only by means of the second drive unit and in a second setting by means of both drive units, wherein upon exceeding a start-up threshold value by a demanded preset power there is a switching from the first setting to the second setting, and upon falling below a shut-off threshold value by the demanded preset power there is a switching from the second setting to the first setting. It is provided that the start-up threshold value and/or the shut-off threshold value is determined in dependence on a driving resistance of the motor vehicle and/or a vehicle weight of the motor vehicle. A motor vehicle employing the method is also provided.

A hitch angle module determines a hitch angle based on an input from at least one of a vehicle rear camera and a hitch angle sensor. The hitch angle is an angle between a longitudinal centerline of a trailer and a longitudinal centerline of a vehicle. A trailer load sensor measures a load on a trailer hitch of the vehicle. A trailer wheel speed sensor measures a wheel speed of the trailer. A trailer dimension module determines at least one of a width of the trailer, a mass of the trailer, a drawbar length of the trailer, a height of the trailer, and a trailer hitching length of the vehicle based on at least one of the hitch angle, the trailer load, and the trailer wheel speed. The trailer hitching length is a distance from a rear axle of the vehicle to a distal end of the trailer hitch.

Various applications for use of mass estimations of a vehicle, including to control operation of the vehicle, sharing the mass estimation with other vehicles and/or a Network Operations Center (NOC), organizing vehicles operating in a platoon and/or partially controlling the operation of one or more vehicles operating in a platoon based on the relative mass estimations between the platooning vehicles. When vehicles are operating in a platoon, the relative mass between a lead and a following vehicle may be used to scale torque and/or brake commands generated by the lead vehicle and sent to the following vehicle.

An electronic control unit that is installed on a vehicle connected to a trailer and capable of towing the trailer changes travel control of the vehicle according to a type of the trailer when the trailer is connected to the vehicle.

Informed towing is provided. Towing information is identified, by a towing vehicle, with respect to a towed vehicle to be towed by the towing vehicle. A towed configuration of the towed vehicle is monitored. Responsive to the towed configuration of the towed vehicle being incorrect according to the towing information, a warning is displayed in the HMI indicating the incorrect towing configuration.

Particular embodiments described herein provide for a system and method to help enable a towing vehicle. In an example, the system can identify a location of the disabled vehicle, deploy the towing vehicle to the location of the disabled vehicle, where the towing vehicle uses sensor data from a sensor suite and a perception module to navigate to the location of the disabled vehicle, and use the towing vehicle to tow the disabled vehicle to a new location.

Systems and methods are provided for determining an optimal point during operation of a hybrid electric vehicle towing a trailer at which the energy that can be recouped through regenerative braking is maximized. Operating conditions or characteristics of the hybrid electric vehicle and the brake characteristics of the trailer are considered in determining the optimal point at which the energy that can be recouped is maximized. At the optimal point at which the energy that can be recouped is maximized, the engine of the hybrid electric vehicle is turned off. Otherwise, the engine of the hybrid electric vehicle is left on.

A method for controlling the brakes of a vehicle combination having a towing vehicle and an attached accessory device or at least one trailer vehicle coupled to the towing vehicle. The vehicle combination comprises an electronic brake system and first sensor means for determining the driving speed, where at least the towing vehicle comprises a friction brake system that can be actuated by the brake control system, and where at least the coupled attached accessory device or trailer vehicle has second sensor means for recognizing a need to brake the vehicle combination and for signaling a braking demand. A signaled braking demand is communicated directly or indirectly to the brake control system, and the vehicle combination is braked automatically by the brake control system actuating the friction brake system of the towing vehicle.

A trailering velocity compensation system in a cruise control system is disclosed. The system includes a controller that is configured to: determine whether activation conditions for a trailering velocity compensation algorithm are met, and when the activation conditions are met, adjust a speed error used by the cruise control system; adjust a speed offset for application of brakes used by the cruise control system; adjust a speed offset for release of brakes used by the cruise control system; determine a set speed offset for inhibiting engine torque; determine a set speed offset for releasing engine torque inhibiting; adjust a headway time gap value used by the cruise control system; and control vehicle speed based on the adjusted speed error, adjusted speed offset for application of brakes, adjusted speed offset for release of brakes, set speed offset for inhibiting engine torque, set speed offset for releasing engine torque inhibiting, and adjusted headway time gap value.