A method of reversing a trailer along a defined path according to a disclosed exemplary embodiment includes, among other possible things, detecting a deviation from a predefined path of a trailer coupled to a tow vehicle with a sensor system disposed within the tow vehicle, determining a correction path required to move the trailer back to the predefined path, determining a dampening factor for limiting deviation from the predefined path, combining the determined correction path and the dampening factor to determine a desired curvature, wherein the desired curvature represents a path from a current position of the trailer to the predefined path, and determining a steering angle of the tow vehicle that provides the desired curvature.

A system for mitigating a sway of a trailer. The system includes a sensor set configured to sense a plurality of operating characteristics of a vehicle and an electronic processor connected to the sensor set. The electronic processor is configured to receive the plurality of operating characteristics from the sensor set, determine whether the trailer is swaying based on the plurality of operating characteristics, determine, in response to the trailer swaying, a target deceleration, determine, in response to the trailer swaying, a target yaw value, and modify a current yaw value to counter the trailer sway until reaching the target yaw value.

A method for operating a driver information system in an ego vehicle is provided, wherein an operating state of a lighting apparatus of the ego vehicle is detected, and a driver information display is generated and output. The driver information display comprises a graphic ego object which represents the ego vehicle. In this context, the ego object comprises a rear depiction of the ego vehicle, wherein the ego object is generated depending on the detected operating state.

Methods and systems are provided for a vehicle towing a trailer. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving, by a processor, sensor data from one or more sensors of the vehicle; estimating, by a processor, a steering torque value based on the sensor data; estimating, by the processor, a steering angle value based on the sensor data; determining, by the processor, a trailer tongue value based on the steering torque value and the steering angle value; and generating, by the processor, a control signal to control the vehicle based on the trailer tongue value.

Methods and systems are provided for a vehicle towing a trailer. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving, by a processor, image data from one or more image sensors of the vehicle; determining, by the processor, a change in vehicle height based on the image data; determining, by the processor, at least one of a vehicle load and a trailer tongue load based on the change in vehicle height; and generating, by the processor, at least one of notification data and control data to control the vehicle based on the at least one of the vehicle load and the trailer tongue load.

An autonomous vehicle (AV) includes features that allows the AV to comply with applicable regulations and statutes for performing safe driving operation. An example method includes detecting that a group of motorcycles is operating on a roadway on which the AV is located. The group of motorcycles are each located within a pre-determined distance away from one another. The method further includes determining an aggregate footprint area that surrounds respective locations of the group of motorcycles. The method further includes causing navigation of the autonomous vehicle that avoids penetration of the aggregate footprint area based on transmitting navigation instructions to one or more subsystems of the autonomous vehicle.

A vehicle constant speed travel control method and device are provided in which a target driving power is calculated based on a difference between a target vehicle speed and a vehicle speed, and then a target accelerator pedal opening for calculating a gear ratio in constant speed travel control is set based on the target driving power. Then, a target gear ratio based on the target accelerator pedal opening and based on a towing state of the vehicle is set where the target gear ratio set higher during towing than during non-towing. The setting of the target accelerator pedal opening is set differently in accordance with the towing state of the vehicle. The setting of the target accelerator pedal opening for calculating the gear ratio to be smaller during towing than the during non-towing with respect to the same target driving power.

A computer-implemented method for handling an axle configuration of a vehicle is provided. The axle configuration is indicative of a number of axles of the vehicle. The method includes obtaining vehicle condition data indicative of at least one load applied to the vehicle. The method includes obtaining the axle configuration of the vehicle. The method includes obtaining estimating a current weight of the vehicle based on the obtained vehicle condition data and based on the axle configuration of the vehicle. The method includes obtaining a previously estimated weight of the vehicle. The method includes, based on a difference between the previously estimated weight and the current weight of the vehicle, predicting whether there has been a change in the axle configuration of the vehicle.

Automated driver assistance systems and methods for towing predict vehicle/trailer instabilities and adapt automated driving control to avoid them. A tow-vehicle includes a controller that, through an actuator system, controls speed and/or steering. A map system and/or a sensor system monitor a roadway on which the vehicle is travelling to identify a road profile located ahead of the vehicle over a prediction horizon. A projected trajectory for navigating the vehicle through the road profile over the prediction horizon and considering environmental conditions is determined. Before travel over the road profile, whether the projected trajectory through the road profile will result in exceeding a vehicle dynamic threshold is determined. When the projected trajectory will result in exceeding the vehicle dynamic threshold through the road profile, a control action is determined to prevent instability and optimize driver experience. The vehicle is operated through the road profile using the control action.

Methods and systems are provided for determining and mitigating vehicle pull force from passing other vehicles. In an exemplary embodiment, methods and systems are provided that include: obtaining sensor data via one or more sensors of a vehicle, the sensor data including both perception sensor data and vehicle dynamics sensor data; identifying, via a processor, one or more additional vehicles to be passed by the vehicle, using the perception sensor data; and predicting and determining, via the processor, a pull force for the vehicle that is caused by the passing of the vehicle by the one or more additional vehicles along with an impact of the pull force on the vehicle, based on both the perception sensor data and the vehicle dynamics sensor data, and control the vehicle to proactively mitigate the pull force on the vehicle; and vehicle with trailer when towing.