A trailer maneuver assistance system and method provide for alerting a vehicle operator to possible obstacles within a predicted path of trailer. The predicted path is determined based on at least one sensor system mounted to the trailer and a determination that a detected obstacle is within the predicted path.

A vehicle operable to pull a trailer comprising a payload is provided, that includes a plurality of sensors configured to capture sensor data related to the vehicle, the trailer, or both, and a controller configured to (i) receive the sensor data from the plurality of sensors, (ii) determine, based on the sensor data, one or more parameters associated with the trailer, the payload, or both, (iii) update, based on an analysis of the one or more parameters, a confidence level associated with an operation of the vehicle with the trailer and the payload, and (iv) based on the confidence level, responsively execute an autonomous control strategy comprising one or more adjustments to the operation of the vehicle.

A vehicle includes a powertrain, an inertial measurement unit configured to measure inertial forces exerted onto the vehicle, and a controller. The controller is programmed to control the torque at the powertrain based on a mapped relationship between the inertial forces and a vehicle velocity, wherein the mapped relationship utilizes at least one mapping parameter. The controller is further programmed to estimate a mass of the vehicle based on the mapping parameter.

The disclosure relates to a method for reversing a vehicle combination (1) comprising a towing vehicle (10) and at least one trailer (20), said method comprising: (S10) reversing the vehicle combination, (S20) determining whether a jack-knifing condition (J) is about to occur by comparing a predicted future estimate of the articulation angle (Φ) with a maximum safe articulation angle (Φ.sub.lim), wherein the maximum safe articulation angle (Φ.sub.lim) is estimated according to the first aspect of the invention, and when it is determined that the jack-knifing condition (J) is about to occur, perform at least one of the following steps: (S30) issue a warning signal, and (S40) initiate a braking action for the vehicle combination, wherein the predicted future estimate of the articulation angle (Φ) is based on an estimated driver reaction time for initiating a braking action.

A system includes a vehicle having an electrically powered trailer towed thereto. The vehicle has a vehicle powertrain, and the trailer has a trailer powertrain. A controller, in order to propel the vehicle with the trailer towed thereto, operates the vehicle powertrain and the trailer powertrain according to a combined efficiency map based on (i) an efficiency map associated with the vehicle powertrain and (ii) an efficiency map associated with the trailer powertrain.

The present disclosure provides a method of controlling a towing mode of an vehicle, which may easily charge a battery of a towed vehicle by allowing a motor of the towed vehicle to output a charging torque for charging the battery and allowing a motor of the towed vehicle to output a creep torque or a regenerative braking torque capable of charging the battery even upon deceleration traveling together with a compensation control of increasing engine output power of a towing vehicle compared to default output power upon acceleration and constant speed traveling by selecting one of an eco-towing mode, a power towing mode, and a target charging towing mode for charging the battery of the towed vehicle when the towing vehicle, which is a hybrid electric vehicle, tows the towed vehicle, which is an electric vehicle or a hybrid electric vehicle.

Systems and methods are proposed for coordinating and providing assistive traction drive forces during towing events between a motor vehicle and one or more charging trailers. The assistive traction drive forces may be provided in the form of a propulsive torque applied by an electric machine of the charging trailer. Electrical energy for powering the electric machine may be supplied by a powertrain system of the towing vehicle or an energy storage device of an electrified recreational/industrial vehicle that is operably connected to the charging trailer. Energy expended by the energy storage device for powering the electric machine may be replenished during the towing event by regenerative braking.

A computer includes a processor and a memory, and the memory stores instructions executable by the processor to, in response to a vehicle towing a trailer being in reverse, determine a relative orientation of the trailer to the vehicle; while the vehicle is in reverse, in response to the relative orientation exceeding a threshold, brake the vehicle; and then, upon receiving an operator input, permit the vehicle to travel in reverse with the relative orientation exceeding the threshold.

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.

An example method includes detecting, via sensor data collected from sensors located on the AV, an upcoming object located on a roadway. The method further includes determining, from the sensor data, a relative distance and a relative direction of the upcoming object with respect to the autonomous vehicle. The method further includes mapping the upcoming object to an absolute location with respect to the roadway based on map data that describes upcoming topology of the roadway and a location of the autonomous vehicle. The method further includes associating the upcoming object with a lane of the roadway based on the absolute location mapped to the upcoming object and based on lane geometry data for the roadway. The method further includes operating the autonomous vehicle based on a relationship between the lane associated with the upcoming object and a current lane in which the autonomous vehicle is located.