A method and system are described for controlled supplemental steering, by actuating a supplemental steering element, of a trailing implement connectable via a hitch to a pulling source, and wherein the trailing implement includes a pair of parallel wheels, a controller, a position sensing system that generates a hitch position history comprising a stored set of recent positions of the hitch point, and a steering angle actuator. The method carried out by the system includes maintaining a history of positions of the hitch, determining a target steering angle for the supplemental steering element, and actuating the steering angle actuator in accordance with the target steering angle. During the maintaining the history of positions of the hitch, the history of positions of the hitch is updated by performing a rotation operation and a translation operation on a set of coordinates of the history corresponding to previous hitch positions.

A steering wheel system for a semi-trailer is described. The system uses a retractable encoded system releasably connected to a kingpin, a mechanical steer driving system translating the rotation of the kingpin to a hydraulic system, and a non-circular cogged system driven by the hydraulic system adapted to steer the wheels. A hydraulic generator system powered by the rotation of the wheels is used to decrease the electric energy required by the hydraulic system. Other improvements are also present to increase security, decrease weight and improve time expectancy of the components.

A steering wheel system for a semi-trailer is described. The system uses a retractable encoded system releasably connected to a kingpin, a mechanical steer driving system translating the rotation of the kingpin to a hydraulic system, and a non-circular cogged system driven by the hydraulic system adapted to steer the wheels. A hydraulic generator system powered by the rotation of the wheels is used to decrease the electric energy required by the hydraulic system. Other improvements are also present to increase security, decrease weight and improve time expectancy of the components.

In various embodiments, methods, systems, and vehicle apparatuses are provided. A method for adaptive control of electronic power steering (EPS) including sending, a torque control to an EPS that is based on input control signals from a vehicle trajectory control unit and a steering assistive control unit when the vehicle is coupled to a trailer engaging in a trailering action; configuring the steering assistive control unit, to generate a control signal based on an algorithm using an adaptive factor that models steering dynamics impacted by the trailer while engaging in the trailering action and modeling by the steering assistive control unit, an adaptive damping factor modeled on a tongue weight of a trailer coupled to a hitch of the vehicle wherein the hitch reduces a force applied to a vehicle front axle.

A vehicular trailering assist system includes at least one camera disposed at a trailer hitched to a hitch of a vehicle, and an electronic control unit (ECU). The ECU determines, during a first stage of a calibration maneuver of the vehicle and trailer, image coordinates of at least one ground feature point. The ECU, responsive to determining image coordinates of the at least one ground feature point, estimates orientation parameters of the camera based at least on the determined image coordinates and intrinsic camera parameters. As the vehicle and trailer travel further along the ground surface during a second stage of the calibration maneuver of the vehicle and trailer, and based on the estimated orientation parameters of the at least one camera, the vehicular trailering assist system determines misalignment of the at least one camera at the trailer.

A system according to the present disclosure includes an actuator control module and a damping ratio module. The actuator control module is configured to control an actuator of a vehicle to cause the vehicle to perform a yaw maneuver by rotating about its yaw axis. The damping ratio module is configured to determine a damping ratio based on an operating parameter measured during the yaw maneuver. The operating parameter includes at least one of a yaw rate of the vehicle, a yaw rate of a trailer connected to the vehicle, a lateral acceleration of the vehicle, a lateral acceleration of the trailer, a heading angle of the vehicle, and a hitch angle between a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and a longitudinal axis of the trailer.

A trailer assembly with improved lateral support structure and steering system control of the axial wheels on a front elongated trailer and a rear elongated trailer to remain in a collinear following configuration to carry elongated loads extending over the extended lengths of the combination of the front elongated trailer and the rear elongated trailer and allow ready turning control.

In various embodiments, methods, systems, and vehicle apparatuses are provided. A method for adaptive control of electronic power steering (EPS) including sending, a torque control to an EPS that is based on input control signals from a vehicle trajectory control unit and a steering assistive control unit when the vehicle is coupled to a trailer engaging in a trailering action; configuring the steering assistive control unit, to generate a control signal based on an algorithm using an adaptive factor that models steering dynamics impacted by the trailer while engaging in the trailering action and modeling by the steering assistive control unit, an adaptive damping factor modeled on a tongue weight of a trailer coupled to a hitch of the vehicle wherein the hitch reduces a force applied to a vehicle front axle.

A yaw angle measuring device for a separable coupling for fifth wheel couplings includes a sensor element and a measuring arrangement, wherein the sensor element is configured to be arranged on a first coupling partner and the measuring arrangement is configured to be arranged on a second coupling partner, wherein the first coupling partner is configured to be mounted by the coupling arrangement such that the first coupling partner is rotatable about an axis of rotation relative to the second coupling partner, wherein the sensor element generates a measuring signal in the measuring arrangement which serves to determine the yaw angle about the axis of rotation.

A towing assistance apparatus includes an image acquisition unit successively acquiring a rear image and a lateral image serving as a surrounding image captured by an imaging unit that is provided at a towing vehicle to which a towed vehicle is configured to be connected, an angle acquisition unit acquiring a connection angle between the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle, and a display processing unit switching the surrounding image displayed at a display unit from the lateral image to the rear image in a case where the connection angle becomes equal to or greater than a first angle at which a change control for decreasing the connection angle is impossible by a steering of the towing vehicle during a rearward driving thereof in a state where the lateral image is displayed and the towing vehicle to which the towed vehicle is connected is in a rearward driving available state.