A method for ascertaining a spatial orientation of a trailer of an autonomously driving towing vehicle with trailer. The method includes the steps of reading in image data of at least one rear-facing camera, assigning image points of the image data to the trailer or to the vehicle surrounding environment, ascertaining a rear trailer edge or at least one point of the rear trailer contour from the image points assigned to the trailer, and determining the trailer angle as a function of image coordinates of the trailer edge or of the point, the dimensions of the trailer, and the position of the camera relative to the support point of the trailer.

Systems and methods for assisting drivers to maneuver a vehicle include a plurality of image sensors about a vehicle capture image data. At least one processor is programmed to display one or more types of overhead views on a vehicle display based on the image data. For example, an environment-fixed overhead composite image can be displayed on the vehicle display. In the environment-fixed overhead composite image, an environment about the vehicle is displayed spatially fixed as the vehicle is maneuvered, and a graphical image representing the vehicle moves within the environment-fixed overhead composite image as the vehicle maneuvered. This type of overhead view can be shown when, for example, distance between the vehicle and a target object is below a threshold.

A system for a vehicle towing a trailer includes a sensor system configured to detect objects in an operating environment of the vehicle and a controller configured to monitor a relative position of at least one object with respect to the vehicle during an initial vehicle movement and store in memory the information as a reference data set at an instance when the initial vehicle movement ends at a vehicle standstill. The controller is further configured to retrieve from memory the reference data set upon detecting an event indicating an end of the vehicle standstill, process the reference data set to determine whether the at least one object is in a travel path of the trailer corresponding with a subsequent vehicle movement, and execute a contact avoidance measure based on the at least one object being in the travel path of the trailer.

A vehicle is provided that includes a trailer hitch, a camera oriented to capture images of the trailer hitch, and a controller processing the captured images, detecting a trailer safety chain associated with a trailer, determining a connection state of the trailer safety chain to the vehicle, and generating an output indicative of the determined connection state of the trailer safety chain to the vehicle. The vehicle may determine a change in a scene of the captured image following placement of a trailer coupler onto a vehicle hitch and determine a trailer connection state based on the change in scene.

Systems and methods for assisting drivers to maneuver a vehicle include a plurality of image sensors about a vehicle capture image data. At least one processor is programmed to display one or more types of overhead views on a vehicle display based on the image data. For example, an environment-fixed overhead composite image can be displayed on the vehicle display. In the environment-fixed overhead composite image, an environment about the vehicle is displayed spatially fixed as the vehicle is maneuvered, and a graphical image representing the vehicle moves within the environment-fixed overhead composite image as the vehicle maneuvered. This type of overhead view can be shown when, for example, distance between the vehicle and a target object is below a threshold.

The present invention relates to a vehicle safety system for vehicles comprising a bed-mounted hitch. The vehicle safety system comprises a variety of components which include a plurality of wiring harnesses and a tailgate switch assembly. The vehicle safety system integrates within a vehicle infotainment system to assist a driver in safely attaching a trailer to the vehicle's bed-mounted hitch as well as operating the vehicle when it is towing the trailer. The vehicle safety system is also capable of controlling the backup camera video feed displayed by the vehicle infotainment system's display screen.

A vehicular vision system includes a rear backup vehicle camera, a trailer camera disposed at a rear of a trailer, a display device disposed in the vehicle, and an electronic control unit (ECU) disposed in the vehicle. With the trailer not hitched to the vehicle and during a reversing maneuver of the vehicle, the ECU generates video images derived at least in part from image data captured by the rear backup vehicle camera and the display device displays the video images. With the trailer hitched to the vehicle, image data captured by the trailer camera is provided to the vehicle via data communication over powerline using a DC powerline, and the display device displays the video images derived at least in part from image data captured by the trailer camera for viewing by the driver of the vehicle during the driving maneuver of the vehicle with the trailer hitched thereto.

Methods and systems for aligning a vehicle with a trailer. One system includes an image sensor configured to collect a plurality of images. The system also includes an electronic processor configured to receive the plurality of images from the image sensor. The electronic processor is also configured to determine a three-dimensional model of an area surrounding the vehicle using the plurality of images. The electronic processor is also configured to control the vehicle to automatically perform a vehicle maneuver to align the vehicle with the trailer based on the three-dimensional model of the area surrounding the vehicle. The electronic processor is also configured to determine when the vehicle is aligned with the trailer and stop the vehicle from automatically performing the vehicle maneuver when the vehicle is aligned with the trailer.

A trailer assist system for a vehicle includes a camera disposed at a rear portion of a vehicle and viewing a trailer hitch disposed at the vehicle. A control includes an image processor that processes image data captured by the camera that is representative of images of the trailer hitch viewed by the camera. The control, responsive to processing at the control of image data captured by the camera, detects a feature of the trailer hitch at determines Cartesian coordinates of the trailer hitch location and transforms the Cartesian coordinates of the detected feature to cylindrical coordinates. The control, responsive at least in part to determining the cylindrical coordinates of the detected feature, determines a three-dimensional location of the trailer hitch at the vehicle.

A system for monitoring a trailer includes a detection device configured to monitor a connection between a coupler attached to the trailer and a trailer hitch attached to a vehicle and generate data related to the connection, and a processing device configured to receive the data from the detection device, and analyze the data to detect whether a partial detachment condition is present. Based on detecting the partial detachment condition, the processing device is configured to generate a notification to a driver to alert the driver of the partial detachment condition and/or control operation of the vehicle.