The invention relates to a method and to a device for determining the articulation angle of a combination, consisting of a towing vehicle and a trailer attached using a tongue, by identifying the hitch tongue using a digital back-up camera with variable exposure times, the following steps being carried out: a) recording a first color image of the rear environment of the towing vehicle, the color image being based on the HSY color space, b) analyzing the hue values, saturation values and brightness values of adjacent surfaces of a vehicle-environment region that is to be evaluated, c) determining the tongue from the first color image using an edge detection method in order to determine the articulation angle if the hue values, saturation values and brightness values of adjacent surfaces in the region that is to be evaluated are substantially equal, “substantially equal” meaning that the values of hue, saturation and brightness of adjacent surfaces differ by at most a first threshold in percent, d) recording a second color image in the HSY color space if in the first color image the hue values and saturation values of adjacent surfaces in the region that is to be evaluated are substantially equal while the brightness values of the adjacent surfaces deviate greatly from each other, “deviate greatly from each other” meaning that the brightness values of adjacent surfaces differ from each other by more than a second threshold in percent, the exposure time of the second color image being selected in such a way that the brightness values of the adjacent surfaces within the vehicle-environment region that is to be evaluated are substantially equal, e) determining the tongue from the second color image by means of an edge detection method in order to determine the articulation angle.

A trailer hitching assist system for a vehicle includes a camera disposed at a rear portion of a vehicle and having a field of view rearward of the vehicle. A control includes an image processor operable to process image data captured by the camera. The image processor, via image processing of image data captured by the camera, detects a trailer and trailer hitch rearward of the vehicle and determines a first path of travel for the vehicle to follow so as to maneuver the vehicle so as to have its tow ball aligned with the trailer hitch. The control maneuvers the vehicle along the determined first path of travel. Responsive to detection of an object entering the first path of travel, the control determines a second path of travel and maneuvers the vehicle along the second path of travel to avoid the detected object entering the determined path of travel.

Methods of and systems for operating an embedded system of a vehicle during a coupling operation of the vehicle with a trailer having a coupler. The method comprises accessing a video stream generated by a video camera; operating an object detection module on the video stream so as to detect the trailer and/or the coupler and establish one or more regions of interest. The method also comprises generating a vehicle referential point estimated position of a vehicle referential point and generating a coupler position with respect to the vehicle referential point estimated position based on the one or more regions of interests and the vehicle referential point estimated position.

A backing system for a vehicle and trailer includes a wireless control device in communication with an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured with programming to record an image of a hitch for the vehicle and trailer assembly and determine a hitch angle using a plurality of reference points on the trailer which are viewed by the camera. The portions of the image which are relevant to a current position of the vehicle and trailer assembly are determined by the electronic control unit. Data regarding the relevant portions are sent to the control device via a secured wireless connection and displayed on a display.

A towing assistance device includes an acquirer, a determiner, and a notifier. The acquirer acquires a coupling angle between a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle. The determiner determines whether the towed vehicle is movable backward in a coupling posture with the coupling angle maintained, when the towing vehicle is moved backward at a current steering angle. The notifier issues information on a steering angle at which the towed vehicle is movable backward in the coupling posture, among selectable steering angles of the towing vehicle.

A method for assisting a hitching operation between an agricultural utility vehicle and an implement to be attached thereto includes providing a vehicle side first laser unit and a vehicle side second laser unit, generating a first vertical light fan by the vehicle side first laser unit, and generating a second vertical light fan by the vehicle side second laser unit. The first and second vertical light fans are aligned with a hitching point or a reference point that characterizes the hitching point on the implement for carrying out the hitching operation.

A system for assisting in aligning a vehicle for hitching with a trailer includes a steering system including a set of vehicle steered wheels and a controller. The controller checks the system for a plurality of pre-maneuver conditions and communicates to a driver the need to correct at least one of the pre-maneuver conditions. When all pre-maneuver conditions are met, the controller executes an automated hitching maneuver that includes controlling the steered wheels of the steering system in backing the vehicle toward the trailer.

A method for detecting and localizing a trailer coupler of a trailer is provided. The method includes receiving images from a camera positioned on a back portion of a tow vehicle and determining a region of interest within the images. The region of interest includes a representation of the trailer coupler. The method includes determining a camera plane and a road plane. In addition, the method includes determining a three-dimensional point cloud representing objects inside the region of interest and within the camera plane and the road plane. The method also includes receiving sensor data from a sensor system and determining a coupler location of the trailer coupler based on the 3D point cloud and the sensor data. The method also includes sending instructions to a drive system causing the tow vehicle to autonomously drive along a path in a rearward direction towards the coupler location.

A vehicle hitch assistance system comprises a first image sensor in connection with a portion of the vehicle and positioned forward of a forward hitch disposed in a cargo bed of the vehicle. The system further comprises a controller configured to capture first image data with the first image sensor. The first image data depicts a coupler of a trailer. The controller is further configured to identify a trailer type of the trailer based on the first image data. The trailer type is configured to connect to the forward hitch. The controller is further configured to acquire position data identifying a coupler position of the coupler in the first image data, derive a vehicle path aligning the forward hitch with the coupler, and control a maneuvering system driving the vehicle along the vehicle path.

A system for assisting in aligning a vehicle for hitching with a trailer includes an imager outputting image data of a field of view to the rear of the vehicle and a controller identifying at least one of a trailer or a coupler of the trailer within the image data. The controller further determines that the at least one of the trailer or the coupler is outside of a specified area relative to the vehicle and outputs an instruction for movement of the vehicle determined to position the one of the trailer or the coupler within the specified area. Upon determining that the at least one of the coupler and the trailer is within the specified area, the coupler outputs a steering signal to the vehicle to cause the vehicle to steer to align a hitch ball of the vehicle with the coupler.