Systems and methods for localization of a trailer of an autonomous tractor-trailer are described herein. Some implementations can determine a sector area in an environment of the autonomous tractor-trailer that is predicted to include the trailer, determine a subset of an LIDAR data that is generated by LIDAR sensor(s) of an autonomous tractor of the autonomous tractor-trailer and that is predicted to include the trailer based on the sector area, generate a trailer pose instance of a trailer pose of the trailer based on the subset of the LIDAR data, and cause the trailer pose instance to be utilized in controlling the autonomous tractor-trailer. Additional or alternative implementations can utilize particular LIDAR sensor(s) in generating the trailer pose instance, such as phase coherent LIDAR sensor(s) or polarized LIDAR sensor(s).

A method of operating a tow vehicle and a trailer includes identifying at least one of transient state of operating characteristics or steady state operating characteristics. A transient state based estimation is performed if the transient state operating characteristics are identified to determine a transient state based effective trailer wheelbase and a towbar length and a steady state based estimation is performed if the steady state operating characteristics are identified to determine a steady state based effective trailer wheelbase. An estimated effective trailer wheelbase is determined relative to the tow vehicle based on at least one of the transient state based effective trailer wheelbase and the steady state based effective trailer wheelbase. The tow vehicle and the trailer are maneuvered based on the estimated effective trailer wheelbase.

A computer system is provided. The computer system comprises a processor device configured to receive map data representing characteristics of a road ahead of a vehicle, the vehicle having an actual vehicle width and an actual vehicle length; determine a maximum width of the vehicle based on at least the actual vehicle width and the map data; and provide visual information representing the maximum width to a driver of the vehicle.