A vehicle hitching assistance system includes a controller acquiring image data from the vehicle and deriving a vehicle path to align a center of a hitch ball of the vehicle with a centerline of a trailer coupler within the image data. The controller also outputs a video image including a representation of a simplified path from the hitch ball to the coupler and outputs a steering signal to cause the vehicle to steer along the vehicle path.

A control device, a vehicle, a vehicle combination, and a method, the control device being designed to provide a first control signal for the approach of the vehicle to a further vehicle in a first portion of a travel route of the vehicle, the control device being designed to provide a second control signal for the coupling of the vehicle to the further vehicle in the first portion of the travel route, in order to provide a passage between the vehicle and the further vehicle, via which a person may change over between the vehicle and the further vehicle.

A control device, a vehicle, a vehicle combination, and a method, the control device being designed to provide a first control signal for the approach of the vehicle to a further vehicle in a first portion of a travel route of the vehicle, the control device being designed to provide a second control signal for the coupling of the vehicle to the further vehicle in the first portion of the travel route, in order to provide a passage between the vehicle and the further vehicle, via which a person may change over between the vehicle and the further vehicle.

A trailer adapter for connecting a trailer's electrical wiring for brake lights, turn signals, etc. includes circuitry for pulsing brake lights when the brakes are first applied.

A trailer adapter for connecting a trailer's electrical wiring for brake lights, turn signals, etc. includes circuitry for pulsing brake lights when the brakes are first applied.

A magneto-elastically-based active force sensor, used with a tow coupling between a towed and a towing vehicle or a coupling between a vehicle body and a suspension of the vehicle, which outputs a signal useful for determining forces acting on the coupling. The outputted force information may be provided by processor-enabled embedded software algorithms that take inputs from the force sensor and other sensors, may be used by one or more vehicle systems during operating of the vehicle, such as engine, braking, stability, safety, and informational systems. The force sensor includes directionally-sensitive magnetic field sensing elements inside the sensor, and shielding may be used around the sensors to reduce the influence of external magnetic fields on the sensing elements. The force sensor may be used with different tow and vehicle weight sensing coupling devices installed on different types of automobile cars and trucks.

A magneto-elastically-based active force sensor, used with a tow coupling between a towed and a towing vehicle or a coupling between a vehicle body and a suspension of the vehicle, which outputs a signal useful for determining forces acting on the coupling. The outputted force information may be provided by processor-enabled embedded software algorithms that take inputs from the force sensor and other sensors, may be used by one or more vehicle systems during operating of the vehicle, such as engine, braking, stability, safety, and informational systems. The force sensor includes directionally-sensitive magnetic field sensing elements inside the sensor, and shielding may be used around the sensors to reduce the influence of external magnetic fields on the sensing elements. The force sensor may be used with different tow and vehicle weight sensing coupling devices installed on different types of automobile cars and trucks.

A mounting bracket for attaching an electrical coupling of trailer light electrical system to the hitch receiver tube of a towing vehicle is described. The mounting bracket removably attaches to the receiver tube such that the bracket does not interfere with the tube opening and has a electrical coupling mount flange that is located sideways from the receiver tube in a cantilever like fashion.

A mounting bracket for attaching an electrical coupling of trailer light electrical system to the hitch receiver tube of a towing vehicle is described. The mounting bracket removably attaches to the receiver tube such that the bracket does not interfere with the tube opening and has a electrical coupling mount flange that is located sideways from the receiver tube in a cantilever like fashion.

A safety lighting system for use with trailers is described herein. In some embodiments, the trailer lighting system comprises a sensor, a controller, and safety lights. The safety lighting system may be used for illuminating trailers while being towed, for example, in shipping yards, construction yards, and shipping and receiving docks. The safety lighting system may be activated upon connection of a pneumatic system with a spotting tractor and deactivated upon establishing an electrical connection from a tractor to the trailer.