Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for automatic calibration of electronic trailer brake gain. An example apparatus includes a trailer brake gain calibration module programmed to compare a calculated trailer brake torque to at least one of a first or second threshold, adjust a gain value based upon satisfaction of at least one of the first or second threshold, and apply a pressure to a trailer brake based on the gain value.

A vehicle brake system includes a brake control device, a vehicle acceleration sensor, and a trailer brake controller. The trailer brake controller outputs an initial trailer brake torque demand based on an input received from the brake control device and adjusts the initial trailer brake torque demand to converge a signal from the vehicle acceleration sensor to an expected negative acceleration value correlated with the input from the brake control device.

The present disclosure includes a system, method, and device related to controlling brakes of a towed vehicle. A brake controller system includes a brake controller that controls the brakes of a towed vehicle based on acceleration. The brake controller is in communication with a speed sensor. The speed sensor determines the speed of a towing vehicle or a towed vehicle. The brake controller automatically sets a gain or boost based on the speed and acceleration.

The disclosure provides a trailer brake system that includes a sensor system and a brake control unit. The sensor system is supported by a trailer and includes at least one wheel speed sensor associated with each wheel of the trailer. The brake control unit is supported by the trailer and is in communication with a tow vehicle configured to tow the trailer. The brake control unit is configured to: receive sensor data from the sensor system, and receive a brake signal from the tow vehicle indicative of a driver pressing a brake pedal of the tow vehicle. The brake control unit is also configured to: determine, for each brake, a hydraulic pressure based on the sensor data and the brake signal; and apply pressure by way of brake lines to the brake associated with each wheel, based on the hydraulic pressure.

A method for decelerating a trailer vehicle in a vehicle combination having a tractor vehicle and at least one trailer vehicle includes determining, by a wheel module at a respective wheel of the trailer vehicle, acceleration measurement values of the respective wheel, generating, by the wheel module, an information signal taking into account the acceleration measurement values of the respective wheel, and transmitting the information signal in a wireless fashion. The method further includes evaluating the acceleration measurement values and monitoring the acceleration measurement values with respect to a locking tendency of the respective wheel, and when an information signal of the wheel module is received, adjusting, by an electronic brake control unit, the trailer brake pressure taking into account the information signal.

A system on a tractor for controlling trailer service brakes comprises a manually operated trailer brake switch, a first electropneumatic valve in communication with a pressure source and a controller. The controller has an input communicating with the trailer brake switch, an output communicating with the electropneumatic valve and control logic. The control logic receives an input from the trailer brake switch indicating a driver's request to apply the trailer service brakes of the combination vehicle, determines if a predetermined condition exists and transmits a signal to the output to the electropneumatic valve. The electropneumatic valve transmits pressure to a trailer service control line to actuate the trailer service brakes in response to the trailer brake switch and existence of the predetermined condition.

A system for braking a trailer pulled by a vehicle. A trailer braking system is provided on a trailer. An electrically actuated linear actuator of the trailer braking system is coupled to the braking system of the pulling vehicle. The linear actuator is coupled to a lever that, upon actuation of the vehicle brake, actuates a piston to push brake pads into a rotor coupled a wheel on the trailer. A wheel speed monitor reduces braking force of the trailer braking system in response to a predetermined change in wheel speed. An anti-lock braking system reduces trailer wheel skid under braking. Multiple trailer braking systems can be applied to multiple wheels on the trailer to provide more or less braking.

A method for checking an actual-pressure sensor of a motor vehicle brake system includes establishing the duration of a reaction interval, establishing a threshold value, operating the motor vehicle brake system in an electronic braking mode where the brake system delivers a braking pressure for operation of a trailer brake of a trailer connected to the motor vehicle. The reaction interval starts at the beginning of the braking process and pneumatic actual braking pressure values are measured by means of an actual-pressure sensor, where a starting braking pressure is measured by the actual-pressure sensor at the beginning of a braking process carried out in the electronic braking mode for the trailer. Pneumatic reaction braking pressures are measured within the reaction interval and compared to a threshold value. Brake system operation is discontinued in the electronic operating mode if none of the measured reaction braking pressures exceeds the threshold value.

A control system includes one or more processing circuits comprising one or more memory devices coupled to one or more processors. The one or more memory devices are configured to store instructions thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to acquire speed data regarding current speeds of tractive elements of the vehicle from tractive element speed sensors of the vehicle, determine speed references for the tractive elements to perform autonomous driving operations where the speed references indicate speeds at which each of the tractive elements should rotate to accommodate the autonomous driving operations, and control at least one of a driveline or a brake system of the vehicle to selectively alter the current speeds of the tractive elements of the vehicle based on the current speeds and the speed references to accommodate the autonomous driving operations.

A method for electronically controlling a brake unit having two brake systems in an automatically controllable vehicle combination includes inputting a request signal for automatic electronic activation of service brakes in a tractor vehicle brake system of a tractor vehicle and/or a trailer brake system of a trailer of the vehicle combination, wherein an automatically requested vehicle setpoint acceleration and/or an automatically requested vehicle setpoint velocity to be implemented by the respective service brakes are transmitted via the request signal. The method further includes monitoring and checking plausibility of the request signal to establish whether the automatically requested vehicle setpoint acceleration and/or the automatically requested vehicle setpoint velocity are or can be implemented completely or faultlessly by the respective service brakes. The method additionally includes outputting a trailer redundancy control signal at the trailer brake system under certain conditions.