An apparatus for measuring the steering angle of a wheel assembly including a suspended wheel mount and at least one suspension arm, the apparatus including a reference bracket, a rotating bracket and an angle sensor, the reference bracket and the rotating bracket each respectively including a measurement end and a mounting end, wherein the measurement ends of the reference and rotating brackets are rotatably coupled about a rotation coupling point such that the brackets can rotate with respect to one another, wherein the mounting end of the rotating bracket is coupled with the suspended wheel mount and the mounting end of the reference bracket is coupled with the suspension arm, and wherein the mounting end of the reference bracket is positioned on a plane defined by a steering axis of the suspended wheel mount and a rotation axis between the suspension arm and the suspended wheel mount.

In various embodiments, methods, systems, and vehicle apparatuses are provided. A method for estimating a Hitch Articulation Angle (HAA) using Ultra-Sonic Sensors (USSs) while ensuring quality detected echo signal performance using plausibility filtering, generating at least one set of USS data based on detecting a set of echo signals generated by a plurality of USSs configured about a vehicle coupled to a trailer; determining based on a set of USS data using a selected set of geometric equations in a plausibility filtering process for an arbitrary frontal shape of the trailer; and generating at least one comparison based on at least one set of USS data estimations to a kinematic model at low speeds for ensuring that results of the kinematic model to the HAA associated with the determined trailer shape is based on a pair of detected echo signals that are deemed to have a higher signal performance.

An agricultural vehicle configured for traveling in a driven-wheel-leading mode and a caster-wheel-leading mode. The agricultural vehicle includes a first driven wheel and a second driven wheel, a caster axle, a first caster wheel and a second caster wheel, and a steering system. The steering system includes a first steering actuator connected in between the caster axle and the first caster wheel, a first sensor connected to the caster axle, and a controller operably connected to the first steering actuator and the first sensor. The controller is configured for actuating the first steering actuator to steer the first caster wheel in the driven-wheel-leading mode and the caster-wheel-leading mode.

A backup assist system for a vehicle and trailer combination includes a vehicle steering system, a camera generating images of the trailer, and a controller. The controller processes sequential images the trailer, selects a baseline image, and determines a collision angle based on a location of a feature of the trailer in the baseline image. The controller further controls the steering system to maintain a hitch angle below a lesser of a maximum controllable angle and the collision angle.

Please replace the original Abstract with the following new Abstract: A steering system for a vehicle includes a steering gear, two knuckles of two steerable wheels, a steering actuator, a plurality of sensors, and a processing unit. The steering gear is connected to a first knuckle of the two knuckles and the steering gear is connected to a second knuckle of the two knuckles. The steering gear is connected to the steering actuator. The sensors are mounted at locations associated with the steering gear. Each of the plurality of sensors is configured to acquire steering system position information. Each of the plurality of sensors are configured to provide acquired steering system information to the processing unit.

“THREE-DIMENSIONAL MONITORING SYSTEM FOR KINGPIN ON FIFTH WHEEL” describes an invention patent, for a monitoring system of Kingpin/Fifth Wheel articulation presented on trucks, with a great applicability for autonomous steering systems and vehicle dynamics control. This system allows the precise monitoring of translational, rotational movements and the relative accelerations of the king pin (5) in relation to the fifth wheel (3) on the X, Y and Z axes, totaling measurements in six degrees of freedom. The present patent presents two ways to make this monitoring of the three-dimensional position of the kingpin (5): The first through a set of sensors (6) accelerometers and gyroscope integrated to an electromagnet (4) that when electrified, is coupled to the king pin (5) by magnetic attraction. The second mode through a reference device (20) that is magnetic, identifiable, independent and easy to apply to the kingpin (4).

A vehicle guidance system assists a driver in maneuvering a vehicle with respect to an object in a scene. The system includes a steering angle sensor, a camera device, a video processing module (VPM), and a human-machine interface (HMI). The sensor is configured to monitor the angular position of a vehicle wheel. The device is configured to capture an original image of a scene having the object. The VPM is configured to receive and process the original image from the device, detect the object in the original image, receive and process the angular position from the sensor, generate a vehicle trajectory based on the angular position, and orientate the trajectory with regard to the object. The HMI is configured to display a processed image associated with the original image and a trajectory overlay associated with the trajectory from the VPM. Together, the object is displayed in relation to the overlay.

Techniques are described for measuring angle and/or orientation of a rear drivable section (e.g., a trailer unit of a semi-trailer truck) relative to a front drivable section (e.g., a tractor unit of the semi-trailer truck) using an example rotary encoder assembly. The example rotary encoder assembly comprises a base surface; a housing that includes a second end that is connected to the base surface and a first end that is at least partially open and is coupled to a housing cap; and a rotary encoder that is located in the housing in between the base surface and the housing cap, where the rotary encoder includes a rotatable shaft that protrudes from a first hole located in the housing cap, and where a top of the rotatable shaft located away from the rotary encoder is coupled to magnet(s).

Systems and methods for detecting trailer angle are provided. In one aspect, an in-vehicle control system includes an optical sensor configured to be mounted on a tractor so as to face a trailer coupled to the tractor, the optical sensor further configured to generate optical data indicative of an angle formed between the trailer and the tractor. The system further includes a processor and a computer-readable memory in communication with the processor and having stored thereon computer-executable instructions to cause the processor to receive the optical data from the optical sensor, determine at least one candidate plane representative of a surface of the trailer visible in the optical data based on the optical data, and determine an angle between the trailer and the tractor based on the at least one candidate plane.

Methods and system are provided for a steering pin and knuckle assembly. In one example, the assembly comprises a steering knuckle comprising a recess and a female threaded portion, a steering pin partially received in the recess, a connection member comprising a male threaded portion, and the male threaded portion of the connection member is engaged with the female threaded portion of the steering knuckle and the connection member fixes the steering pin on the steering knuckle.