A system and method for warning of an imminent collision between a towing vehicle and a trailer when reversing a towing vehicle with a trailer.

The invention relates to a system for warning of an imminent collision between a towing vehicle (2) and a trailer (3) when reversing a towing vehicle (2) with a trailer (3), with a monitoring facility (5) for continuously monitoring an angle between a longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle (2) and a longitudinal axis of the trailer (3) when reversing the towing vehicle (2), in order to detect whether there is the threat of a collision between the towing vehicle (2) and the trailer (3), and to generate a warning signal if there is the threat of a collision between the towing vehicle (2) and the trailer (3).

Embodiments include systems and methods for automatically populating a safety message, such as a Basic Safety Message (BSM), with a position and combined length of a vehicle and a towed object. Some embodiments include determining a distance from one or more antennas coupled to a receiver in the vehicle to a remote sensor on the towed object by processing short-range wireless signals received from the remote sensor. Some embodiments include populating the safety message with a position of the vehicle and the towed object based on the determined distance from the one or more antennas to the remote sensor.

A method for backing up a trailer hitched to a vehicle includes mounting a rear backup camera at a vehicle and hitching a trailer at the hitch of the vehicle. Responsive to processing captured image data by a processor of the control, at least a portion of the trailer tongue of the trailer is detected using an edge detection algorithm. Responsive to processing at the control of image data captured by the rear backup camera during a backing up maneuver of the trailer hitched to the vehicle, trailer angle of the trailer relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle is determined. The control, based at least in part on trailer angle of the trailer, controls a steering system of the vehicle during the backing up maneuver of the trailer hitched to the vehicle to back up the trailer hitched to the vehicle along a rearward trajectory.

Embodiments include systems and methods for automatically populating a safety message, such as a Basic Safety Message (BSM), with a position and combined length of a vehicle and a towed object. Some embodiments include determining a distance from one or more antennas coupled to a receiver in the vehicle to a remote sensor on the towed object by processing short-range wireless signals received from the remote sensor. Some embodiments include populating the safety message with a position of the vehicle and the towed object based on the determined distance from the one or more antennas to the remote sensor.

A computer-implemented method includes determining a vehicle configuration indicative of a towing mode setting for the vehicle, which can include a neutral transmission gear setting, a battery conservation mode, or another towing mode setting. The method can include determining at least one vehicle operation characteristic that changes with time while the vehicle is in the towing mode setting, and performing, via a vehicle control module and based at least in part on the towing mode setting and the vehicle operation characteristic, one or more vehicle actions that include generating an alert signal indicative that vehicle damage may be imminent.

A method for backing up a trailer hitched to a vehicle includes mounting a rear backup camera at a vehicle and hitching a trailer at the hitch of the vehicle. Responsive to processing captured image data by a processor of the control, at least a portion of the trailer tongue of the trailer is detected using an edge detection algorithm. Responsive to processing at the control of image data captured by the rear backup camera during a backing up maneuver of the trailer hitched to the vehicle, trailer angle of the trailer relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle is determined. The control, based at least in part on trailer angle of the trailer, controls a steering system of the vehicle during the backing up maneuver of the trailer hitched to the vehicle to back up the trailer hitched to the vehicle along a rearward trajectory.

Systems and methods for detecting oscillation of a trailer towed by a vehicle include implementing one or more SPR systems to acquire SPR information associated with the vehicle and/or the trailer and estimating a degree of swerve of the vehicle and/or a degree of lateral oscillation of the trailer based on the acquired SPR information.

A method for determining a trailer angle for a trailering assist system of a vehicle includes providing a rearward facing camera at a rearward portion of a vehicle and a control that processes image data captured by the camera. Responsive to processing by the processor of captured image data, a location of a portion of the trailer relative to the vehicle and a trailer angle of the trailer relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle are determined. During a reversing maneuver, a rearward trajectory of the trailer is determined and a graphic overlay may be generated to overlay displayed images to indicate the determined rearward trajectory. During forward travel, a degree of swing of the trailer may be determined and a threshold level of swing may be adjusted based at least in part on a speed of the vehicle and trailer and/or a load of the trailer.

A jackknife prevention device installed on a vehicle includes: a base plate mounted at a trailer hitch of the vehicle adjacent to a ball mount; a first arm pivotally associated with the base plate at a proximal end of the first arm and including a bumper portion located thereon, the first arm movable between a first position and second position; and a second arm pivotally associated with the base plate at a proximal end of the second arm, the second arm including a bumper portion located thereon, the second arm extending in a direction that is divergent from a direction of the first arm, the second arm movable between a first position and a second position. The first arm and second arm are releasably engaged with the base plate to pivot between the first and second positions.

The present invention relates to a staggering alarm device and a staggering alarm control method that can realize more effective alarm output. The staggering alarm device comprises: a staggering traveling detection unit which detects the staggering traveling of a vehicle; a waiting time setting unit which sets a waiting time on the basis of the driving proficiency of the driver of the vehicle; and an alarm output control unit which outputs an alarm from an alarm output unit, when the waiting time has elapsed after the detection of the staggering traveling.