Methods and apparatus are provided for performing an assisted driving trailer reversing operation including a camera operative to capture an image, an interactive user interface operative to display a graphical user interface and to receive a user input, a processor operative to generate the graphical user interface in response to the user input, the user input being indicative of a trailer destination, to generate a left maneuverability margin and a right maneuverability margin in response to a trailer dimension and a hitch angle, and a projected trailer path in response to the trailer destination, wherein the graphical user interface includes the image and a plurality of graphics overlaid on the image indicative of the left maneuverability margin, the right maneuverability margin, the projected trailer path and the trailer destination, and a vehicle controller operative to perform a trailer reversing operation in response to the control signal.

Methods and apparatus are provided for performing an assisted driving trailer reversing operation including a camera operative to capture an image, an interactive user interface operative to display a graphical user interface and to receive a user input, a processor operative to generate the graphical user interface in response to the user input, the user input being indicative of a trailer destination, to generate a left maneuverability margin and a right maneuverability margin in response to a trailer dimension and a hitch angle, and a projected trailer path in response to the trailer destination, wherein the graphical user interface includes the image and a plurality of graphics overlaid on the image indicative of the left maneuverability margin, the right maneuverability margin, the projected trailer path and the trailer destination, and a vehicle controller operative to perform a trailer reversing operation in response to the control signal.

A vehicular trailer guidance system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) and a rear backup camera disposed at a vehicle. A human machine interface (HMI) is operable in (i) a trailer left-backup mode, (i) a trailer straight-backup mode and (iii) a trailer right-backup mode. Responsive to selection by the driver of the trailer left-backup mode or trailer right-backup mode, the ECU sets a desired trailer angle of the trailer tongue leftward or rightward to an angle that is commensurate with a driver-selected setting of an input device. Responsive to selection by the driver of the trailer straight-backup mode, the ECU sets the desired trailer angle to a zero degree angle. The ECU, while the vehicle is backing up the trailer, controls the power steering system of the vehicle to steer the vehicle to back up the trailer to have the determined trailer angle coincide with the set desired trailer angle.

A vehicular trailer guidance system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) and a rear backup camera disposed at a vehicle. A human machine interface (HMI) is operable in (i) a trailer left-backup mode, (i) a trailer straight-backup mode and (iii) a trailer right-backup mode. Responsive to selection by the driver of the trailer left-backup mode or trailer right-backup mode, the ECU sets a desired trailer angle of the trailer tongue leftward or rightward to an angle that is commensurate with a driver-selected setting of an input device. Responsive to selection by the driver of the trailer straight-backup mode, the ECU sets the desired trailer angle to a zero degree angle. The ECU, while the vehicle is backing up the trailer, controls the power steering system of the vehicle to steer the vehicle to back up the trailer to have the determined trailer angle coincide with the set desired trailer angle.

A vehicular trailer assist system includes a camera disposed at a rear portion of a vehicle and viewing a portion of a trailer hitched at a hitch of the vehicle. During a reversing maneuver of the vehicle and hitched trailer, the vehicular trailer assist system, responsive to processing at an electronic control unit (ECU) of image data captured by the camera, determines a trailer angle of the trailer relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle. Based at least in part on the determined trailer angle, the vehicular trailer assist system determines a trailer direction of movement of the trailer while the vehicle is reversing with the trailer hitched at the hitch of the vehicle. The vehicular trailer assist system determines a virtual destination location rearward of the trailer and in the determined trailer direction and controls steering of the vehicle to reverse the trailer towards the virtual destination location.

A vehicular trailer assist system includes a camera disposed at a rear portion of a vehicle and viewing a portion of a trailer hitched at a hitch of the vehicle. During a reversing maneuver of the vehicle and hitched trailer, the vehicular trailer assist system, responsive to processing at an electronic control unit (ECU) of image data captured by the camera, determines a trailer angle of the trailer relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle. Based at least in part on the determined trailer angle, the vehicular trailer assist system determines a trailer direction of movement of the trailer while the vehicle is reversing with the trailer hitched at the hitch of the vehicle. The vehicular trailer assist system determines a virtual destination location rearward of the trailer and in the determined trailer direction and controls steering of the vehicle to reverse the trailer towards the virtual destination location.

A trailer angle identification system includes an imaging device configured to capture an image. A controller is configured to receive steering angle data corresponding to a steering angle of a vehicle, receive vehicle speed data corresponding to a vehicle speed, and estimate an angle of the trailer relative to the vehicle by processing the image, the steering angle data, and the vehicle speed data in at least one neural network.

A trailer angle identification system includes an imaging device configured to capture an image. A controller is configured to receive steering angle data corresponding to a steering angle of a vehicle, receive vehicle speed data corresponding to a vehicle speed, and estimate an angle of the trailer relative to the vehicle by processing the image, the steering angle data, and the vehicle speed data in at least one neural network.

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).

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).