Jackknife condition for backing up of a vehicle attached to a long wheelbase dual axle trailers

摘要

A jackknife warning condition controller and control method notifies a driver of a potential jackknife situation while backing up a vehicle with an attached trailer. The vehicle has a front axle with steerable front wheels controlled by the driver and a rear axle with non-steerable rear wheels. The trailer has a front axle with non-steerable front wheels and a rear axle with steerable rear wheels controlled by a trailer steering controller. The jackknife controller receives an operator-controlled vehicle steering angle and a measured hitch angle. The jackknife warning condition controller determines a directional jackknife warning condition and compares the measured hitch angle with the determined directional jackknife warning condition. If the measured hitch angle satisfies the directional jackknife warning condition then a notification is sent to the driver.

主权项

1. A method for assisting a driver in a reverse drive maneuver of a trailer, the method comprising:
receiving, by a controller device, an operator-controlled vehicle steering angle for steering a vehicle during the reverse drive maneuver; receiving, by the controller device, a hitch angle representing an angle between the vehicle and the trailer at a hitch wherein the trailer is coupled to the vehicle at the hitch, the vehicle having a front axle with steerable front wheels and a rear axle with non-steerable rear wheels, and the trailer having a rear axle with steerable rear wheels and a front axle with non-steerable front wheels; determining a directional jackknife warning condition based on the received vehicle steering angle, the directional jackknife warning condition representing a condition of the hitch angle at which, if the vehicle steering angle is maintained, no allowable trailer steering angle can be determined that will reduce the hitch angle between the vehicle and the trailer if the vehicle drives in reverse; and responsive to the hitch angle satisfying the directional jackknife warning condition, notifying the driver.