Granted Patent B2

US 12,358,556 · App. 18/128,513 · Granted Jul 15, 2025

Inventors: Adam Szoellosi (Budapest, HU); Andras Batai (Pecs, HU); Daniel Thum (Munich, DE); Huba Nemeth (Budapest, HU); Tamas Komlos (Csavoly, HU); Tamas Szokol (Budapest, HU); Valer Merza (Szentendre, HU); Valter Zoeldhegy (Diosd, HU); Zsolt Dudas (Szeged, HU)

Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH

B62D15/024B62D13/00

Abstract

Claims (148)

1. A method for estimating an articulation angle (φ) between a towing vehicle and a trailer with respect to a pivot (K), comprising:

determining a distance (r) between an instantaneous center of velocity (P) of the towing vehicle and a center of at least one axle (R) of the towing vehicle representative for a rotation of the towing vehicle about the instantaneous center of velocity (P) of the towing vehicle and/or a distance (r T ) between an instantaneous center of velocity (D) of the trailer and a center of at least one axle (T) of the trailer representative for a rotation of the trailer about the instantaneous center of velocity (D) of the trailer;

determining at least one instantaneous speed (ν R , ν T , ν TL , ν TR ) representative for a wheel speed of at least one wheel of the towing vehicle and/or the trailer, wherein the at least one instantaneous speed (ν R , ν T , ν TL , ν TR ) refers to the at least one determined distance (r, r T ); and

estimating the articulation angle (φ) based on the at least one determined instantaneous speed and the at least one determined distance (r, r T ), wherein

the distance (r) between the instantaneous center of velocity (P) of the towing vehicle and the center of at least one axle (R) of the towing vehicle is calculated, based on a distance (b) between a steering axle of the towing vehicle and a non-steering axle of the towing vehicle, and a steering angle (ϑ) of the steering axle.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one instantaneous speed (ν R , ν T , ν TL , ν TR ) is determined for:

at least one non-steered axle of the towing vehicle, as speed (ν R ) of the center of at least one rear axle (R) of the towing vehicle, and/or

at least one non-steered axle of the trailer, as speed (ν T ) of the center of at least one rear axle (T) or as speed (ν TL , ν TR ) of at least one wheel of at least one rear axle of the trailer.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein

the distance (r) between the instantaneous center of velocity (P) of the towing vehicle and the center of at least one axle (R) the towing vehicle is calculated by:

r=b /tan(ϑ).

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein

the distance (r T ) between the instantaneous center of velocity (D) of the trailer and the center of at least one axle (T) of the trailer is calculated based on a distance (r 0 ) between a center of at least one wheel on the at least one axle of the trailer facing towards the instantaneous center of velocity of the trailer and a distance (w) between the center of the at least one wheel on the at least one axle facing towards the instantaneous center of velocity (D) of the trailer and at least one wheel on the other side of the at least one axle.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein

the distance (r T ) between the instantaneous center of velocity (D) of the trailer and the center of at least one axle (T) of the trailer is calculated by:

r T =r 0 +w/ 2,

wherein r 0 is defined by

r

0

=

w

·

min

⁡

(

υ

TL

,

υ

TR

)

abs

⁡

(

υ

TL

-

υ

TR

)

.

wherein ν TL is the speed of wheel(s) of the at least one axle facing towards the instantaneous center of velocity (D) of the trailer and ν TR is the speed of wheel(s) of at least one axle facing away from the instantaneous center of velocity (D) of the trailer.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:

determining an angle (ε) of a velocity vector (ν K ) of the pivot (K) and the velocity vector (ν R ) of the at least one axle ( 12 ) of the towing vehicle ( 10 ), calculated by:

ε

=

tan

-

1

(

c

r

)

.

wherein c is defined as distance between the center of at least one axle (R) of the towing vehicle and the pivot (K).

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the articulation angle (φ) is estimated by:

φ

=

cos

-

1

(

υ

T

υ

K

)

-

ε

,

wherein ν T is defined as speed of the center of at least one axle (T) of the trailer, ν K is defined as speed of the center of the pivot (K), calculated by:

υ K =υ R /cos(ε),

and the ratio between the speeds (ν T , ν K ) of the center of the at least one rear axle (T) of the trailer and the center of the pivot (K) is expressed by:

υ

T

υ

K

=

cos

⁡

(

ε

+

φ

)

.

8. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the articulation angle (φ) is estimated by:

φ

=

tan

-

1

(

L

r

T

)

-

ε

,

wherein L is defined as distance between the at least one axle of the trailer and the pivot (K).

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the articulation angle (φ) is estimated by:

φ

=

tan

-

1

(

L

r

T

)

,

wherein L is defined as distance between the at least one axle of the trailer and the pivot (K).

10. A device for estimating an articulation angle (φ) between a towing vehicle and a trailer with respect to a pivot, comprising:

(a) a data unit configured to receive and/or store data of:

(i) a distance (b) between a steering axle of the towing vehicle and a non-steering axle of the towing vehicle,

(ii) a distance (c) between the non-steering axle of the towing vehicle and the pivot,

(iii) the distance (L) between the at least one axle of the trailer and the pivot (K), and/or

(iv) the distance (w) between the center of the at least one wheel on the at least one axle facing towards an instantaneous center of velocity of the trailer and at least one wheel on the other side of the at least one axle;

(b) a determination unit configured to determine:

(i) the steering angle (υ) of the steering axle,

(ii) the speed (ν R ) of the center of at least one axle (R) of the towing vehicle,

(iii) the speed (ν T ) of the center of at least one axle (T) of the trailer, and/or

(iv) the speed (ν TL , ν TR ) of at least one wheel of at least one rear axle of the trailer, with respect to the center of the at least one axle (T);

(c) an estimation unit configured to determine:

(i) the distance (r) between the instantaneous center of velocity (P) of the towing vehicle and the center of at least one axle (R) the towing vehicle representative for a rotation of the towing vehicle about the instantaneous center of velocity (P) of the towing vehicle,

(ii) the distance (r T ) between the instantaneous center of velocity (D) of the trailer and the center of at least one axle (T) of the trailer representative for a rotation of the trailer about the instantaneous center of velocity (D) of the trailer,

(iii) the speed (ν K ) of the center of the pivot (K),

(iv) the angle (ε) of the velocity vector (ν K ) of the pivot (K) and the velocity vector (ν R ) of the at least one axle of the towing vehicle, and/or

(v) the ratio between the speeds (ν T , ν K ) of the center of the at least one rear axle (T) of the trailer and the center of the pivot, in order to estimate the articulation angle (φ); and

(d) an output unit configured to output the articulation angle (φ), wherein

the distance (r) between the instantaneous center of velocity (P) of the towing vehicle and the center of at least one axle (R) of the towing vehicle is calculated, based on a distance (b) between a steering axle of the towing vehicle and a non-steering axle of the towing vehicle, and a steering angle (ϑ) of the steering axle.

11. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the speed of at least one wheel of at least one rear axle are the speeds (ν TL , ν TR ) of opposing wheels of the at least one axle.

12. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the estimation unit comprises a calculation unit to calculate at least one of:

(i) the distance (r) between the instantaneous center of velocity (P) of the towing vehicle and the center of at least one axle (R) the towing vehicle representative for a rotation of the towing vehicle about the instantaneous center of velocity (P) of the towing vehicle,

(ii) the distance (r) between the instantaneous center of velocity (D) of the trailer and the center of at least one axle (T) of the trailer representative for a rotation of the trailer about the instantaneous center of velocity (D) of the trailer,

(iii) the speed (ν K ) of the center of the pivot (K),

(iv) the angle (ε) of the velocity vector (ν K ) of the pivot (K) and the velocity vector (ν R ) of the at least one axle of the towing vehicle, or

(v) the ratio between the speeds (ν T , ν K ) of the center of the at least one rear axle (T) of the trailer and the center of the pivot.

13. A driving assistance system for a towing vehicle, comprising:

the device for estimating an articulation angle between the towing vehicle and a trailer with respect to a pivot according to claim 10 .

14. A commercial vehicle comprising the driving assistance system according to claim 13 .

15. A computer product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon program code which, when executed by one or more processors, carries out the acts of:

determining a distance (r) between an instantaneous center of velocity (P) of the towing vehicle and a center of at least one axle (R) of the towing vehicle representative for a rotation of the towing vehicle about the instantaneous center of velocity (P) of the towing vehicle and/or a distance (r T ) between an instantaneous center of velocity (D) of the trailer and a center of at least one axle (T) of the trailer representative for a rotation of the trailer about the instantaneous center of velocity (D) of the trailer;

determining at least one instantaneous speed (ν R , ν T , ν TL , ν TR ) representative for a wheel speed of at least one wheel of the towing vehicle and/or the trailer, wherein the at least one instantaneous speed (ν R , ν T , ν TL , ν TR ) refers to the at least one determined distance (r, r T ); and

estimating the articulation angle (φ) based on the at least one determined instantaneous speed and the at least one determined distance (r, r T ), wherein

the distance (r) between the instantaneous center of velocity (P) of the towing vehicle and the center of at least one axle (R) of the towing vehicle is calculated, based on a distance (b) between a steering axle of the towing vehicle and a non-steering axle of the towing vehicle, and a steering angle (ϑ) of the steering axle.

Assignments (1)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (9)