IP Library Granted Patent US 9,428,220
Granted Patent B2
US 9,428,220 · App. 14/612,552 · Granted Aug 30, 2016

Method and device for maneuvering a trailer

Inventors: Philipp Hueger (Ruehen, DE); Ulrich Wuttke (Braunschweig, DE); Daniel Leuchter (Wolfsburg, DE)
Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
B62D13/06B62D15/027B62D15/028B62D15/0275B60R2300/80G01B11/272
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,428,220
App. No.
14/612,552
Granted
Aug 30, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and a device for maneuvering a combination of a towing vehicle and a trailer, wherein the trailer is connected to the towing vehicle by a non-steerable tow-bar, and the towing vehicle observes the rear surroundings, including the trailer, by a rear-view camera. The method includes the steps: a) determining the actual articulation of the trailer relative to the towing vehicle; b) determining the length of the tow-bar and the maximum articulation of the trailer; c) inputting the intended articulation of the trailer; d) reversing the towing vehicle with at least active steering support until the intended articulation of the trailer is reached; e) fixing the direction of travel predetermined by the intended articulation; f) maneuvering the towing vehicle with at least active steering support while maintaining the predetermined direction of travel until an eventual parking position is reached.

Claims (31)

1. A method for maneuvering a combination comprising a tow vehicle and a trailer, the trailer being connected to the tow vehicle with the aid of a non-steerable tow bar and the tow vehicle monitoring the rear surroundings, including the trailer with the aid of a rear-view camera, the method comprising:

determining, using a control device, an actual articulation of the trailer relative to the tow vehicle;

determining a tow bar length and a maximum articulation of the trailer;

inputting a setpoint articulation of the trailer;

reversing the tow vehicle with at least active steering assistance until achieving the setpoint articulation of the trailer;

fixing a direction of travel predetermined by the setpoint articulation; and

maneuvering the tow vehicle with at least active steering assistance and maintaining a predetermined direction of travel until reaching a final parking position.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, while maneuvering the tow vehicle, a longitudinal axis of the tow vehicle is brought into alignment with a longitudinal axis of the trailer thereby maintaining the predetermined direction of travel, and in a subsequent step, a reversing of the combination oriented in a straight line takes place with at least the active steering assistance until the final parking position is reached.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein, to bring the tow vehicle into alignment with the longitudinal axis of the trailer, two modes are available, a first mode relating to the maneuvering on a wide roadway and a second mode relating to maneuvering on a narrow roadway.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein alignment of the tow vehicle with the longitudinal axis of the trailer is carried out in the first mode in a single-point maneuver, so that a target trajectory for reaching the final parking position in the first mode is parallel to the predetermined direction of travel.

5. The method according to claim 3 , wherein alignment of the tow vehicle with the longitudinal axis of the trailer is carried out in the second mode in a multi-point maneuver, so that the target trajectory for reaching the final parking position in the second mode is in the predetermined direction of travel.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the setpoint articulation is inputted while stopped or while reversing.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the setpoint articulation is inputted via a user interface into a trailer maneuvering assistant of a motor vehicle.

8. A trailer maneuvering assistant of a motor vehicle comprising:

a control device, wherein the control device is configured to:

determine an actual articulation of the trailer relative to the tow vehicle;

determine a tow bar length and a maximum articulation of the trailer;

input a setpoint articulation of the trailer;

revise the tow vehicle with at least active steering assistance until achieving the setpoint articulation of the trailer;

fix a direction of travel predetermined by the setpoint articulation; and

maneuver the tow vehicle with at least active steering assistance and maintain the predetermined direction of travel until reaching a final parking position, wherein the trailer maneuvering assistant comprises:

an HMI (Human Machine Interface) device for communicating with a driver of the vehicle;

a device for detecting a coupled trailer; and

an actuator for actuating a steering system,

wherein the trailer maneuvering assistant has a rear-view camera for recording images of the rear surroundings,

wherein the control device has a device for determining the actual articulation and for determining the maximum permissible articulation of the coupled trailer from images of the rear-view camera,

wherein the HMI device has a device for entering a setpoint articulation of the trailer, and

wherein the HMI device dynamically displays an actual position of the trailer in the actual articulation and a setpoint position of the trailer in the setpoint articulation.

9. The trailer maneuvering assistant according to claim 8 , wherein, to activate the trailer maneuvering assistant, the HMI device transmits a predetermined number of informational indications to the driver of the motor vehicle.

10. The trailer maneuvering assistant according to claim 8 , wherein the HMI device has a device for fixing an achieved setpoint articulation, and wherein the control unit uses a fixed setpoint articulation as the predetermined direction for ascertaining a target trajectory for reaching the final parking position.

11. The trailer maneuvering assistant according to claim 10 , wherein the HMI device has a selecting device, with the aid of which it is selected whether the target trajectory runs parallel to the predetermined direction or in the direction of the predetermined direction.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 21, 2015
From: HUEGER, PHILIPP; WUTTKE, ULRICH; LEUCHTER, DANIEL
To: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Reel/Frame 035458/0640 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2012 015 435 · Aug 3, 2012 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTEP2013060055 · May 15, 2013
Related Publication 20150149040A1 · May 28, 2015