Trailer hitching aid
A vehicle system is disclosed herein. The system includes a hitch ball mounted on a vehicle. A controller is configured to identify a coupler position of a trailer and control motion of the vehicle to an aligned position, wherein the hitch ball is aligned with the coupler position. The controller is further configured to initiate a vehicle agitation routine after the vehicle has reached the aligned position.
1. A vehicle system, comprising:
a hitch ball mounted on a vehicle,
an electric machine operable to move the vehicle to perform a vehicle agitation routine; and
a controller configured to:
identify a coupler position of a trailer;
control motion of the vehicle to an aligned position, wherein the hitch ball is aligned with the coupler position; and
initiate the vehicle agitation routine, after the vehicle has reached the aligned position.
2. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a human-machine interface, wherein the controller is configured to initiate the vehicle agitation routine in response to at least one user input received via the human-machine interface.
3. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the human-machine interface is a portable device configured to communicate with the controller via wireless communication.
4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to control a powertrain control system of the vehicle to move the vehicle forward a predetermined distance and backward a predetermined distance, in response to initiation of the vehicle agitation routine.
5. The system according to claim 4 , wherein the predetermined distance of forward movement is from about 5 mm to about 100 mm.
6. The system according to claim 5 , wherein the predetermined distance of backward movement is from about 5 mm to about 100 mm.
7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to control a powertrain control system of the vehicle to move the vehicle in a series of forward and backward movements sequentially, in response to initiation of the vehicle agitation routine.
8. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an internal combustion engine configured to move the vehicle to the aligned position.
9. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the electric machine comprises:
a starter motor configured to start the vehicle, wherein initiation of the vehicle agitation routine prompts activation of the starter motor.
10. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to control a vehicle brake control system to intermittently apply a service brake to stop the forward and backward movement of the vehicle during execution of the vehicle agitation routine.
11. A method for controlling a vehicle comprising:
identifying a coupler position of a trailer;
controlling motion of the vehicle to an aligned position aligning a hitch ball with the coupler position; and
after reaching the aligned position, controlling motion of the vehicle by performing a vehicle agitation routine in response to a human-machine interface receiving at least one user input, wherein controlling motion of the vehicle by performing the vehicle agitation routine comprises moving the vehicle a predetermined distance from about 5 mm to about 100 mm in at least one of a forward direction and a backwards direction.
12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the human-machine interface is a portable device configured to communicate with the vehicle wirelessly.
13. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the step of controlling motion of the vehicle by performing a vehicle agitation routine comprises moving the vehicle in a series of forward and backward movements sequentially.
14. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising the step of controlling motion of the vehicle by moving the vehicle forward a predetermined distance after a coupler of the trailer has dropped on to the hitch ball.
15. A vehicle system, comprising:
a hitch ball mounted on a vehicle;
a human-machine interface; and
a controller electrically coupled to the human-machine interface and configured to initiate a vehicle agitation routine in response to at least one user input received via the human-machine interface, wherein initiation of the vehicle agitation routine prompts the vehicle to move in a series of forward and backward movements sequentially, and wherein each of the forward and rearward movements ranges in distance from about 5 mm to about 100 mm.
16. The vehicle system according to claim 15 , wherein the forward movements are of a predetermined distance from about 10 mm to about 40 mm.
17. The vehicle system according to claim 16 , wherein the backward movements are of a predetermined distance from about 10 mm to about 40 mm.