Systems and methods for adapting operation of an assistance system according to the presence of a trailer

1. A trailer system for adapting operation of an assistance system in a subject vehicle according to a presence of a trailer, comprising:

one or more processors;

a memory communicably coupled to the one or more processors and storing:

a detection module including instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to, in response to determining that the trailer causes an occlusion to perception of at least one sensor about a surrounding environment of the subject vehicle, modify system parameters associated with the assistance system according to the occlusion to adapt how the assistance system operates while the occlusion is present; and

an assistance module including instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to control the assistance system as a function of the system parameters to improve assistance provided to an occupant of the subject vehicle.

2. The trailer system of claim 1 , wherein the detection module includes instructions to determine that the trailer causes the occlusion including instructions to analyze sensor data from the at least one sensor to identify whether the trailer blocks at least a portion of a field-of-view (FOV) of one or more of: a rearview camera, and a radar, and

wherein the detection module includes instructions to analyze the sensor data including instructions to compare the occlusion of the FOV with an activation zone of the assistance system and scanning zones beyond the activation zone to determine whether the occlusion prevents the at least one sensor from perceiving oncoming hazards.

3. The trailer system of claim 1 , wherein the detection module includes instructions to determine that the trailer causes the occlusion including instructions to determine attributes of the trailer that define at least dimensions of the trailer including a height and a width, and compare the dimensions with threshold values for occluding a field-of-view of the at least one sensor to identify whether the trailer blocks the at least one sensor from perceiving hazards relative to the subject vehicle.

4. The trailer system of claim 1 , wherein the detection module includes instructions to modify the system parameters associated with the assistance system including instructions to activate an additional sensor to gather supplemental information that provides observations of an area associated with the occlusion of the at least one sensor, and

wherein the occlusion prevents the at least one sensor from perceiving scanning zones in the surrounding environment.

5. The trailer system of claim 1 , wherein the detection module includes instructions to modify the system parameters including instructions to perform one or more of change a type of an alert, change a timing threshold for providing the alert, and change an activation zone for providing the alert, and

wherein the type of the alert includes audible, visual, and active restraint.

6. The trailer system of claim 1 , wherein the assistance module includes instructions to control the assistance system as a function of the system parameters including instructions to acquire sensor data according to the system parameters, identify a nearby object from the sensor data, and activate an alert according to the system parameters.

7. The trailer system of claim 6 , wherein the sensor data is sensor data from one or more of: the at least one sensor, an additional sensor of the subject vehicle, and a nearby device that is communicating with the subject vehicle.

8. The trailer system of claim 1 , wherein the detection module includes instructions to detect that the trailer causes the occlusion including instructions to iteratively determine whether the trailer causes the occlusion and whether movement of the trailer relative to the subject vehicle changes the occlusion, and

wherein the assistance system includes one or more functions for: lane change assist, rear cross-traffic detection, safe exit alerts, and blind spot monitoring.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions for adapting operation of an assistance system in a subject vehicle according to a presence of a trailer and that when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

in response to determining that the trailer causes an occlusion to perception of at least one sensor about a surrounding environment of the subject vehicle, modify system parameters associated with the assistance system according to the occlusion to adapt how the assistance system operates while the occlusion is present; and

control the assistance system as a function of the system parameters to improve assistance provided to an occupant of the subject vehicle.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the instructions to determine that the trailer causes the occlusion include instructions to analyze sensor data from the at least one sensor to identify whether the trailer blocks at least a portion of a field-of-view (FOV) of one or more of: a rearview camera, and a radar, and

wherein the instructions to analyze the sensor data include instructions to compare the occlusion of the FOV with an activation zone of the assistance system and scanning zones beyond the activation zone to determine whether the occlusion prevents the at least one sensor from perceiving oncoming hazards.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the instructions to determine that the trailer causes the occlusion include instructions to determine attributes of the trailer that define at least dimensions of the trailer including a height and a width, and compare the dimensions with threshold values for occluding a field-of-view of the at least one sensor to identify whether the trailer blocks the at least one sensor from perceiving hazards relative to the subject vehicle.

12. A method of adapting operation of an assistance system in a subject vehicle according to a presence of a trailer, comprising:

in response to determining that the trailer causes an occlusion to perception of at least one sensor about a surrounding environment of the subject vehicle, modifying system parameters associated with the assistance system according to the occlusion to adapt how the assistance system operates while the occlusion is present; and

controlling the assistance system as a function of the system parameters to improve assistance provided to an occupant of the subject vehicle.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein determining that the trailer causes the occlusion includes analyzing sensor data from the at least one sensor to identify whether the trailer blocks at least a portion of a field-of-view (FOV) of one or more of: a rearview camera, and a radar, and

wherein analyzing the sensor data includes comparing the occlusion of the FOV with an activation zone of the assistance system and scanning zones beyond the activation zone to determine whether the occlusion prevents the at least one sensor from perceiving oncoming hazards.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein determining that the trailer causes the occlusion includes determining attributes of the trailer that define at least dimensions of the trailer including a height and a width, and comparing the dimensions with threshold values for occluding a field-of-view of the at least one sensor to identify whether the trailer blocks the at least one sensor from perceiving hazards relative to the subject vehicle.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein modifying the system parameters associated with the assistance system includes activating an additional sensor to gather supplemental information that provides observations of an area associated with the occlusion of the at least one sensor, and

wherein the occlusion prevents the at least one sensor from perceiving scanning zones in the surrounding environment.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein modifying the system parameters includes one or more of changing a type of an alert, changing a timing threshold for providing the alert, and changing an activation zone for providing the alert, and

wherein the type of the alert includes audible, visual, and active restraint.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein controlling the assistance system as a function of the system parameters includes acquiring sensor data according to the system parameters, identifying a nearby object from the sensor data, and activating an alert according to the system parameters.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the sensor data is sensor data from one or more of: the at least one sensor, an additional sensor of the subject vehicle, and a nearby device that is communicating with the subject vehicle.

19. The method of claim 12 , wherein detecting that the trailer causes the occlusion includes iteratively determining whether the trailer causes the occlusion and whether movement of the trailer relative to the subject vehicle changes the occlusion.

20. The method of claim 12 , wherein the assistance system includes one or more functions for: lane change assist, rear cross-traffic detection, safe exit alerts, and blind spot monitoring, and

wherein controlling the assistance system includes one or more of: providing control inputs to control the subject vehicle, and generating an alert to inform one or more occupants of the subject vehicle about a hazard associated with a nearby object, and

wherein controlling the assistance system includes determining whether an estimated path of the nearby object intersects an activation zone proximate to the subject vehicle defined by the system parameters.