Method and systems for systematic trailer position planning and control

1. A method for controlling a host vehicle that is towing a trailer, comprising:

determining in real time, by a controller of the host vehicle, that the host vehicle is approaching a turn;

determining, by the controller, a trailer offset based on a radius of a curvature of the turn to maintain the host vehicle and the trailer in a lane while the host vehicle and the trailer move along the turn; and

controlling the host vehicle using the trailer offset to maintain the host vehicle and the trailer in the lane while the host vehicle and the trailer move along the turn;

wherein:

determining the trailer offset includes determining a trailer predicted curvature offset (TPCO) based on the radius of the curvature of the turn and vehicle's path curvature;

the method further comprises determining that a target vehicle is not encroaching into the lane and a potential lateral impact to the vehicle with the trailer, while the host vehicle is approaching the turn; and

controlling the host vehicle using the trailer offset includes controlling the host vehicle using the TPCO to provide a predetermined distance to the encroaching vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

a trailer hitch interconnects the host vehicle and the trailer; and

determining the TPCO includes:

determining a trailer hitch angle using host vehicle states;

determining a heading of the host vehicle to a desired trajectory; and

the TPCO is determined as a function of the trailer hitch angle, the heading of the host vehicle to the desired trajectory, and a distance from a center of gravity of the trailer to the trailer hitch.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the trailer hitch angle is determined as a function of a turn radius of the host vehicle, the distance from the center of gravity of the trailer to the trailer hitch, a distance from the trailer hitch to a rear axle of the host vehicle, and a distance from a center of gravity of the host vehicle to the rear axle of the host vehicle, and the turn radius of the host vehicle is a function of the radius of the curvature of the turn.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the trailer hitch angle is determined as a function of a vehicle yaw rate of the host vehicle, a vehicle forward speed of the host vehicle, the distance from the center of gravity of the trailer to the trailer hitch, a distance from the trailer hitch to a rear axle of the host vehicle, and a distance from a center of gravity of the host vehicle to the rear axle of the host vehicle.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising determining and predicting the trailer lateral offset through hitch angle prediction using a vehicle yaw rate of the host vehicle along a prediction horizon.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the vehicle yaw rate of the host vehicle may be determined using a sensor of the host vehicle.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the vehicle yaw rate of the host vehicle is determined as a function of an understeer gradient of the host vehicle, the vehicle forward speed of the host vehicle, a distance of the center of gravity of the host vehicle to a front axle of the host vehicle, the distance from the center of gravity of the host vehicle to the rear axle of the host vehicle, and a road wheel angle of a plurality of front wheels of the host vehicle.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising adding the TPCO to a center of the lane to adapt an adjusted center of the lane assuring centering the trailer as well as the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein controlling the host vehicle includes maintain the trailer traveling along the adapted center of the lane.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising continuously updating, in real time, the center of the lane using TPCO.

11. A control system of a host vehicle, comprising:

a controller;

a plurality of sensors in communication with the controller;

wherein the controller is programmed to:

determine in real time that the host vehicle is approaching a turn;

determine a trailer offset based on a radius of a curvature of the turn to maintain the host vehicle and the trailer in a lane while the host vehicle and the trailer move along the turn; and

controlling the host vehicle using the trailer offset to maintain the host vehicle and the trailer in the lane while the host vehicle and the trailer move along the turn;

determine a trailer predicted curvature offset (TPCO) based on the radius of the curvature of the turn and vehicle's path curvature;

determine that a target vehicle is not encroaching into the lane and a potential lateral impact to the vehicle with trailer, while the host vehicle is approaching the turn; and

command the host vehicle using the TPCO to provide a predetermined distance to the encroaching vehicle.

12. The control system of claim 11 , wherein:

a trailer hitch interconnects the host vehicle and the trailer; and

the controller is programmed to:

determine a trailer hitch angle using host vehicle states;

determine a heading of the host vehicle to a desired trajectory; and

wherein the TPCO is determined as a function of the trailer hitch angle, the heading of the host vehicle to the desired trajectory, and a distance from a center of gravity of the trailer to the trailer hitch.

13. The control system of claim 12 , wherein the trailer hitch angle is determined as a function of a turn radius of the host vehicle, the distance from the center of gravity of the trailer to the trailer hitch, a distance from the trailer hitch to a rear axle of the host vehicle, and a distance from a center of gravity of the host vehicle to the rear axle of the host vehicle, and the turn radius of the host vehicle is a function of the radius of the curvature of the turn.

14. The control system of claim 12 , wherein the trailer hitch angle is determined as a function of a vehicle yaw rate of the host vehicle, a vehicle forward speed of the host vehicle, the distance from the center of gravity of the trailer to the trailer hitch, a distance from the trailer hitch to a rear axle of the host vehicle, and a distance from a center of gravity of the host vehicle to the rear axle of the host vehicle.

15. The control system of claim 14 , wherein the controller is programmed to determine and predict a trailer lateral offset through hitch angle prediction using a vehicle yaw rate of the host vehicle along a prediction horizon.

16. The control system of claim 15 , wherein the vehicle yaw rate of the host vehicle may be determined using a sensor of the host vehicle.

17. The control system of claim 16 , wherein the controller is programmed to add the TPCO to a center of the lane to adapt an adjusted center of the lane assuring centering the trailer as well as the vehicle.

18. The control system of claim 15 , wherein the vehicle yaw rate of the host vehicle is determined as a function of an understeer gradient of the host vehicle, the vehicle forward speed of the host vehicle, a distance of the center of gravity of the host vehicle to a front axle of the host vehicle, the distance from the center of gravity of the host vehicle to the rear axle of the host vehicle, and a road wheel angle of a plurality of front wheels of the host vehicle.