Trailer loading suspension sway and rollaway detection and prevention

1 . A system for trailer loading suspension sway and rollaway detection in a vehicle comprises:

a vehicle;

a trailer movably attached to the vehicle via a hitch;

one or more sensors, the one or more sensors directly or indirectly detecting a load on suspension of the vehicle;

a controller having a processor, a memory, and input/output (I/O) ports, the I/O ports in communication with the one or more sensors, the processor executing program code portions stored in the memory, the program code portions including a TLSR application comprising:

a first control logic for monitoring vehicle static and dynamic state information;

a second control logic for determining that predetermined initialization conditions have been met;

a third control logic that, upon determining that the initialization conditions have been met, monitors, via the one or more sensors, vertical loads on each of front and rear axles of the vehicle;

a fourth control logic that determines a rear axle vertical load and generates at least one of: an overload alert, a sway alert, and a rollaway alert; and

a fifth control logic that upon generating at least one of the overload alert, sway alert, and rollaway alert, notifies a vehicle operator that a vertical load exerted by the trailer on the hitch has exceeded one or more of a positive load threshold, a calibratable minimum negative load threshold, and a calibratable negative rear axle load threshold, wherein notifications to the vehicle operator continue unless and until none of the positive load threshold, calibratable minimum negative load threshold and calibratable negative rear axle load threshold have been exceeded.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors include:

wheel speed sensors, brake sensors, throttle position sensors, accelerator pedal position sensors, powertrain system sensors, transmission sensors, engine control sensors, inertial measurement units (IMUs), global positioning system (GPS), and sensors capable of directly and/or indirectly measuring a vertical or normal force loading and/or a vertical displacement or ride height of a front axle and a rear axle of the vehicle, comprising one or more of: suspension load detection sensors, suspension displacement sensors, Semi Active Damping Suspension (SADS), air suspension sensors, and continuous damping control (CDC) ride height sensors.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the first control logic further comprises:

control logic that monitors vehicle wheel speed, transmission state or position, brake application state, suspension system load, trailer connectivity, and trailer loading mode.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the second control logic further comprises:

control logic that determines that a trailer is connected to the vehicle at the hitch;

control logic that determines that a transmission of the vehicle is in a park state;

control logic that determines that brakes of the vehicle are not currently applied; and upon determining that one or more of: a trailer is not connected, the transmission is not in a park state, and the brakes are currently being applied, continues monitoring vehicle wheel speed, transmission state or position, brake application state, suspension system load, trailer connectivity; and

upon determining that: a trailer is connected, the transmission is in a park state, and the brakes are not applied, generates an output indicating that the predetermined initialization conditions have been met.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the fourth control logic further comprises:

control logic that, upon determining that a positive rear axle vertical load is being applied by the trailer via the hitch, compares the positive rear axle vertical load to a calibratable positive load threshold; and

upon determining that the positive rear axle vertical load meets or exceeds the calibratable positive load threshold, generates a notification to the vehicle operator including an overload alert.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the fourth control logic further comprises:

control logic that, upon determining that a zero or negative rear axle vertical load is being applied by the trailer via the hitch, compares the zero or negative rear axle vertical load to a calibratable minimum negative load threshold; and

upon determining that the negative rear axle vertical load does not exceed the calibratable minimum negative load threshold, generates a notification to the vehicle operator including a sway alert.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the calibratable minimum negative load threshold further comprises:

a calibratable range of negative rear axle loads that extends from approximately a zero or neutral load to an approximately 25% negative load on the rear axle.

8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the fourth control logic further comprises:

control logic that, upon determining that a negative rear axle vertical load is being applied by the trailer via the hitch, compares the negative rear axle vertical load to the calibratable negative rear axle load threshold; and

upon determining that the negative rear axle vertical load meets or exceeds the calibratable negative rear axle load threshold or upon detecting front axle roll, generates a notification to the vehicle operator including a rollaway alert,

wherein the calibratable negative rear axle load threshold further comprises: a range of values extending from approximately a 50% to a 100% negative load on the rear axle, wherein a 100% negative load on the rear axle indicates that the rear axle is entirely unloaded and that rear wheels attached to the rear axle no longer provide frictional contact with ground beneath the vehicle.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the fifth control logic further comprises:

control logic that generates audiovisual and/or haptic feedback notifications to the vehicle operator via one or more of: a human-machine interface (HMI), including touch-sensitive panels disposed on or integrated into various components of an exterior surface of the vehicle or an interior passenger compartment of the vehicle, lights affixed to the exterior surface of the vehicle, and a horn of the vehicle;

control logic that generates notifications via wireless-communication-enabled devices including: mobile computing devices, laptop computers, tablet computers, and cellular phones,

wherein the notifications provide audiovisual indications that a load on the trailer is meeting or exceeding one or more of the positive load threshold, the calibratable minimum negative load threshold, and the calibratable negative rear axle load threshold unless and until none of the positive load threshold, calibratable minimum negative load threshold and calibratable negative rear axle load threshold have been met or exceeded.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the fifth control logic further comprises:

control logic that automatically engages vehicle brakes during a rollaway alert, thereby preventing the vehicle and trailer from rolling despite the trailer exerting a negative rear axle load that meets or exceeds the calibratable negative rear axle load threshold.

11 . A method for trailer loading suspension sway and rollaway (TLSR) detection in a vehicle comprises:

directly or indirectly detecting a load exerted by a trailer on suspension of the vehicle with one or more sensors, wherein the trailer is movably attached to the vehicle via a hitch;

executing, by a processor of a controller of the vehicle, program code portions stored in memory of the controller, the controller further including input/output (I/O) ports in communication with the one or more sensors, the program code portions including a TLSR application comprising control logic for:

monitoring vehicle static and dynamic state information;

determining that predetermined initialization conditions have been met;

upon determining that the initialization conditions have been met, monitoring, via the one or more sensors, vertical loads on each of front and rear axles of the vehicle;

determining a rear axle vertical load and generating at least one of: an overload alert, a sway alert, and a rollaway alert; and

upon generating at least one of the overload alert, sway alert, and rollaway alert, notifying a vehicle operator that a vertical load exerted by the trailer on the hitch has exceeded one or more of a positive load threshold, a calibratable minimum negative load threshold, and a calibratable negative rear axle load threshold, wherein notifications to the vehicle operator continue unless and until none of the positive load threshold, calibratable minimum negative load threshold and calibratable negative rear axle load threshold have been exceeded.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

directly or indirectly detecting a load exerted by the trailer on suspension of the vehicle with one or more of wheel speed sensors, brake sensors, throttle position sensors, accelerator pedal position sensors, powertrain system sensors, transmission sensors, engine control sensors, inertial measurement units (IMUs), global positioning system (GPS), and sensors capable of directly and/or indirectly measuring a vertical or normal force loading and/or a vertical displacement or ride height of a front axle and a rear axle of the vehicle, comprising one or more of: suspension load detection sensors, suspension displacement sensors, Semi Active Damping Suspension (SADS), air suspension sensors, and continuous damping control (CDC) ride height sensors.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising monitoring vehicle wheel speed, transmission state or position, brake application state, suspension system load, trailer connectivity, and trailer loading mode.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

determining that a trailer is connected to the vehicle at the hitch;

determining that a transmission of the vehicle is in a park state;

determining that brakes of the vehicle are not currently applied; and upon determining that one or more of: a trailer is not connected, the transmission is not in a park state, and the brakes are currently being applied, continuing to monitor vehicle wheel speed, transmission state or position, brake application state, suspension system load, trailer connectivity; and

upon determining that: a trailer is connected, the transmission is in a park state, and the brakes are not applied, generating an output indicating that the predetermined initialization conditions have been met.

15 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

upon determining that a positive rear axle vertical load is being applied by the trailer via the hitch, comparing the positive rear axle vertical load to a calibratable positive load threshold; and

upon determining that the positive rear axle vertical load meets or exceeds the calibratable positive load threshold, generating a notification to the vehicle operator including an overload alert.

16 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

upon determining that a zero or negative rear axle vertical load is being applied by the trailer via the hitch, comparing the zero or negative rear axle vertical load to a calibratable minimum negative load threshold, wherein the calibratable minimum negative load threshold further comprises:

a calibratable range of negative rear axle loads that extends from approximately a zero or neutral load to an approximately 25% negative load on the rear axle; and

upon determining that the negative rear axle vertical load does not exceed the calibratable minimum negative load threshold, generating a notification to the vehicle operator including a sway alert.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

upon determining that a negative rear axle vertical load is being applied by the trailer via the hitch, comparing the negative rear axle vertical load to the calibratable negative rear axle load threshold; and

upon determining that the negative rear axle vertical load meets or exceeds the calibratable negative rear axle load threshold or upon detecting front axle roll, generating a notification to the vehicle operator including a rollaway alert,

wherein the calibratable negative rear axle load threshold further comprises: a range of values extending from approximately a 50% to a 100% negative load on the rear axle, wherein a 100% negative load on the rear axle indicates that the rear axle is entirely unloaded and that rear wheels attached to the rear axle no longer provide frictional contact with ground beneath the vehicle.

18 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

generating audiovisual and/or haptic feedback notifications to the vehicle operator via one or more of: a human-machine interface (HMI), including touch-sensitive panels disposed on or integrated into various components of an exterior surface of the vehicle or an interior passenger compartment of the vehicle, lights affixed to the exterior surface of the vehicle, and a horn of the vehicle;

generating notifications via wireless-communication-enabled devices including: mobile computing devices, laptop computers, tablet computers, and cellular phones,

wherein the notifications provide audiovisual indications that a load on the trailer is meeting or exceeding one or more of the positive load threshold, the calibratable minimum negative load threshold, and the calibratable negative rear axle load threshold unless and until none of the positive load threshold, calibratable minimum negative load threshold and calibratable negative rear axle load threshold have been met or exceeded.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

automatically engaging vehicle brakes during a rollaway alert, thereby preventing the vehicle and trailer from rolling despite the trailer exerting a negative rear axle load that meets or exceeds the calibratable negative rear axle load threshold.

20 . A method for trailer loading suspension sway and rollaway (TLSR) detection in a vehicle comprises:

directly or indirectly detecting a load exerted by a trailer on suspension of the vehicle with one or more sensors including: wheel speed sensors, brake sensors, throttle position sensors, accelerator pedal position sensors, powertrain system sensors, transmission sensors, engine control sensors, inertial measurement units (IMUs), global positioning system (GPS), and sensors capable of directly and/or indirectly measuring a vertical or normal force loading and/or a vertical displacement or ride height of a front axle and a rear axle of the vehicle, comprising one or more of: suspension load detection sensors, suspension displacement sensors, Semi Active Damping Suspension (SADS), air suspension sensors, and continuous damping control (CDC) ride height sensors, wherein the trailer is movably attached to the vehicle via a hitch;

executing, by a processor of a controller of the vehicle, program code portions stored in memory of the controller, the controller further including input/output (I/O) ports in communication with the one or more sensors, the program code portions including a TLSR application comprising control logic for:

monitoring vehicle wheel speed, transmission state or position, brake application state, suspension system load, trailer connectivity, and trailer loading mode;

determining that predetermined initialization conditions have been met, including:

determining that a trailer is connected to the vehicle at the hitch;

determining that a transmission of the vehicle is in a park state;

determining that brakes of the vehicle are not currently applied; and upon determining that one or more of: a trailer is not connected, the transmission is not in a park state, and the brakes are currently being applied, continuing to monitor vehicle wheel speed, transmission state or position, brake application state, suspension system load, trailer connectivity; and

upon determining that: a trailer is connected, the transmission is in a park state, and the brakes are not applied, generating an output indicating that the predetermined initialization conditions have been met, and monitoring via the one or more sensors, vertical loads on each of front and rear axles of the vehicle;

determining a rear axle vertical load and generating at least one of: an overload alert, a sway alert, and a rollaway alert, wherein:

upon determining that a positive rear axle vertical load is being applied by the trailer via the hitch, comparing the positive rear axle vertical load to a calibratable positive load threshold; and

upon determining that the positive rear axle vertical load meets or exceeds the calibratable positive load threshold, generating a notification to a vehicle operator including an overload alert;

upon determining that a zero or negative rear axle vertical load is being applied by the trailer via the hitch, comparing the zero or negative rear axle vertical load to a calibratable minimum negative load threshold, wherein the calibratable minimum negative load threshold further comprises:

a calibratable range of negative rear axle loads that extends from approximately a zero or neutral load to an approximately 25% negative load on the rear axle; and

upon determining that the negative rear axle vertical load does not exceed the calibratable minimum negative load threshold, generating a notification to the vehicle operator including a sway alert;

upon determining that a negative rear axle vertical load is being applied by the trailer via the hitch, comparing the negative rear axle vertical load to the calibratable negative rear axle load threshold; and

upon determining that the negative rear axle vertical load meets or exceeds the calibratable negative rear axle load threshold or upon detecting front axle roll, generating a notification to the vehicle operator including a rollaway alert,

wherein the calibratable negative rear axle load threshold further comprises: a range of values extending from approximately a 50% to a 100% negative load on the rear axle, wherein a 100% negative load on the rear axle indicates that the rear axle is entirely unloaded and that rear wheels attached to the rear axle no longer provide frictional contact with ground beneath the vehicle;

upon generating at least one of the overload alert, sway alert, and rollaway alert, providing the overload alert, sway alert, and rollaway alert to vehicle operators via audiovisual and/or haptic feedback notifications to the vehicle operator via one or more of: a human-machine interface (HMI), including touch-sensitive panels disposed on or integrated into various components of an exterior surface of the vehicle or an interior passenger compartment of the vehicle, lights affixed to the exterior surface of the vehicle, and a horn of the vehicle; and

generating notifications via wireless-communication-enabled devices including: mobile computing devices, laptop computers, tablet computers, and cellular phones,

wherein the notifications provide audiovisual indications that a load on the trailer is meeting or exceeding one or more of the positive load threshold, the calibratable minimum negative load threshold, and the calibratable negative rear axle load threshold unless and until none of the positive load threshold, calibratable minimum negative load threshold and calibratable negative rear axle load threshold have been met or exceeded; and automatically engaging vehicle brakes during a rollaway alert, thereby preventing the vehicle and trailer from rolling despite the trailer exerting a negative rear axle load that meets or exceeds the calibratable negative rear axle load threshold.