Patent ID: 9321483
Filing Date: 2016-04-26
CPC Classification: B60D,B60T,B62D

Claim Text:
1. A method of controlling the steering and path of a motor vehicle and a trailer connected thereto in a reverse direction of travel, the vehicle having at least one axle with steerable wheels, the vehicle and trailer being connected at a hitch point allowing rotational movement of the trailer relative to the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: providing an electronic processing unit configured to provide signals for controlling the steerable wheels via a powered steering system operatively coupled to the steerable wheels; providing a driver interface for receiving a directional input from a driver related to an intended direction of travel of the trailer relative to the vehicle; receiving, at the electronic processing unit, the directional input from the driver comprising the intended direction of travel of the trailer relative to the vehicle; receiving, at the electronic processing unit, information regarding a measure of orientation of the trailer relative to the vehicle; determining, at the electronic processing unit, whether the measure of orientation deviates from the intended direction of travel of the trailer relative to the vehicle and determining a deviation; and implementing a path-correcting measure, via the electronic processing unit, to command the powered steering system to steer the wheels to correct the deviation by correcting the orientation of the trailer relative to the vehicle to correspond to the intended direction of travel of the trailer relative to the vehicle.