US 11,983,969 B2
Systems and methods for modeling electric vehicle towing
Erik Biberstein, Novi, MI (US); Stuart C. Salter, White Lake, MI (US); Justin Carmen Campanaro, Ferndale, MI (US); Katherine Howard-Cone, Canton, MI (US); and Jacob Doan, Novi, MI (US)
Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on Jan. 27, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/159,599.
Prior Publication US 2022/0237952 A1, Jul. 28, 2022
Int. Cl. G07C 5/00 (2006.01); B60G 17/019 (2006.01); B60R 16/023 (2006.01); G01C 3/02 (2006.01); G06N 3/04 (2023.01); G06N 3/08 (2023.01); G06T 7/13 (2017.01); G06T 7/194 (2017.01); G06T 7/521 (2017.01); G07C 5/08 (2006.01); H04N 13/20 (2018.01)
CPC G07C 5/004 (2013.01) [B60G 17/019 (2013.01); B60R 16/0236 (2013.01); G01C 3/02 (2013.01); G06N 3/04 (2013.01); G06N 3/08 (2013.01); G06T 7/13 (2017.01); G06T 7/194 (2017.01); G06T 7/521 (2017.01); G07C 5/0825 (2013.01); H04N 13/20 (2018.05); B60G 2400/60 (2013.01); B60G 2400/97 (2013.01); B60G 2401/14 (2013.01); B60G 2401/21 (2013.01); B60G 2500/30 (2013.01); G06T 2207/20081 (2013.01); G06T 2207/20084 (2013.01); G06T 2207/30252 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
13. A vehicle, comprising:
a sensor assembly comprising a camera and a laser; and
a trailer management system, comprising a processor and memory, the processor executing instructions stored in the memory to:
obtain data from the sensor assembly;
determine that a trailer is connected to the vehicle using the data from the sensor assembly;
determine a distance between the vehicle and the trailer using the data from the sensor assembly;
calculate an estimated range for the vehicle while towing the trailer by:
predicting a drag coefficient of the trailer based on a surface mapping created from the data from the sensor assembly; and
estimating a drag force based on the drag coefficient and the surface mapping, wherein the estimated range is related to the drag force; and
selectively adjust a ride height of the vehicle to increase the estimated range.