For some drivers, driving in reverse is the most disliked thing, and if you consider that there is a trailer or trailer behind, it can turn into a tragedy. Let's talk about the maneuvering system with a trailer, the device and the principle of operation.
The content of the article:
- Purpose of the system
- Maneuvering system design
- How the system works
Driving a car is already progress for any person, but maneuvering with a trailer or long trailers is a skill. Often, many drivers are limited only by the category of driving when passing license exams, but sooner or later there is a desire to attach a trailer to a car. Here the study begins anew.
But still, the best thing is to practice driving, otherwise, with a high and fast probability, you will damage, if not the trailer, then your car with the trailer. Because of these unpleasant situations, Volkswagen engineers have developed a trailer maneuvering system.
The main task of the maneuvering system
As it has already become clear, the main task of the trailer maneuvering system is to correct the trajectory of the vehicle with the trailer when reversing. This system will be very useful for experienced and non-experienced drivers. This system appeared as an option on the eighth generation Volkswagen Passat cars.
In the list of Passat options, the system is listed as Trailer Assist, it can be considered that this is one of the varieties of the widely developing automatic parking system. The basis for the trailer maneuvering system is a reversing camera and a joystick for adjusting the side mirrors.
In general, this is an electronic system, without any complex mechanisms. In addition to its own control unit, the system also uses other controlled units and systems. For example, it can be a circular view system, an automatic parking system, an automatic transmission control unit, and others.
Maneuvering mechanisms
Volkswagen engineers have refined the existing systems by introducing a new control unit to control the various functions of the eighth generation Passat. So what does the system consist of and how does it work. All mechanisms can be divided into incoming and executive ones. The incoming ones include an automatic transmission, an automatic parking enable button, a rear view camera and a side mirror switch.
The executive includes various distance control systems, an automatic parking system, since thanks to it 90% of the actions will be performed. The switch of side mirrors will help to set the desired trajectory for movement, and the rear-view camera will help to recognize obstacles and only the main part of this decision will be for the driver.
As a result, it can be understood that the mechanism is designed in such a way as to drive as accurately as possible along the trajectory laid by the driver. In this case, the maneuvering system with a trailer itself will decide how much and in which direction it is better to turn the steering wheel when driving.
How the device works
To use this mechanism, you must put the gear lever in reverse mode. Now it's worth turning on the automatic parking system. The main thing now remains to set the trajectory of the car. This is done using the side mirror position switch. By moving the joystick left and right, you set the angle at which the trailer travels. If you have not chosen a trajectory, the system will automatically perceive it as a straight-line movement backward. The task of the rear view camera is to fix the current position of the trailer relative to your car and superimpose it on the parking scale. All this is clearly visible in the monitor on the central panel. Let's consider how the system works in terms of electronics and device operation.
After activating the necessary devices, the information is sent to the control unit for the trailer maneuvering system. The electronic unit processes the information, calculates the trajectory, and transmits the data to the electric power steering. The latter, in turn, sets the wheels in the required position to start maneuvering the vehicle with the trailer. Before starting the movement, the camera fixes the real position of the trailer and the preset one, as a result, you can observe how correct the movement is and control the movement process.
The trailer maneuvering system will automatically steer the vehicle by turning the steering wheel to the desired direction. All the driver needs is to press the gas or brake pedal, choosing the right speed for movement. The advantage is that at any time the driver can correct the trajectory of the vehicle using the joystick for the side mirrors. As for the protection of the maneuvering system, as soon as the driver touches the steering wheel, the system is automatically disabled, then you will have to set the trajectory again. If the parking was successful, the system will give a corresponding signal.
At the moment, many companies are developing a similar system, and each improves it in their own way. Despite the variety, the purpose and internal arrangement of the mechanisms remains the same, like that of Volkswagen.
