March 23, 2022
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As reported by GM Authority, GM has filed a patent application with the US Patent and Trademark Office for a new tow-hitch technology for vehicles with a four-wheel steering system.
The technology uses a computer processor to automatically adjust the hitch angle when towing a trailer based on the vehicle’s steering input and angle, as well as the vehicle’s speed and angular velocity.
The patent application notes that current systems that help drivers tow trailers are only designed for vehicles with front-wheel steering and are therefore unable to properly predict the hitch angle of a trailer towed by a vehicle with rear-wheel steering.
GM’s new technology aims to solve this problem, ensuring accurate towing-assist features for future GM vehicles using four-wheel steering.
Authors: Zhiyao Chen and Caitlin Woodford