mobile-menu-icon
GM Authority

GM Files Patent For Automated Trailer Backup System

GM has filed a patent application for an automated trailer backup system for use in a motor vehicle, GM Authority has learned.

The GM patent filing has been assigned application number US 11,577,782 B2 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and was published on February 14th, 2023. The patent was originally filed on March 10th, 2020, and lists several engineers based in Ontario, Canada as the inventors, including Avesta Goodarzi, Steffen P. Lindenthal, Akran M. Abdel-Rahman, Utkarsh Saini, Jomo Hanley, and Norman J. Weigert.

A GM patent image describe an automated trailer backup system.

As the patent points out, reversing with a trailer can often prove difficult, as the pivot points and geometries required to navigate a vehicle in reverse with a trailer attached are complicated and not always intuitive. Now, however, with the proliferation of automated driving systems, including systems for automated parking and automated highway cruising, it makes sense to offer a similar system for automated trailer backup as well.

The patent describes a system that incorporates a camera that captures an image behind the trailer, which is then fed to an interactive user interface. The image includes an augmented reality overlay that coincides with both right and left projected trailer pathing, with the user enabled to choose where the system will place the trailer via the digital screen overlay.

With the camera placed directly on the trailer, the user has a clear view of what’s behind the vehicle and where the trailer can be parked within a given maneuverability margin.

GM already offers a number of automated driving technology features, including Super Cruise, which provides hands-free driving capabilities on extended highway stints, automating the acceleration and steering inputs. The GM Super Cruise system has since expanded to include hands-free trailering on models like the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra. As such, an automated trailer backup system would serve as a fantastic complement, handing off one of the more difficult tasks of towing a trailer to the onboard electronics.

Subscribe to GM Authority for more GM patent filing news, GM technology news, GM safety news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.

Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

Subscribe to GM Authority

For around-the-clock GM news coverage

We'll send you one email per day with the latest GM news. It's totally free.

Comments

  1. God help us. Let’s take away the ability for vehicle operators to learn how to back a trailer up. When the system has a fault is not the time to learn.

    We already have eliminated the manual transmission from the majority of operators to learn how to manually shift. I am embarrassed to say my 19 year old boy would not be able to operate a manual transmission.

    Reply
    1. and what about GPS? no one can read a paper map anymore.

      Reply
  2. I think all this help is a shame. If you can’t learn to back a trailer then don’t tow one. We already have people out here towing trailers that really don’t know how to do it, let’s not make it worse. I watch them all the time swinging way wide at a street corner to get a little 12 foot trailer around it when they really don’t need to drive any different than if not towing.
    And park assist is another one. Can’t park then don’t drive or park somewhere else.
    If we get to actual self driving vehicles, well who knows.

    Reply
  3. I literally watched for the most part my new neighbors try and back their Travel trailer into their yard for nearly 3hrs asked if they needed help “We’ve done this plenty of time no thanks” finally got it hit the tree jack knifed cussed for a while LOL some people just don’t belong towing things, I guess. (Oh and of course WAY more traler than the F-150 should be towing)

    Reply
    1. Looks like it would have been cheaper to say yes to you.

      Reply
      1. if they did it plenty of times, they sure didn’t learn anything.

        Reply
  4. I agree with the 2 previous comment’s—–technology that will be costing us a lot of money, and at the same time taking the opportunity away from our younger people where they can learn to do those things on their own.
    I guess humans will not need a brain in the future.
    If you can’t hook up a trailer+ there is a very good chance you can’t back it up== you shouldn’t be pulling it.

    Reply
  5. Fact is, not only should lots of people not be towing trailers, even more shouldn’t be driving at all….

    Reply

Leave a comment

Cancel