Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.

Gregg J Overfield

John-Michael McNew

Vladimeros Vladimerou

Miles J Johnson

Paul Timothy Fanson

Drew Cunningham

Danil V Prokhorov

Derek Stanley Caveney

Sergei S Avedisov

Stephen L Robertson

Corey Zwegers

Adam VanAntwerp

Shigenori Shibata

Mehmet Ali Guney

Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to navigating a trailer after the physical connection between a vehicle and trailer disconnects. In one embodiment, a method includes responsive to determining that a physical connection between a vehicle and a trailer has disconnected, determining trajectory information for navigating the trailer without a connection to the vehicle. The method includes communicating the trajectory information to the trailer to cause the trailer to follow a trajectory associated with the vehicle. The method includes monitoring whether the trailer is following the trajectory.

Systems and methods for navigating a trailer with a vehicle when a physical connection disconnects

Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to updating vehicle software by using additional connectivity from an alternate device. In one embodiment, a method includes initiating a download from a first point and a second point within a software package by a communication module associated with a vehicle and an alternate device. The method also includes, responsive to comparing progress points of the download between the communication module and the alternate device, adapting the download according to the progress points and network connectivity by the communication module to complete the download, the first point and the second point being opposing ends within the software package.

Systems and methods for updating vehicle software

Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to controlling a trailer without the presence of a physical connection. In one embodiment, a method includes in response to receiving a signal to initiate hitchless maneuvering of a trailer separately from a controlling vehicle, acquiring control inputs to maneuver the trailer from an input device within the controlling vehicle. The method includes communicating, from the controlling vehicle to the trailer, the control inputs to maneuver the trailer. The method includes in response to receiving feedback from the trailer indicating the trailer is within a requested position, sending a control signal to stop the trailer.

Systems and methods for controlling a trailer separately from a vehicle

A system for updating software installed on an electronic unit on a vehicle can include a processor and a memory. The processor can be disposed on an intermediate communications device. The intermediate communications device can be a mobile device. The memory can store an update request module and an update existence module. The update request module can include instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to receive, from the electronic unit on the vehicle, a request for an update of the software. The request can include: (1) an identification of a version of the software currently installed on the electronic unit and (2) a key to specifically identify the electronic unit. The update existence module can include instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to receive, from a device associated with development of the software, information about an existence of the update.

Updating software installed on an electronic unit on a vehicle

Growing community of inventors

Canton, MI, United States of America

Gregg J Overfield