trailer backup assist
 

actually I should be working on getting my stuff ready for this years Indy show , but earlier this year I did get myself wrapped up in a project I finally need to bring to an end .

you guys probably have heard and read , or seen the videos , about all these various trailer-backup-assist systems which various manufactures offering for there high end SUV's and trucks.

most of us driving our semis and having also real-life experience with backing up trailers ( no matter semi trailers or small stuff )
most likely laugh about such a system ,
but , there are people out there , well , just can't drive , lol .
That's the group of people are targeted with such system .

it so happened that I was contacted by one of these manufactures to build them a truck and trailer ( pickup and trailer ) for shows to demonstrate such system.

as usually with me , life did get in the way and just this past weekend I finally started working on that .

its an interesting challenge , trying to duplicate such a system with fairly simple options for an R/C model.
duplicating is actually the wrong term for this ,
it's more like an illusion project ,
having one truck and trailer setup with such gizmos and another conventional truck and trailer for comparison during shows .

Since the plan is also to make it as close to real as possible ,
the R/C system will be insides a steering-wheel-setup from a video-game console .
Therefore I didn't want to use any fancy R/C system ,
the older stuff is easier to rip apart and to modify .

the first obvious thing comes to mind here is :
using servo-reversing while in backup mode ,
you want the trailer to go right , you turn the wheel to the right ,
( the truck actually steers left ) ,
but then comes the moment for the counter-steering .
for that I am picking up the angle from the trailer to the truck ,
and while driving in reverse ,
the truck will get back in a straight line to the trailer .

well , I would like for you guys to take a look at my first setup
and let me know what you think about that .
here is the video
http://youtu.be/ksGVRNkb9es

Re: trailer backup assist
 

Impressive :)

Re: trailer backup assist
 

Thank you !

Re: trailer backup assist
 

You are the right man for such a job. :cool:

Re: trailer backup assist
 

Thank you Joe

how are you ?
long time no chat ......

Re: trailer backup assist
 

just got word from Ford ,
yes it's Ford I am doing this project for .
They like what I have done so far . Now I really need to get it cracking to finalize that setup .
Ford is doing some kind of presentation for this "pro-backup-assist" system for there Ford Atlas at the Smithsonian in DC on that weekend September 25-27, as part of the "new innovations"
haven't found real details on it yet , but must be this one here :
http://airandspace.si.edu/exhibitions/above-and-beyond/

Now the guy from Ford I am dealing with wants to see this before that Smithsonian date.
and since I gone be traveling again after the Indy weekend ,
I invited him to our Indy show .
Not only to be able to show it to him , but also to give him an idea how an R/C setup / diorama , can look like , since they also want a set up with roads , boat dock , tree's , buildings and such , to make it as real as possible .
Our Indy show is just perfect for that to give him a taste for that.
Plus some of you could pitch in with idea's for this project.

Re: trailer backup assist
 

well , the Ford guy didn't make it to the Indy show .
He has no idea what he missed , ha

since I was the last one on Sunday , I was able to shoot a demo video of my F-350 with that boat trailer and the new steering wheel console setup :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qd4dWN9xG0