METHOD AND DEVICE FOR AN ASSISTED OR AUTOMATIC COUPLING OF A TRAILER VEHICLE TO A TOWING VEHICLE, TOWING VEHICLE, ELECTRONIC PROCESSING UNIT, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM

A method for assisted or automatic coupling of a trailer vehicle to a towing vehicle equipped with a coupling element which has a lateral guide for a corresponding coupling counterpart of the trailer vehicle to be inserted into the coupling element, an electronically controlled service brake and a drive unit. The method includes starting, after alignment and approach of the towing vehicle relative to the trailer vehicle, an automatic coupling process, which includes starting driving in reverse at a speed and a drive torque, detecting longitudinal and lateral accelerations of the towing vehicle, and stopping driving in reverse by switching off the drive torque and/or applying the service brake if a lateral acceleration occurs in a first range of values with the occurrence of a longitudinal acceleration in a second range of values and subsequent occurrence of a longitudinal acceleration in a third range of values.