VEHICLE CONTROLLABILITY DURING TRAILER BACKUP OPERATIONS

Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided in a vehicle to reduce the likelihood of a trailer jackknife condition. The method includes: receiving trailer profile information; receiving a dynamic vehicle steering angle (δ) and dynamic hitch articulation angle (θ) while the vehicle is moving in a reverse direction; continuously calculating a maximum safe vehicle speed (v) at which to proceed in reverse without jackknifing based on the trailer profile information, the δ, the θ, a predetermined safe time to jackknife (TTJ_ne), and a maximum hitch articulation angle (θ); comparing a current vehicle longitudinal speed (v) to the v; automatically generating a speed correction signal to cause the vehicle to slow down below the vwhen the v exceeds the v; and sending the speed correction signal to a vehicle motion control system to instruct the vehicle motion control system to reduce the v below the v.