The operating principle is very simple, automating an action that is commonplace among experienced tow vehicle drivers. Adjusting the exterior mirror positions to track the placement of a trailer’s rear end is a time-honored technique that widens the field of vision in the mirrors, making it easier to see where the trailer is heading.
The only difference is that the driver won’t need to adjust the mirrors themselves anymore because new logic sequences in the mirror control module will adjust them on the driver’s behalf. This will adapt the mirrors’ direction depending on the vehicle’s steering angle and a tow hitch angle input, letting drivers keep track of the trailer while turning to see if it is at risk of collision with anything on the inside of the turn.
Most modern trucks and SUVs already have a plethora of cameras, display screens, and proximity sensors, and simply applying the existing technology in a new way enables expanded capabilities from something as simple as the mirror adjustment mechanism.
