Abstract: The present invention refers to a method for controlling a distance of a vehicle (10) to a closest preceding vehicle (60), whereby the vehicle (10) has a trailer (12) connected thereto, comprising the steps of determining a velocity of the vehicle (10), detecting a closest preceding vehicle (60), determining a distance (62) to the closest preceding vehicle (60), and determining a safe distance based on the velocity of the vehicle (10) and the distance (62) to the closest preceding vehicle (60), wherein the method further comprises determining an extra safe distance based on at least one characteristic of the trailer (12), and performing a control of the distance (62) to the closest preceding vehicle (60) to stay above the safe distance plus the extra safe distance. The present invention also refers to a driving assistance system (14) for a vehicle (10), which is adapted to perform the above method. The present invention further refers to a vehicle (10) with an above driving assistance system (14).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining a real position (X, Y, Z) of a trailer tow ball (6) of a tow hitch (4) of a motor vehicle (1) by means of an assistance system (9) of the motor vehicle (1) by: capturing the trailer tow ball (6) and determining a characterizing property (11) of the trailer tow ball (6), determining a relative position (x, y) of the characterizing property (11), determining a first real space coordinate (X) and a second real space coordinate (Y), presetting a third real space coordinate (Z) for the third real space coordinate (Z) within a predetermined coordinate interval, generating a comparative position of the trailer tow ball (6) at least depending on the preset third real space coordinate (Z) by means of the electronic computing device (12), determining the real position (X, Y, Z) with the preset third real space coordinate (Z) upon coincidence of the relative position (x, y) with the comparative position.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a method for controlling a distance of a vehicle (10) to a closest preceding vehicle (60), whereby the vehicle (10) has a trailer (12) connected thereto, comprising the steps of determining a velocity of the vehicle (10), detecting a closest preceding vehicle (60), determining a distance (62) to the closest preceding vehicle (60), and determining a safe distance based on the velocity of the vehicle (10) and the distance (62) to the closest preceding vehicle (60), wherein the method further comprises determining an extra safe distance based on at least one characteristic of the trailer (12), and performing a control of the distance (62) to the closest preceding vehicle (60) to stay above the safe distance plus the extra safe distance. The present invention also refers to a driving assistance system (14) for a vehicle (10), which is adapted to perform the above method. The present invention further refers to a vehicle (10) with an above driving assistance system (14).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining a real position (X, Y, Z) of a trailer tow ball (6) of a tow hitch (4) of a motor vehicle (1) by means of an assistance system (9) of the motor vehicle (1) by: capturing the trailer tow ball (6) and determining a characterizing property (11) of the trailer tow ball (6), determining a relative position (x, y) of the characterizing property (11), determining a first real space coordinate (X) and a second real space coordinate (Y), presetting a third real space coordinate (Z) for the third real space coordinate (Z) within a predetermined coordinate interval, generating a comparative position of the trailer tow ball (6) at least depending on the preset third real space coordinate (Z) by means of the electronic computing device (12), determining the real position (X, Y, Z) with the preset third real space coordinate (Z) upon coincidence of the relative position (x, y) with the comparative position.