Auto-adjusting Side-view Mirrors for Trailer Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drivers face inconvenience and safety risks when adjusting vehicle side-view mirrors for trailers of varying dimensions, as they must manually adjust the mirrors each time a trailer is attached, which can be forgotten, leading to inadequate visibility.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle side-view mirror control system that automatically adjusts the mirrors to predetermined configurations based on stored trailer identifying indicia, using a controller linked to motors for extension length and reflective surface orientation, via wired or wireless communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual adjustment of side-view mirrors is used, then the driver can adjust the mirror position, but the driver must remember to adjust the mirrors each time a trailer is attached, which can be forgotten leading to inadequate visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-stores multiple mirror configurations corresponding to different trailer types. When a trailer is detected, the appropriate pre-stored configuration is automatically applied without requiring the driver to manually adjust the mirrors at that moment, thus ensuring proper visibility is reliably established.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the vehicle's existing trailer detection capabilities to automatically trigger mirror adjustments. The vehicle system serves itself by detecting the trailer presence and autonomously selecting and applying the correct mirror configuration from stored settings, eliminating the need for manual driver intervention.
2Adaptability or versatility
If extendable side-view mirrors are used to accommodate varying trailer dimensions, then the field of view can be adjusted, but the driver must manually adjust both extension length and orientation for each trailer
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple mirror configurations including extension lengths and orientations are pre-stored in the system corresponding to different trailer types. When a trailer is detected, the matching pre-configured settings are automatically applied, eliminating the time required for manual adjustment of both extension and orientation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the adjustment of extension length and reflective surface orientation into a single automated operation. By storing complete configurations that combine both parameters, the system applies them simultaneously rather than requiring separate manual adjustments for each parameter.
3Ease of operation
If powered mechanisms are used for mirror adjustment, then the driver can adjust mirrors from the interior cabin, but the system requires driver input to initiate adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The powered mirror adjustment system is enhanced to operate autonomously by utilizing the vehicle's trailer detection capabilities. The system automatically initiates and executes mirror adjustments without requiring driver input, while still using the powered mechanism to physically move the mirrors from the interior-controlled actuation points.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle side-view mirror control system includes a pair of extendable side-view mirrors and a controller configured to receive and store one or more trailer identifying indicia and one or more predetermined extendable side-view mirror configurations. The controller is configured to control translation of at least one of the pair of side-view mirrors to a one of the one or more predetermined extendable side-view mirror configurations according to the one or more stored trailer identifying indicia. The one or more trailer identifying indicia define or identify a specific trailer having been previously towed by the vehicle.