Autonomous Tractor-Trailer Coupling Using Drone Image Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The process of coupling a tractor to a trailer is cumbersome and labor-intensive, especially in large distribution centers, requiring significant driver effort and time to locate and connect multiple vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a drone and server to facilitate autonomous alignment and coupling of a tractor to a trailer through image capture, horizontal and vertical alignment adjustments, and sound detection, enabling autonomous driving for seamless connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a driver manually operates the tractor to couple with the trailer, then the coupling process can be completed, but the process is cumbersome and increases driver fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
The tractor autonomously performs the coupling operation by itself without driver intervention. The autonomous driving unit controls the tractor to automatically locate, align, and couple with the trailer using sensor data and image processing, eliminating the need for manual driver operation during the coupling process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical coupling process with an automated system combining image capture devices, image processing units, and autonomous driving control. The system uses visual recognition to detect the trailer and coupler, processes the images to determine alignment, and automatically controls the tractor's movement to achieve coupling.
2Productivity
If multiple tractors and trailers are present in a large distribution center, then more transport operations can be performed, but the time required for operators to locate and identify vehicles increases
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous driving unit acts as an intermediary between the tractor and the environment. It uses image capture devices to detect trailers and couplers, processes the visual information to identify targets, and automatically controls the coupling process, eliminating the need for operators to manually locate and identify vehicles among multiple tractors and trailers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the human operator's visual search and vehicle identification process with an automated image recognition system. The image capture device captures images of the environment, the image processing unit identifies trailers and couplers through pattern recognition, and the system automatically determines the nearest available trailer, significantly reducing the time required to locate vehicles in a large distribution center.
3Ease of operation
If the driver directly drives the tractor to couple with the trailer, then the coupling can be achieved, but the process is labor-intensive and requires significant driver effort
Solution Approach 1:
The tractor performs the coupling operation autonomously without driver intervention. The autonomous driving unit controls all aspects of the coupling process including locating the trailer, aligning the coupler, and executing the connection, allowing the tractor to serve itself in the coupling task.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the coupling operation from manual driver control and transfers it to an autonomous control system. The image capture device, image processing unit, and autonomous driving unit work together to independently perform the coupling task, removing the labor-intensive aspects from the driver's responsibilities.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a device, an air mobility, a server, and a method for controlling a vehicle. The device includes a communication device, a memory storing vehicle information and air mobility device information, and a processor. The processor is configured to select, based on the vehicle information, a target vehicle to be coupled to a trailer, select, based on the air mobility device information, a target air mobility device, and transmit, via the communication device, at least one signal. The at least signal includes an indication for requesting the target vehicle to move to a location of the trailer, and an indication for requesting the target air mobility device to capture at least one image containing the target vehicle and the trailer.