Autonomous Vehicle Trailer Loading for Precise Platform Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle damage during transportation is common due to errors in loading procedures, which require excessive manpower and time, and can also damage transportation platforms.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of autonomous vehicle loading systems using semi-autonomous or fully autonomous vehicles with sensors and an orchestration service to accurately load vehicles onto transportation platforms without human intervention, utilizing GPS, cameras, and other sensors to navigate and position vehicles correctly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual loading procedures are used, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but vehicle damage risk increases and loading precision decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical loading operations with an autonomous system that uses sensors (cameras, LIDAR, GPS) to detect vehicle positions and coordinates, processes this data through a controller, and executes automated steering and positioning commands. This substitution eliminates human error in manual loading while achieving precise vehicle placement on transportation platforms.
2Reliability
If autonomous loading systems are implemented, then loading accuracy and safety improve, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous loading system integrates multiple functions into a unified platform: GPS reception for location tracking, camera and LIDAR sensors for visual and distance detection, orbit determination for precise positioning calculation, and automated steering control. This multi-functional integration achieves high reliability while managing complexity through consolidated system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an orbit determination module as an intermediary that processes raw sensor data (GPS coordinates, camera images, LIDAR measurements) and converts it into precise positioning information. This intermediary layer simplifies the overall system by handling complex data fusion and coordinate transformation, allowing the control system to receive pre-processed, reliable positioning data.
3Productivity
If manual loading procedures are used, then operational flexibility is maintained, but time consumption and labor requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous loading system performs self-positioning and self-steering operations without human intervention. The vehicle's controller automatically receives positioning data from sensors, calculates the required steering commands, and executes the loading maneuver independently. This self-service capability eliminates the time-consuming manual operations of positioning and steering, significantly increasing loading throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous operation during the loading process by seamlessly integrating sensor data acquisition, position calculation, steering control, and vehicle movement. Unlike manual loading where operations are intermittent and subject to human reaction times, the autonomous system executes continuous automated commands, keeping the loading process flowing without interruption and maximizing productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
Autonomous vehicle trailer loading with smart trailer are disclosed herein. An example method includes receiving a request to activate a self-loading procedure for an autonomous vehicle, executing the self-loading procedure by an autonomous vehicle controller, the self-loading procedure including causing the autonomous vehicle to navigate to a transportation platform, determining a visual identifier of the transportation platform using output from a sensor platform of the autonomous vehicle, and causing the autonomous vehicle to navigate onto or into the transportation platform and park at a parking spot of the transportation platform designated for the autonomous vehicle.