Vehicle Base Plate Stress Estimation for Cargo Load Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to effectively estimate and manage stress and strain on base plates used to secure accessories in vehicles, leading to potential overloading and damage, especially when accessories are unevenly distributed or positioned.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a base plate with sensors (such as cameras, radar, sonar, and on-board scales) and a controller that estimates stress and strain by analyzing accessory weight, position, and base plate deflection, providing instructions to users on how to redistribute or reposition accessories to avoid overloading, and includes a track assembly for adjustable height support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If accessories are placed in the cargo area, then cargo transport capability is improved, but focused loading on base plate areas increases causing stress and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary stress analysis before accessories are loaded onto the base plate. The controller calculates potential stress concentrations based on planned accessory placement, and provides advance warnings or restrictions to prevent loading configurations that would exceed stress thresholds, thereby preventing damage before it occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors base plate stress through sensors and provides real-time feedback to the user. When stress thresholds are approached or exceeded, the system alerts the user and can prevent further loading or suggest redistribution of accessories, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains base plate integrity while enabling cargo transport.
2Measurement precision
If sensors and control systems are added to monitor base plate stress, then stress estimation accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a multi-functional sensor array that serves multiple purposes: cameras and imaging sensors detect accessory placement and base plate deflection, radar/sonar sensors measure distance and position, and scale systems weigh accessories. This single sensor suite provides data for both stress estimation and accessory tracking, reducing the need for separate dedicated sensors and lowering overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the vehicle's existing sensor infrastructure and computational resources where possible. The controller leverages the vehicle's onboard processing power to perform stress calculations and the existing communication systems to transmit warnings to the driver, minimizing the need for additional dedicated hardware and reducing system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A base plate system includes at least one base plate configured to support at least one accessory and at least one sensor that is configured to determine at least one characteristic of the at least one accessory and/or the at least one base plate. A controller uses the at least one characteristic to estimate a stress and/or strain caused by the at least one accessory on the at least one base plate and predicts how the stress and/or strain could change depending on position of the at least one accessory and/or orientation of the at least one base plate within a vehicle.