Camera Monitor Awareness Lines for Trailer End Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
It is difficult for drivers of commercial vehicles with long trailers to accurately observe the trailer end during maneuvers such as lane changes, necessitating improved visibility aids.
Innovation Solution
A camera monitor system (CMS) that displays awareness lines calculated to indicate the trailer end location or a location aft of the trailer end, utilizing cameras and image processing to detect adjacent lane markers and map real-world distances to pixel distances for accurate display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a conventional mirror or basic camera system is used, then the structure is simple, but the driver cannot accurately observe the trailer end location during maneuvers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces awareness lines as visual intermediary elements that mediate between the complex camera monitoring system and the driver's perception. These lines are calculated based on trailer end location and lane marker detection, then displayed on the monitor to provide intuitive spatial reference. This intermediary visualization layer translates complex sensor data into simple, actionable visual cues that help drivers accurately judge trailer position without directly observing the complex system behind the scenes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from direct spatial observation to a transformed dimensional representation by displaying awareness lines on a two-dimensional monitor screen that represent three-dimensional spatial relationships. The awareness lines are calculated to extend from the trailer end location perpendicular to lane markers, creating a visual dimension that helps drivers perceive depth and distance relationships that are difficult to judge from standard camera views alone.
2Reliability
If awareness lines are displayed to indicate trailer end location, then driver safety is enhanced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback loop where the camera monitor continuously detects lane markers and calculates awareness lines based on the current vehicle and trailer position. The awareness lines are dynamically updated and displayed in real-time, providing continuous feedback to the driver about the trailer end location relative to lane markers. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enhances safety by constantly informing the driver of the trailer's spatial relationship to the road environment during maneuvers.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera monitor system performs self-service by automatically detecting lane markers, calculating the appropriate awareness lines, and displaying them without requiring manual intervention from the driver. The system autonomously processes images from cameras, identifies relevant road features, computes the geometric relationships, and generates the visual awareness aids, reducing the cognitive and operational burden on the driver while enhancing safety.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of displaying awareness lines in a camera monitor system for a vehicle includes detecting an adjacent lane marker to the vehicle, calculating an awareness line that is perpendicular to the adjacent lane marker, and displaying the awareness line in relation to a trailer end location.