Camera-Based Marker Guidance for Precise Vehicle Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Guiding a towing vehicle towards a connecting vehicle, such as a trailer, during the connection process is challenging due to the difficulty in accurately determining the vehicle's position and alignment, often requiring experienced drivers and complex triangulation calculations.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing an image obtaining device to identify markers on the connecting vehicle, matching the obtained image with reference images to determine actual locations, and guiding the vehicle based on these locations, potentially with additional sensors for distance measurement and a machine learning algorithm to continuously update and improve accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If triangulation calculations are used to determine vehicle position and alignment, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and processing power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses markers that are visual copies or representations of known geometric patterns. These markers are captured by the camera and matched against stored reference images, eliminating the need for complex real-time triangulation calculations while maintaining measurement precision through image matching algorithms
Solution Approach 2:
Reference images of markers at various known positions are pre-captured and stored in the system's memory before the actual connection operation. During the connection process, the system simply matches the live camera feed against these pre-stored references, avoiding complex real-time calculations and reducing processing requirements
2Manufacturing precision
If experienced drivers manually guide the vehicle during connection, then connection precision is achieved, but loss of time occurs due to driver training requirements and manual operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs the guidance function automatically using the vehicle's own camera and processing units. The automated system captures images, identifies markers, determines position and alignment, and guides the connection without human intervention, eliminating the time loss associated with driver training and manual operation while maintaining high connection precision
3Ease of operation
If rear mirrors are used for guiding during reversing, then ease of operation is maintained, but measurement precision and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical optical system of rear mirrors with an electronic image capture system using a camera. This substitution provides digital images with higher resolution and accuracy for position determination, while the processed visual information is presented to the driver in an easy-to-interpret format, maintaining ease of operation while significantly improving measurement precision and reliability
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a system (100) for guiding a vehicle (1) towards a connecting vehicle (2) which is to be connected to the vehicle (1), comprising: - an image obtaining device (3) configured to be mounted on the vehicle (1) for obtaining an image of the connecting vehicle (2), wherein the system (100) is configured to: - obtain an image (Im_1) from the image obtaining device (3); - in the obtained image, identify a marker (M1) which is provided on the connecting vehicle (2); - match the obtained image (Im_1) with at least one reference image (Im_ref1), wherein the reference image (Im_ref1) contains a reference marker (M1ref) positioned at the same, or substantially the same, position as a position (y_im1, z_im1) of the marker (M1) in the obtained image (Im_1), wherein the position of the reference marker (M1ref) in the at least one reference image (Im_ref1) is associated with an actual stored location (y, z), and wherein the actual stored location (y1, z1) corresponds to an actual location of the marker (M1) with respect to the vehicle (1); and wherein the system (100) is further configured to: - guide the vehicle (1) towards the connecting vehicle (2) by use of the actual stored location (y1, z1).