Auto-Panning Camera Mirror for Trailer Angle Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera mirror systems for commercial vehicles lack the ability to provide a dynamic and comprehensive view during reversing maneuvers, particularly when dealing with trailer reversing, where stationary views and manual panning systems are insufficient.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an auto-panning feature within the camera mirror system that utilizes image-based trailer angle detection. This system analyzes the position of vehicle features, estimates their future positions, and adjusts the camera view to maintain the trailer's rear edge within the view, ensuring continuous visualization without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a stationary mirror or fixed field of view camera is used, then the system structure is simple, but the field of view cannot be dynamically adjusted during reversing maneuvers, resulting in insufficient visibility of trailer position and rear edge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an auto-panning camera system that dynamically adjusts the field of view during reversing maneuvers. The camera automatically pans to track the trailer's rear edge and maintains continuous visualization of the trailer angle, transforming the static viewing system into a dynamic one that adapts to the vehicle's motion and trailer position changes in real-time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical mirror adjustment with an automated camera panning system controlled by image processing algorithms. The system uses image-based trailer angle detection and automated pan commands to substitute the manual mechanical adjustment process, enabling dynamic field of view adaptation without manual intervention.
2Ease of operation
If manual panning systems are used, then the operator can adjust the view, but frequent stopping of the maneuver is required and the adjustments lack sufficient granularity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an auto-panning system that automatically adjusts the camera view without operator intervention. The system detects the trailer angle from images, calculates the appropriate pan adjustment, and executes the pan command autonomously. This self-service capability eliminates the need for the operator to manually adjust mirrors or cameras during reversing maneuvers, allowing continuous operation without stopping.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a feedback loop where the camera continuously captures images, the system analyzes trailer angle from these images, and automatically adjusts the pan position based on the detected angle. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures the trailer rear edge remains within the optimized viewing area, providing continuous and granular adjustments without manual intervention or maneuver interruption.
3Measurement precision
If the camera view is continuously adjusted to track the trailer, then the visibility of the trailer rear edge is improved, but the processing complexity and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the critical information needed for trailer angle detection from the full camera image. By focusing on identifying specific features such as the trailer rear edge and corners, and calculating the angle from these extracted key points, the system achieves precise measurement without the need to process the entire image in detail, thereby reducing computational complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed mirror system is used, then the system is simple and reliable, but it cannot provide optimized viewing areas for specific maneuvers such as trailer reversing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static fixed mirror system into a dynamic camera-based system that can automatically adapt its field of view for different maneuvers. The auto-panning functionality detects when a reversing maneuver is occurring and automatically adjusts the camera position to optimize the viewing area for trailer tracking, providing maneuver-specific view optimization without requiring manual system reconfiguration.
Data Source
AI summary
An method for automatically panning a view for a commercial vehicle includes analyzing a portion of a first view at a first time to determine a position of a vehicle feature within the first view, wherein the first view is a subset of a second view, estimating an expected position of the vehicle feature in the first view at a second time subsequent to the first time, defining a region of interest centered on the expected position of the vehicle feature in the second view and analyzing the region of interest to determine an exact position of the vehicle feature at the second time, and determining a current trailer angle based on a position of the vehicle feature within the second view.