Camera Trailer-Angle Detection for Jackknife Warning Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current camera monitoring systems for vehicles lack effective methods to detect and prevent jackknifing by accurately determining trailer angles and providing timely warnings to operators, which can lead to potential damage and costly repairs.
Innovation Solution
A camera monitoring system that includes a camera mounted on a tractor to record images of a trailer, an electronic display to show these images, and a controller to determine if the trailer angle exceeds a jackknife warning threshold based on image analysis, providing warnings with proposed corrective steering directions and severity indicators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If camera monitoring systems are used to detect trailer positioning, then the ability to see surrounding environment is enhanced, but the system lacks accurate trailer angle detection capability to prevent jackknifing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical angle sensing systems with a camera-based optical detection system. The CMS uses standard cameras to capture images of the trailer, and image processing algorithms analyze the trailer's position and angle relative to the vehicle body, eliminating the need for mechanical encoders or sensors while achieving accurate angle detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a visual copy of the physical trailer position through camera imaging. By capturing and analyzing the image representation of the trailer rather than directly measuring its physical angle, the system achieves accurate detection using accessible visual data from existing camera infrastructure.
2Measurement precision
If image processing is used to determine trailer angle, then detection capability is improved, but processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system processes only the necessary portions of the camera image relevant to trailer detection. Rather than analyzing the entire image frame, the algorithm focuses specifically on identifying the trailer's visible features and calculating its angle, reducing computational overhead while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes predetermined threshold values for trailer angles that trigger warnings. By pre-calculating safe operating angles and warning thresholds during system setup, the real-time image processing only needs to compare current measurements against these pre-set values, significantly reducing processing time during critical driving operations.
3Reliability
If jackknife warning thresholds are set to provide early warning, then prevention capability is improved, but false alarms may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts warning thresholds based on multiple parameters including vehicle speed, steering angle, and trailer type. By modifying the threshold parameters according to current operating conditions, the system provides early warnings when genuinely at risk while filtering out false alarms that would occur with fixed thresholds under normal operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors trailer angle and provides feedback to the driver through warnings. This closed-loop feedback allows the system to learn from driver responses and operational patterns, adjusting its warning behavior to reduce false alarms while maintaining effective prevention capability through continuous adaptation to actual usage conditions.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B~1C
Figure 1D
AI summary
A camera monitoring system (CMS) for a vehicle includes a camera mounted to a tractor and configured to record images that depict a trailer attached to the tractor, an electronic display configured to display the images, and a CMS controller. The CMS controller is operatively connected to the camera and electronic display and is configured to determine whether a trailer angle of the trailer exceeds a jackknife warning threshold based on a depiction of the trailer in the images; and based on a particular one of the images indicating a trailer angle above the jackknife warning threshold, provide a jackknife warning. A method for preventing jackknifing between a vehicle and a trailer is also disclosed.