Lateral Object Detection System for Commercial Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial vehicles, especially trucks, face restricted all-round visibility for drivers, leading to inadequate detection of lateral objects, which existing sensor systems fail to address effectively due to complexity and the need for numerous sensors, resulting in rudimentary data for drivers, increasing the risk of collisions.
Innovation Solution
A method using at least one camera to detect objects on the side of a commercial vehicle, with an evaluation unit determining the object's position relative to the vehicle and assessing collision risk, transmitting warning signals to a display unit, which can include visual, acoustic, or haptic alerts, and considering the trailer's position to enhance collision avoidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ultrasonic sensors are installed on the side of the commercial vehicle to detect objects, then the driver is warned of objects in the sensor area, but the system requires a high number of sensors and complex interconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple detection functions (object detection, distance measurement, collision risk assessment) into a single camera-based system with an evaluation unit. This merges what would traditionally require multiple separate sensors into one integrated system, reducing the number of components and their interconnections while maintaining comprehensive lateral area monitoring capability
Solution Approach 2:
The camera system serves multiple functions: detecting objects in the lateral area, determining their position, assessing collision risk, and providing distance information. This multi-functional approach replaces what would traditionally require multiple specialized sensors, simplifying the overall system architecture
2Loss of information
If multiple sensors are used to detect objects in the lateral area, then detection coverage is improved, but the driver receives rudimentary data requiring additional processing under existing information pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The evaluation unit acts as an intermediary between the camera sensor and the driver. It processes raw image data to extract meaningful information about objects, their positions, and collision risks, then presents this processed information to the driver through the display unit. This intermediary processing reduces the information load on the driver while maintaining complete object detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual driver assessment of lateral areas with automated image processing and collision risk evaluation. The evaluation unit automatically analyzes camera images to determine object positions and collision probabilities, substituting the driver's cognitive processing effort with automated computational analysis
3Device complexity
If a camera system is used to detect objects, then the number of sensors is reduced, but the system must process image data to determine object position and collision risk
Solution Approach 1:
The evaluation unit performs preliminary processing of camera images to identify objects and extract their position information before presenting data to the driver. By pre-processing the image data to determine object locations and characteristics, the system reduces the complexity of real-time collision risk assessment while maintaining accurate detection capability
Data Source
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AI summary
The method involves recording image of objects (5) at the side of a commercial vehicle by using a camera (2) provided at one side of a commercial vehicle (1). The position of detected objects relative to the vehicle is determined and evaluated by an evaluation unit (6), and the collision of object with the vehicle is determined. The warning signal is generated by a reproduction unit (8-11) in case of a danger of collision determined by the evaluation unit. An independent claim is included for commercial vehicle.