Side Mirror Camera for Trailer Hitch Angle Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Reversing a vehicle while towing a trailer can be challenging due to the difficulty in accurately determining the hitch angle, which is critical for the operation of trailer backup assist systems, especially for infrequent users or those with various types of trailers.
Innovation Solution
A side mirror assembly with a camera that captures images of the rear and side vehicle environment, providing a 360-degree view and processing images to determine the hitch angle between the vehicle and trailer, using a horizontal field of view angle defined by specific extents intersecting the vehicle's centerline and lateral axes, and employing a controller to generate trailer reverse guidance during backup maneuvers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a camera is mounted in the side mirror assembly to capture images of the rear and side vehicle environment, then the field of view coverage is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The side mirror assembly is designed to perform multiple functions: traditional side viewing and camera mounting for rear/side environment capture. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve comprehensive field of view coverage without adding separate dedicated camera housings, thereby improving coverage while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
2Measurement precision
If the camera captures a 360-degree view and processes images to determine hitch angle, then the measurement precision of hitch angle is improved, but the loss of time for image processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously captures and pre-processes images from the camera during normal vehicle operation, maintaining readiness to determine hitch angle instantly when needed. This preliminary action ensures that when trailer backup assist is activated, the system already has processed data or can quickly process it, reducing the time loss associated with real-time hitch angle determination.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the vehicle environment and provides real-time feedback on trailer position and hitch angle. This continuous feedback loop allows the system to maintain accurate measurements without requiring extensive post-capture processing, as the processing occurs incrementally and continuously rather than in a single time-consuming batch operation.
3Measurement precision
If the horizontal field of view angle is defined by specific extents intersecting the vehicle's centerline and lateral axes, then the measurement precision of the operating environment is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The camera is positioned and angled to provide optimized coverage of specific critical zones: the rear vehicle environment and side operating environment. By defining the horizontal field of view angle with specific extents that intersect the vehicle's centerline and lateral axes, the system concentrates imaging resources on the most critical areas for trailer backup assistance, achieving high measurement precision for these specific zones without requiring a fully 360-degree camera system that would increase complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A side mirror assembly of a vehicle is provided herein. The side mirror assembly includes a body portion and a camera mounted to the body portion for capturing images of a rear and a side-vehicle operating environment. The camera includes a horizontal field of view angle defined by a first horizontal extent intersecting a centerline longitudinal axis of the vehicle and a second horizontal extent making an angle with a lateral axis of the vehicle that intersects the camera.