Panable Side-View Camera for Trailer Length and Object Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drivers of heavy-duty commercial vehicles equipped with trailers face challenges in accurately gauging trailer length and maintaining optimal viewing angles due to limitations of traditional mechanical side mirrors, which lack flexibility and fail to provide additional information.
Innovation Solution
Employing camera-based side-view mirrors that can pan mechanically or digitally to focus on the trailer edges, using trigonometry to calculate trailer length and adjust viewing angles, and integrate image processing to detect objects and potential collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional mechanical side mirrors are used, then the structure is simple and reliable, but the ability to accurately gauge trailer length and adjust viewing angles is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical side mirrors with a camera-based system that captures images of the trailer. Image processing algorithms analyze the captured images to estimate trailer length, eliminating the need for complex mechanical measurement mechanisms while achieving accurate measurements through computational methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a visual copy of the trailer through camera imaging, then analyzes this optical copy to determine trailer length. This approach avoids direct physical measurement and instead uses image analysis to extract length information, simplifying the overall system while maintaining measurement accuracy.
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed mechanical mirrors are used, then the device is simple, but the viewing angle cannot be dynamically adjusted to maintain optimal road view
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic viewing system where the camera can pan horizontally and vertically to adjust viewing angles. The system dynamically adapts the camera orientation based on detected trailer edges and optimal viewing requirements, replacing static mechanical mirrors with an adaptable imaging system that responds to changing conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the viewing parameters (camera angle, position, and orientation) based on detected trailer characteristics and road conditions. By dynamically adjusting camera parameters rather than using fixed mirror angles, the system achieves adaptability while using software-based control instead of complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms.
3Loss of information
If traditional mirrors are used, then the system is simple, but additional information such as object detection and collision warnings cannot be provided
Solution Approach 1:
The camera-based system serves multiple functions: capturing trailer images for length estimation, detecting objects in the vicinity, providing collision warnings, and enabling dynamic viewing angle adjustment. This multi-functional approach replaces the single-function traditional mirror while using the same core imaging technology to achieve diverse capabilities through software processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces image processing algorithms as an intermediary between the camera and the driver. These algorithms analyze the captured images to extract additional information such as object detection, distance estimation, and collision risk assessment, transforming raw visual data into actionable safety information without requiring additional physical sensors.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments are presented herein for a panable camera with trailer length and object detection for vehicles equipped with cameras to supplement or replace mirrors commonly used today. In one embodiment, a vehicle controller is provided comprising: one or more processors; a non-transitory computer-readable medium; and program instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable medium. The program instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: cause a side-view camera on a tractor to capture image(s) of leading, lower, upper and/or trailing edges of a trailer coupled with the tractor; and estimate a length of the trailer based on the image(s) captured by the side-view camera. Other embodiments are provided.