Pivoting Side Sensor Alignment for Articulated Trailer Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle combination monitoring systems struggle to adapt the detection range of sensor devices to changing articulation angles between towing vehicles and trailers, leading to issues such as ghost detection and blind spots during cornering.
Innovation Solution
A sensor device mounted on the towing vehicle is pivotably held by a holding device, allowing its detection range to be dynamically adjusted based on the articulation angle between the towing vehicle and trailer, ensuring continuous coverage and avoiding ghost detection by maintaining sensor overlap and minimizing gaps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the sensor device is fixed in position on the towing vehicle, then the device complexity is reduced, but the detection range cannot be adapted to changing articulation angles, causing blind spots and ghost detection
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor device is mounted on a pivotable holding device that can dynamically adjust its detection range orientation based on the articulation angle between the towing vehicle and trailer. The holding device includes a pivot axis allowing the sensor to rotate and align its detection area with the trailer's position during cornering, transforming a static mounting into a dynamic adaptive system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from articulation angle sensors to control the pivot position of the holding device. The control unit receives signals about the current articulation angle and automatically adjusts the sensor's orientation accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that adapts the detection range to match the actual vehicle-trailer configuration.
2Reliability
If metal sheets are used to prevent radar radiation to the rear, then ghost detection is prevented, but the detection zone boundaries are fixed for straight-ahead travel only
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using fixed metal sheets that only work for straight-ahead travel, the patent employs a dynamically adjustable sensor mounting system. The holding device can pivot the sensor to change the detection zone orientation, allowing the system to maintain accurate detection boundaries regardless of the articulation angle between the towing vehicle and trailer.
3Ease of operation
If the sensor detection area is aligned for straight-ahead travel, then the alignment is simple, but blind spots occur during cornering when articulation angle changes
Solution Approach 1:
The holding device enables dynamic realignment of the sensor's detection area during cornering. By pivoting the sensor to follow the articulation angle changes, the system maintains continuous coverage of the lateral surroundings without creating blind spots, while still allowing for simple initial alignment during straight-ahead operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for monitoring the environment (17) of a vehicle combination (10) consisting of a towing vehicle (11) and a trailer (12), wherein a sensor device (18) for detecting a side area (16) of the environment (17) extending next to the vehicle combination (10) is provided on the towing vehicle (11) and the sensor device (18) is held on a vehicle part (34) of the towing vehicle (11) by means of a holding device (31) and a detection area (26) of the sensor device (18) is directed into the side area (16).The invention provides that the sensor device (18) is pivotable relative to the vehicle part (34) by means of the holding device (31) and a control device (38) receives at least one operating signal (41) of the vehicle combination (10) and, depending on the at least one operating signal (41), determines an articulation angle (13) between the towing vehicle (11) and the trailer (12) and sets a pivot position (θ) of the sensor device (18) by actuating the holding device (31) in order to adapt an alignment of the detection area (26) to the articulation angle (13).