Radar Field of View Adjustment for Trailer Cross-Traffic Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radar systems in vehicles with trailers face interference from high radar reflections from the trailer, obscuring other objects and disabling cross-traffic alert and automated braking systems.
Innovation Solution
Adjusting the radar system's field of view to exclude the trailer's location by determining its dimensions and articulation angle, and filtering out trailer-related reflections, allowing for effective detection of cross-traffic and implementation of alerts or braking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the radar system uses its initial field of view to detect cross-traffic, then it can detect vehicles in the reverse path, but the trailer produces high amplitude reflections that obscure other vehicles and reduce detection accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The radar field of view is segmented into multiple regions, with the trailer region identified and excluded from detection. The system divides the initial field of view into a trailer region (where high-amplitude reflections originate) and a cross-traffic region, applying different processing strategies to each segment to improve overall detection reliability while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
Different quality thresholds and detection criteria are applied to different spatial regions. The system applies local quality adjustment by setting higher amplitude thresholds specifically in the trailer's expected region while maintaining sensitive detection thresholds in other regions, allowing accurate cross-traffic detection without false alarms from trailer reflections.
2Area of stationary object
If the radar system maintains its initial field of view to monitor all areas behind the vehicle, then it can potentially detect all cross-traffic, but the trailer's high radar signature increases the detection floor and obscures farther objects
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and removes the trailer region from the effective field of view used for cross-traffic detection. By calculating the trailer's location based on articulation angle and dimensions, the system extracts this interfering region and excludes it from detection processing, effectively taking out the source of high-amplitude reflections that obscure distant vehicles.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds an angular dimension to field of view management by utilizing the articulation angle between the vehicle and trailer. This angular information allows the system to dynamically adjust the effective field of view in the azimuth dimension, excluding the trailer's angular sector while maintaining coverage in other directions.
3Measurement precision
If the radar system adjusts the field of view to exclude the trailer, then detection precision improves, but the system must dynamically adjust based on trailer position and articulation angle
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-calculating the trailer's expected location and angular position before radar detection begins. By determining the articulation angle and computing the trailer region in advance, the system prepares the exclusion zones beforehand, simplifying the real-time detection process and reducing computational complexity during active scanning.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the trailer's position and articulation angle, and using this information to dynamically adjust the effective field of view. The detected trailer location feeds back into the field of view adjustment mechanism, creating a closed-loop system that maintains optimal detection precision while adapting to changing trailer positions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables reliable cross-traffic management and alert systems in vehicles with trailers by reducing interference and maintaining accurate detection of other vehicles, even when reversing.
Implementation Method 1
This type of system generally relies on a radar system to detect the cross-traffic
Implementation Method 2
the trailer, which is relatively close to the radar system and has a high radar signature, would produce high amplitude reflections
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods to control a radar system to perform cross-traffic management in a vehicle with a trailer involve determining a location of the trailer behind the vehicle, and adjusting an initial field of view of the radar system to a modified field of view that excludes the location of the trailer. One or more other vehicles are detected with the radar system having the modified field of view. A cross-traffic alert is implemented based on the detecting the one or more other vehicles.