Refuse Vehicle Blind Spot Sensing for Obstacle-Aware Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refuse vehicles face challenges in detecting and navigating obstacles, particularly in blind spots, which can lead to accidents or inefficiencies during waste collection.
Innovation Solution
The integration of sensors and cameras on the refuse vehicle to provide data on obstacle presence and motion, enabling a controller to initiate control actions such as alerting the operator or adjusting vehicle movement to avoid obstacles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sensors and cameras are integrated to detect obstacles in blind spots, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system is segmented into multiple independent sensor units (cameras, ultrasonic sensors, radar) positioned at different locations on the vehicle. Each sensor covers specific zones, and the controller processes data from individual sensors separately before integrating overall information. This segmentation allows the system to achieve comprehensive blind spot coverage while maintaining modularity and manageable complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller serves multiple functions: it receives data from various sensor types, processes obstacle detection, determines blind spot locations, generates alerts, and controls vehicle movement. By making the controller multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby improving safety while limiting the increase in overall device complexity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If obstacle detection and control actions are implemented, then accident risk is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of obstacles in blind spots before the vehicle reaches positions where accidents could occur. The controller continuously monitors sensor data and identifies potential hazards in advance, allowing the operator to take preventive action or the system to automatically adjust vehicle movement before a dangerous situation develops.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback loops where sensor data about obstacles is continuously fed back to the controller, which then adjusts vehicle control actions accordingly. The controller monitors the results of control actions and further adjusts movements to maintain safe distances from detected obstacles, creating a closed-loop system that reduces accident risk through continuous adaptation.
3Reliability
If blind spot monitoring is added to refuse vehicles, then operational safety is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system is designed to be self-configuring and self-calibrating where possible. The controller automatically identifies blind spot zones based on vehicle geometry and sensor positions, and automatically adjusts monitoring parameters based on detected obstacles. This self-service capability reduces the need for complex manual configuration and calibration during manufacturing and deployment, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining improved safety.
Data Source
AI summary
A refuse vehicle comprising a chassis, a body assembly coupled to the chassis, the body assembly defining a refuse compartment, one or more sensors coupled to the body and configured to provide data relating to the presence of an obstacle within an area near the refuse vehicle, a controller configured to receive the data from the one or more sensors, determine, using an obstacle detector and the data, the presence of an obstacle within the area and initiate a control action, wherein the control action includes at least one of controlling the movement of the refuse vehicle, controlling the movement of a lift assembly attached to the body assembly, or generating an alert.