Rotary Pushbutton Control for Trailer Reversing Angle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reversing with a vehicle combination consisting of a towing vehicle and a trailer can be difficult due to unpredictable trailer movement based on driver steering, and existing reversing aid devices, such as those using joysticks, are cumbersome for setting and resetting the target angle to 0°, often leading to unwanted lateral movements and increased operational complexity.
Innovation Solution
A reversing aid device featuring a control element with two distinct freedoms of movement, where rotation sets the target angle incrementally and pressing the control element sets it to 0° automatically, along with a display showing the angle value or a stylized representation of the vehicle combination, simplifies the operation and reduces the need for incremental step reductions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a joystick is used as the control element for setting the target angle, then the driver can input both lateral and longitudinal guidance, but the operation becomes cumbersome when resetting the target angle to 0° and unwanted lateral movements may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The control element is divided into two independent degrees of freedom: rotation around the vertical axis for setting the target angle, and pressing along the vertical axis for resetting to 0°. This segmentation allows each function to be performed with a simple, dedicated motion without interfering with the other, eliminating the complexity of using a joystick for both functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The control element transitions from a two-dimensional joystick movement (lateral and longitudinal) to a combination of rotational movement (azimuth angle) and vertical pressing movement. This dimensional change separates the functions: rotation sets the angle while pressing resets it, preventing unwanted lateral movements and simplifying the resetting operation.
2Ease of operation
If the joystick is moved in the longitudinal direction for vehicle guidance, then longitudinal movement is achieved, but the previously set target angle may change unintentionally
Solution Approach 1:
The control functions are segmented into independent degrees of freedom: rotation around the vertical axis exclusively controls the target angle, while vertical pressing exclusively controls resetting to 0°. This segmentation ensures that longitudinal guidance operations do not interfere with or alter the previously set target angle, maintaining its stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control mechanism uses rotational movement (azimuth angle) for target angle setting and vertical pressing for resetting, separating these functions from longitudinal vehicle guidance. This dimensional separation ensures that longitudinal guidance movements cannot unintentionally change the target angle, thereby improving reliability.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
Reversing aid device for controlling the reversing of a vehicle combination with a towing vehicle and a trailer, comprising a control element for inputting a target angle to be set by an automatic steering intervention between the longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle and the trailer or between the longitudinal axis of the trailer and its drawbar, wherein the control element (10, 11, 12) has at least two freedoms of movement (13, 14), wherein when the control element (10, 11, 12) is moved in one freedom of movement the target angle is increased or decreased and when moved in the other freedom of movement the target angle is set to 0°.