Trailer Maneuvering App Interface for Intuitive Remote Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems for remote control of vehicle trailers are challenging due to the need for complex hand motions and counter-intuitive steering inputs, especially in Level-2 and Level-3 vehicle autonomy, where manual steering is difficult without automated control mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A mobile device interface with two input areas, an engagement interface and a curvature command interface, allows users to provide a complex gesture and curvature command inputs to control trailer maneuvering, providing intuitive feedback for maintaining vehicle motion through audible, haptic, and visual cues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional remote control systems are used for trailer maneuvering, then basic control functionality is achieved, but the operation requires complex hand motions and two hands, making it challenging even for experienced operators
Solution Approach 1:
The control interface is segmented into two distinct input areas: an engagement input area that requires a complex gesture (such as tracing a circle or oval) to activate the system, and a curvature command area that receives simpler steering inputs. This segmentation allows the system to verify user engagement through the complex gesture while maintaining simple ongoing control through the curvature command area, thus improving ease of operation without sacrificing necessary control complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system requires users to perform a preliminary complex gesture in the engagement input area before actual trailer control begins. This preliminary action serves as an engagement verification step that, once completed, allows the user to proceed with simpler curvature commands. The preliminary complex gesture ensures proper system activation while subsequent operations remain straightforward.
2Reliability
If automated steering control is provided, then correct steering motion is achieved for trailer path curvature, but manual steering becomes counter-intuitive without automated control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a mobile device interface as an intermediary between the user and the vehicle steering system. This intermediary translates intuitive user gestures (such as drawing curves or circles on a touchscreen) into the complex steering commands required for proper trailer maneuvering. The intermediary layer preserves the counter-intuitive nature of direct manual trailer steering while providing automated control that interprets simple user inputs into accurate steering motions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces direct mechanical steering control with an electronic interface system. Instead of manually manipulating physical steering controls that require understanding of trailer kinematics, users interact with a digital interface that processes gestures and converts them into automated steering commands. This substitution eliminates the need for users to understand counter-intuitive manual steering mechanics while maintaining precise control through electronic mediation.
3Extent of automation
If Level-2 and Level-3 vehicle autonomy is implemented, then advanced driver assistance is achieved, but remote control remains challenging requiring complex independent motions from both hands
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple control functions into a single mobile device interface. The engagement input area and curvature command area are combined in one interface, allowing users to perform both engagement verification and steering control through a unified touchscreen interaction. This merging eliminates the need for complex independent motions from both hands that characterize conventional remote control systems, as all controls can be operated with one hand on a single device.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from three-dimensional physical control mechanisms to a two-dimensional touchscreen interface. By mapping steering commands onto a flat digital surface, the system enables complex control operations through simple finger gestures. This dimensional change allows users to provide complex independent motions through touch gestures rather than manual manipulations, significantly improving remote control ease while maintaining high automation capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments are directed to a trailer maneuvering assistant system onboard a vehicle to communicate with and receive control instructions from a mobile device app. In one example embodiment, the app interface presents the user with an engagement input area and a curvature command area. The user must provide two types of touch inputs to the user interface portions: a first touch input that includes a complex gesture input in the engagement interface portion. In one example embodiment the complex gesture may be user input of a closed geometric shape such as a circle, oval, rectangle, or some other shape. The input may be complex in that it matches a canonical model for the respective shape. Matching may include an input that is coterminous with the canonical model within a threshold amount of error, and/or meets another guideline or threshold such as being a closed shape, or some other predetermined requirement(s).