Trailer Assist Camera Calibration From Natural Driving Maneuvers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicular trailering assist systems require explicit calibration maneuvers by the driver, which can be inconvenient and may not occur as part of the driver's normal driving pattern, especially for trailers without identification stickers or icons.
Innovation Solution
The system performs inline calibration by monitoring the driver's natural driving maneuvers when a new trailer is hitched, allowing calibration to occur in the background without explicit user input, using image data from cameras to determine trailer angle and generate templates for accurate tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If explicit calibration maneuvers are required by the driver, then calibration accuracy can be ensured, but user convenience deteriorates and calibration may not occur as part of normal driving patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs calibration in advance during normal driving operations before actual trailering assist functionality is needed. By continuously monitoring driving maneuvers and accumulating data during regular use, the calibration is completed preliminarily so that when trailering assist is activated, the system is already calibrated and ready for accurate operation without requiring the driver to perform separate calibration maneuvers.
Solution Approach 2:
The system calibrates itself automatically by monitoring the driver's natural driving maneuvers without requiring explicit user input or intervention. The ECU processes image data from the camera and autonomously determines calibration parameters based on observed driving patterns, allowing the system to self-calibrate during normal operation and eliminate the need for dedicated calibration actions by the driver.
2Measurement precision
If explicit calibration maneuvers are required, then calibration can be performed, but calibration time is lost from normal driving patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the calibration process with normal driving operations by simultaneously performing both functions. Instead of separating calibration into a distinct time-consuming maneuver, the system combines calibration data collection with regular driving activities, allowing the driver to complete calibration tasks while performing ordinary driving functions, thereby eliminating dedicated calibration time from the driving schedule.
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration process operates continuously during normal driving rather than requiring intermittent dedicated calibration sessions. The ECU continuously monitors image data and driving maneuvers, accumulating calibration information in real-time throughout driving operations, which eliminates the need to pause normal driving patterns for separate calibration events and maintains continuous system improvement.
3Ease of operation
If the system monitors natural driving maneuvers for calibration, then user convenience is improved and calibration occurs during normal driving, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The existing camera and ECU hardware are designed to serve multiple functions: they capture image data for both real-time trailering assist display generation and calibration data collection. The same imaging components used for operational guidance are also utilized for calibration purposes, eliminating the need for separate dedicated calibration sensors or hardware and reducing overall system complexity despite the enhanced functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The ECU acts as an intermediary that processes image data from the camera and translates natural driving maneuvers into calibration parameters. Rather than requiring complex direct interaction between the driver and calibration system, the ECU mediates the process by automatically interpreting driving patterns and converting them into calibration information, simplifying the user interface while maintaining calibration accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicular trailering assist system includes a camera disposed at a vehicle and capturing image data representative of at least a portion of a trailer hitched to the vehicle. The vehicular trailering assist system, responsive to processing of captured image data, determines that the system has not been previously calibrated for the trailer hitched to the vehicle. The vehicular trailering assist system, responsive to determining that the system has not been previously calibrated for the trailer, determines whether a dedicated calibration maneuver is triggered. The vehicular trailering assist system, responsive to determining that the dedicated calibration of the trailer is not triggered and responsive to processing of captured image data, monitors maneuvers performed by the vehicle while the trailer is hitched to the vehicle without prompting the driver for calibration maneuvers. The vehicular trailering assist system, using the monitored maneuvers, calibrates the system for the trailer.