Trailer Auxiliary Drive Control via Dual-Action Touchscreen Interface
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for maneuvering trailers, such as caravans and boat trailers, lack simplicity and safety, particularly when uncoupled from a tractor, as they often rely on complex control systems and risk unintentional function activation.
Innovation Solution
A method and system utilizing a mobile terminal with wireless communication to control an auxiliary drive, featuring a functional control element and a safety control element, where both must be actuated simultaneously to ensure safe and intended operation, preventing unintentional movements by requiring dual confirmation through separate controls on a touch-sensitive screen.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single control element is used to activate auxiliary drive functions, then the ease of operation is improved, but the safety deteriorates due to risk of unintentional activation
Solution Approach 1:
The control interface is segmented into two distinct control elements: a first control element for selecting auxiliary drive functions and a second control element for confirming activation. This segmentation prevents unintentional activation by requiring separate deliberate actions for function selection and execution, thereby maintaining safety while preserving ease of operation through intuitive two-step control.
2Reliability
If multiple control elements are required for function activation, then the safety is improved by preventing unintentional activation, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system merges the selection and confirmation functions into a unified touchscreen interface where both control elements are presented simultaneously. This allows the system to maintain enhanced safety through dual-control requirement while avoiding the complexity of separate physical controls, as users can access both controls through a single integrated interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The touchscreen display serves as an intermediary that presents both control elements to the user and manages the activation sequence. It mediates between the user's intent and the auxiliary drive activation, requiring interaction with both control elements while maintaining a simple user experience through visual feedback and intuitive layout.
3Ease of operation
If wireless remote control is implemented, then the ease of operation is improved for uncoupled trailers, but the reliability deteriorates due to potential signal loss or unauthorized activation
Solution Approach 1:
The system requires preliminary confirmation through the second control element before activating any auxiliary drive function. This preliminary action ensures that even with wireless remote control capability, no function is activated without explicit user confirmation, preventing unauthorized or accidental activation while maintaining the convenience of remote operation.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for operating an auxiliary drive for a trailer, in particular a caravan, a boat trailer, a sales trailer, a transport trailer or a car transport trailer, in which at least one mobile terminal device (10) connected to the auxiliary drive via a wireless communication connection provides at least one functional control element (26a-n) by means of which at least one function of the auxiliary drive can be actuated by a user via the mobile terminal device (10) and the wireless communication connection, and at least one safety control element (28a,b) different from the functional control element (26a-n), wherein the functional control element (26a-n) is enabled for the at least one function depending on at least one actuation of the safety control element (28a,b) effected by the user.