Trailer Backup System with Projected Path and Maneuverability Margins
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reversing a trailer with a tow vehicle is challenging due to obstructed driver sightlines and the need for additional hardware, making it difficult for drivers to accurately position the trailer without external assistance.
Innovation Solution
An automated trailer backup system using a camera, processor, and user interface to display a graphical representation of maneuverability margins and a projected trailer path, allowing drivers to input a desired destination via a touch-sensitive display, and a vehicle controller to guide the trailer along the selected path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a ball hitch is employed as a trailer connection, then the trailer can be connected to the tow vehicle, but the driver's sight lines are obstructed and external assistance is required for visual confirmation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a camera system as an intermediary to capture the trailer's position and path information, transmitting visual data to the driver through a display interface. This mediator compensates for the obstructed sight lines caused by the ball hitch configuration, allowing the driver to see around obstacles without external assistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a visual copy of the trailer's actual position and surrounding environment through camera imaging, displaying it on a screen within the driver's field of view. This virtual copy replaces the need for direct visual observation, enabling the driver to monitor trailer movement despite physical obstructions.
2Ease of operation
If additional hardware such as rotational knobs is added to control the trailer, then trailer control capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates trailer control functionality into the existing vehicle's touchscreen interface and control systems, allowing the same display and control mechanisms to serve both standard vehicle operations and specialized trailer maneuvering. This eliminates the need for dedicated trailer control hardware like rotational knobs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces mechanical control devices (rotational knobs, physical dials) with software-based controls on a touchscreen interface. The mechanical interaction is substituted with graphical user interface elements that provide equivalent control functionality while reducing physical hardware complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If manual trailer reversing is performed without automated guidance, then no additional automated systems are required, but manufacturing precision and positioning accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback loop where the camera continuously monitors the trailer's position relative to the desired path, and the display provides real-time visual feedback to the driver showing the projected path and current position. This feedback mechanism enables precise positioning by allowing the driver to make small adjustments based on accurate visual information.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary calculation of the projected trailer path and maneuverability margins before the driver executes the reversing maneuver. By pre-computing the optimal path and displaying it in advance, the system guides the driver to achieve accurate positioning without requiring complex real-time automated control systems.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus are provided for performing an assisted driving trailer reversing operation including a camera operative to capture an image, an interactive user interface operative to display a graphical user interface and to receive a user input, a processor operative to generate the graphical user interface in response to the user input, the user input being indicative of a trailer destination, to generate a left maneuverability margin and a right maneuverability margin in response to a trailer dimension and a hitch angle, and a projected trailer path in response to the trailer destination, wherein the graphical user interface includes the image and a plurality of graphics overlaid on the image indicative of the left maneuverability margin, the right maneuverability margin, the projected trailer path and the trailer destination, and a vehicle controller operative to perform a trailer reversing operation in response to the control signal.