Trailer Backup Assist Sensor Failure Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reversing a vehicle while towing a trailer can be challenging due to inaccuracies in hitch angle estimation, which is critical for trailer backup assist systems and monitoring trailer sway, especially for infrequent drivers or those with various types of trailers.
Innovation Solution
A trailer backup assist system that includes sensors to measure hitch angle, a controller to generate steering commands based on hitch angle and backing path, and countermeasures for sensor failures, allowing for reliable operation even when sensors fail, using a combination of sensor modules and vision-based systems to estimate hitch angle and mitigate sensor failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a sensor is used to measure hitch angle for trailer backup assist, then the accuracy of hitch angle estimation is improved, but the system reliability deteriorates when the sensor fails
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from relying solely on direct sensor measurement to using alternative parameters (vehicle position, steering angle, speed) to calculate hitch angle through a mathematical model when the sensor fails, maintaining operational capability despite sensor failure
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary that detects sensor failure and engages alternative calculation methods using other available vehicle parameters to estimate hitch angle, preventing complete system failure
2Object-affected harmful factors
If countermeasures are engaged when sensor fails, then the safety against unacceptable conditions is improved, but the complexity of the control system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-defines countermeasures (such as alerting the driver, limiting steering angle, or stopping the vehicle) that are automatically engaged when sensor failure is detected, avoiding the need for complex real-time decision-making algorithms
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors sensor status and provides feedback to the control logic, automatically engaging predefined countermeasures when failure is detected, creating a closed-loop safety mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
A trailer backup assist system includes a sensor that senses a hitch angle between a vehicle and a trailer. The trailer backup assist system also includes a steering input device that provides a backing path of the trailer. Further, the trailer backup assist system includes a controller that generates a steering command for the vehicle based on the hitch angle and the backing path. The controller generates a countermeasure for operating the vehicle when the sensor fails to sense the hitch angle.