Trailer Assist Camera Calibration for Collision Angle Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle trailer assist systems fail to accurately determine the trailer collision angle, which is crucial for preventing accidents during vehicle maneuvers, especially when reversing and turning, due to limitations in image processing and edge detection, particularly with non-symmetrical trailer and vehicle configurations.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle trailer assist system utilizing a CMOS camera to capture image data, process it with an image processor, and determine the trailer collision angle through a calibration maneuver, allowing for real-time monitoring of the current trailer angle relative to the vehicle's longitudinal axis, and notifying the driver if it approaches a dangerous threshold.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional image processing methods are used to detect trailer angle, then the system is simple to implement, but the measurement precision of trailer collision angle is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The image processing is divided into multiple stages: initial edge detection to identify trailer boundaries, collision point determination by analyzing edge intersections with vehicle paths, and collision angle calculation using geometric relationships. This segmentation allows complex angle detection to be broken down into manageable processing steps, improving precision without overwhelming system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs a calibration maneuver before normal operation to pre-determine the trailer template and collision angle characteristics. This preliminary action stores reference geometric data that simplifies subsequent real-time angle detection, achieving high measurement precision while keeping the operational system relatively simple.
2Reliability
If the system monitors trailer angle continuously during all vehicle maneuvers, then safety is improved, but the loss of time for calibration and setup increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a one-time calibration maneuver to establish the trailer template and collision angle reference data before normal operation. This preliminary setup enables continuous reliable monitoring during subsequent driving without requiring repeated calibration, thus improving reliability while minimizing time loss to a single initial calibration event.
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration process creates a digital template copy of the trailer's geometric configuration and collision characteristics. This template is then reused for continuous monitoring without requiring physical recalibration, reducing time loss while maintaining reliable collision angle detection throughout operation.
3Measurement precision
If the system uses detailed edge detection algorithms to handle non-symmetrical trailers, then measurement precision improves, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring increases
Solution Approach 1:
The edge detection process is segmented into identifying key geometric features (corners, edges, collision points) rather than processing every pixel. For non-symmetrical trailers, the system focuses on detecting critical angle-forming edges and their intersections with the vehicle path, simplifying the measurement difficulty while maintaining precision for collision angle determination.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces complex mechanical edge detection approaches with image processing algorithms that mathematically identify geometric features. By using computational geometry and template matching, the system achieves precise measurement of non-symmetrical trailer configurations without the difficulty of traditional mechanical measurement methods.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicular trailer assist system includes a camera disposed at a rear portion of a vehicle and having an exterior field of view that includes at least a portion of a trailer hitched to the vehicle. A control, responsive to processing of frames of image data captured by the camera and during a calibration maneuver by the vehicle, determines a trailer template of trailer hitched to the vehicle. The control, during a turning portion of the calibration maneuver, determines a trailer collision angle based on the determined trailer template. The control, after completion of the calibration maneuver, determines a current trailer angle of the trailer relative to the vehicle as the vehicle is driven along a road. The control alerts an operator of the vehicle if the current trailer angle is within a threshold amount of the determined trailer collision angle.