Trailer-Mounted Camera Switching for Tractor-Trailer Side Visibility
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
During turns of sufficient magnitude, one side of a trailer becomes obstructed by the tractor, reducing visibility along that side in existing camera monitor systems for commercial vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A camera monitor system that utilizes a first camera mounted to a tractor side to provide a first image feed, switching to a second camera mounted on the trailer side when a non-zero trailer angle obstructs the tractor's view, ensuring continuous visibility by displaying the trailer side image on an electronic display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a camera is mounted to the tractor side to provide image feed, then the system structure is simple and cost-effective, but visibility is reduced when the trailer angle causes obstruction
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between tractor-mounted and trailer-mounted camera feeds based on real-time trailer angle detection. When the trailer angle exceeds a threshold causing obstruction, the system automatically transitions to the trailer-mounted camera feed, ensuring continuous reliable visibility while maintaining a relatively simple overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera system is designed with multi-functionality by incorporating both tractor-mounted and trailer-mounted cameras that can serve different purposes depending on operating conditions. The same display system shows feeds from either camera source, making the system adaptable to various trailer angles and operational scenarios without requiring completely separate systems.
2Reliability
If a trailer-mounted camera is added to ensure continuous visibility, then visibility reliability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system is segmented into two independent camera sources: a tractor-mounted camera for normal operation and a trailer-mounted camera for obstructed conditions. Each camera independently captures its designated field of view, and the system selectively activates the appropriate segment based on trailer angle, ensuring visibility continuity while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for a camera monitor system (CMS) includes utilizing a first camera mounted to a first side of a tractor of a commercial vehicle to obtain a first image feed of an external environment of the commercial vehicle along a first side of a trailer of the commercial vehicle; displaying the first image feed on a first electronic display; and, based on the commercial vehicle having a non-zero trailer angle that causes the first side of the trailer to be outside a field of view of the first camera, commence displaying a second image feed from a second camera on the first electronic display or another electronic display. The second camera is mounted to the trailer. The second image feed is of the external environment of the commercial vehicle along the first side of the trailer. A camera monitor system (CMS) is also disclosed.