Trailer Coupler Detection for Precise Hitch Ball Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hitching a trailer to a vehicle is a difficult and time-consuming process due to the lack of clear sightlines for aligning the vehicle hitch ball with the trailer hitch, requiring repeated driving maneuvers and potential contact between the vehicle and trailer.

Innovation Solution

A hitch assistance system using an image sensor and controller to identify the trailer coupler and hitch ball position, employing detection models to align the vehicle with the trailer, and a proximity sensor to navigate around obstacles, ensuring precise alignment without manual intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual hitching alignment is used, then the driver can control the vehicle, but the alignment process is time-consuming and requires repeated maneuvers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehitching speedVSAvoidalignment time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical alignment operations with an automated vision-based detection and control system. Image sensors capture visual data of the coupler and hitch ball positions, and a controller automatically processes this data to determine alignment, substituting the driver's manual control actions with an automated optical-mechanical system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a visual copy (image) of the physical coupler and hitch ball positions through image sensors. This visual representation is then processed to determine alignment without requiring the driver to physically observe and manually adjust the positions, enabling faster automated decision-making.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Ease of operation

If the driver manually aligns the hitch ball with the coupler, then alignment can be achieved, but the hitch ball cannot be seen and requires inference of positioning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment easeVSAvoidsightline information

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the driver's visual observation and manual judgment with an automated image sensor system. The sensors capture images of the coupler and hitch ball from positions that provide clear sightlines, and the controller processes these images to determine precise positions and alignment, eliminating the need for driver inference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The image sensor system acts as an intermediary between the physical alignment process and the control decision. Instead of the driver directly observing and judging alignment, the image sensors capture visual information and the controller processes it to determine alignment status, providing accurate information that would be unavailable through direct driver observation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If repeated forward and reverse driving is performed for alignment, then the hitch ball can be positioned, but contact between vehicle and trailer may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidcontact risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements continuous visual feedback by capturing images of the coupler and hitch ball positions during the alignment process. The controller processes these images in real-time to determine current alignment status and adjusts the vehicle movement accordingly, enabling precise positioning without overshooting that could cause contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The image sensor system captures visual information about the coupler and hitch ball positions in advance of the actual alignment completion. This preliminary visual data allows the controller to plan and execute precise movement that achieves alignment without requiring repeated trial-and-error maneuvers that increase contact risk.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Ease of operation

If multiple steering maneuvers are performed for alignment, then the vehicle can be positioned, but the process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning easeVSAvoidmaneuver complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex manual steering maneuvers with automated control based on image processing. The image sensors provide objective data about coupler and hitch ball positions, and the controller automatically determines the optimal steering actions, reducing the complexity from multiple manual maneuvers to a simplified automated process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS12612033B2Hitch assist trailer, coupler and hitchball detection and tracking method

Publication Date: 2026.04.28 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC

AI summary

A hitch assistance system for assisting in maneuvering a vehicle toward a trailer includes a sensing system that includes an image sensor and a controller. The controller is configured to: identify a position of a coupler of the trailer based on image data received from the image sensor by utilizing a coupler detection model trained based on a library of images depicting couplers; control movement of the vehicle toward an aligned position based on the identified position of the coupler, wherein a hitch ball of the vehicle is aligned with the coupler of the trailer; determine a prospective location of the coupler in image data based on sensor data received from the sensing system; and crop image data based on the determined prospective location of the coupler.