Trailer Hitch Alignment Using Smartphone Position Data
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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 sight lines, requiring repeated maneuvers and inference based on experience, and can result in collisions if not aligned correctly.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle hitch assistance system that acquires position and orientation data from an external portable electronic device, such as a smartphone, to derive a vehicle path that aligns the hitch ball with the trailer coupler, compensating for vertical and horizontal positions to prevent collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the driver manually aligns the hitch ball with the trailer coupler using repeated forward and reverse driving maneuvers, then the hitching process can be completed, but the process becomes time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical alignment operations with an automated optical system. Cameras mounted on the vehicle capture images of the trailer coupler, and a processor automatically calculates the required steering and positioning maneuvers, substituting the driver's manual inference and repeated trial-and-error driving with an automated visual guidance system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a visual copy of the trailer coupler position through camera imaging and processes this copied information to determine alignment. The camera captures an image of the coupler, the processor identifies its position and orientation from the image data, and uses this copied visual information to calculate the precise vehicle path needed for alignment, eliminating the need for direct visual estimation by the driver.
2Measurement precision
If the driver relies on inference based on experience to position the hitch ball, then alignment can be achieved, but the precision and reliability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the driver's experiential inference with an automated visual measurement system. Cameras capture precise images of the coupler, and a processor automatically calculates its position and orientation coordinates, providing objective measurement data that eliminates the imprecision and variability of human estimation based on experience.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary processing system between the coupler and the driver's decision-making. The processor acts as an intermediary that receives raw camera images, extracts precise positional and orientational information, and translates this into actionable steering and positioning commands, bridging the gap between visual data and alignment execution with high precision.
3Reliability
If the driver performs multiple stopping and stepping out to confirm alignment, then positioning accuracy can be verified, but the productivity and efficiency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous visual feedback through cameras that monitor the relative position of the hitch ball and coupler throughout the alignment process. The processor provides real-time guidance information to the driver, enabling continuous verification of alignment status without requiring the vehicle to stop, thus maintaining both reliability and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous alignment verification and adjustment during the hitching process. The camera system continuously captures the coupler position, the processor continuously calculates alignment status, and the driver receives ongoing guidance, allowing the alignment operation to proceed without interruption or repeated stopping, thereby maintaining continuous useful action throughout the process.
4Ease of operation
If the driver attempts hitching maneuvers without precise alignment guidance, then the process can proceed, but the risk of collision between vehicle and trailer increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual judgment of safe positioning with an automated safety monitoring system. The camera and processor continuously calculate the precise relative positions of the vehicle and trailer, providing objective data about safe maneuver boundaries and alerting the driver when collision risks are detected, thereby reducing reliance on subjective judgment and experience.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by proactively identifying and preventing potential collision scenarios before they occur. The camera system continuously monitors the spatial relationship between vehicle and trailer, and the processor calculates safe operating parameters in advance, guiding the driver to maintain positions and velocities that prevent collision before it becomes a hazard.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle hitch assistance system includes a controller acquiring data from an external portable electronic device including position and orientation data of a trailer, including a coupler thereof, and deriving a vehicle path to align a hitch ball of the vehicle with the coupler using the position and orientation data of at least one of the trailer and the coupler.