Vehicle Trailer Hitch Alignment Controller with Stopping Threshold
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hitching a trailer to a vehicle is a difficult and time-consuming process due to the challenge of aligning the vehicle hitch ball with the trailer hitch, often requiring repeated driving and steering maneuvers without clear sightlines, which can lead to collisions and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle system with a controller that identifies the trailer coupler position and controls the vehicle's motion to align the hitch ball, using sensors to calculate a stopping threshold and control braking to ensure accurate alignment, preventing collisions and streamlining the hitching process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual alignment procedures are used, then the driver has full control over the vehicle, but the alignment process becomes time-consuming and requires multiple stopping maneuvers
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables the vehicle to align itself with the trailer coupler automatically without requiring continuous manual intervention. The control system executes pre-programmed alignment maneuvers based on detected coupler position, allowing the vehicle to perform the alignment task autonomously while the driver maintains oversight.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-calculates the alignment path and stopping threshold before the vehicle reaches the trailer. By determining the coupler position in advance and planning the approach trajectory, the system eliminates the need for multiple trial-and-error maneuvers, significantly reducing the time required for alignment.
2Reliability
If repeated driving maneuvers are performed to achieve alignment, then the vehicle can reach the coupler, but the risk of collision increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates the stopping threshold in advance based on the detected coupler position and vehicle characteristics. This pre-determined threshold ensures the vehicle stops at the precise moment needed for alignment, eliminating overshoot and collision risks associated with manual judgment and reaction time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the vehicle's position relative to the coupler during the alignment maneuver and compares it against the pre-calculated stopping threshold. This real-time feedback enables precise control, ensuring the vehicle stops at the correct position without exceeding it, thereby preventing collisions while achieving accurate alignment.
3Ease of operation
If the driver manually controls the vehicle without visual guidance, then the vehicle can be operated, but the alignment precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the driver's manual visual estimation and mechanical control with an automated optical detection system and electronic control. Sensors detect the coupler position precisely, and the control system calculates and executes the alignment maneuver with mathematical precision, eliminating the imprecision inherent in manual visual alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system acts as an intermediary between the driver's intent and the vehicle's physical movement. It translates the detected coupler position into a precise alignment trajectory and controls the vehicle's motion accordingly, providing the precision that direct manual control cannot achieve while maintaining driver oversight.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle system configured to control a trailer alignment routine comprises a hitch mounted on a vehicle and a controller. The controller is configured to identify a coupler position of a trailer and control motion of the vehicle toward an aligned position. The controller is further configured to calculate a stopping threshold relative to the coupler position. The stopping threshold comprises a semicircle concentric to the coupler position. The controller is further configured to control a braking procedure in response to the hitch passing the stopping threshold.