Trailer Hitch Collision Prevention via Tailgate Position Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles equipped with trailer hitches, such as fifth-wheel kingpin or gooseneck type hitches, face potential collisions with closed tailgates when attempting to couple with trailers, as manual checks by drivers are often forgotten or inconvenient, and existing systems lack efficient automated solutions for preventing these collisions.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize a rear view camera for image analysis to determine if a hitch in a vehicle bed will couple with a trailer and if the tailgate is closed, triggering a warning or automatically opening the gate to prevent collisions, by performing image dewarping, edge detection, and distance calculation between the trailer and vehicle bed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual checking of tailgate position is required, then the system complexity is low, but the reliability of collision prevention deteriorates because drivers often forget or find it inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects tailgate position and trailer coupling status without requiring driver action. The camera captures images, the processor analyzes whether the tailgate is closed and whether a trailer is present, and the system automatically determines if a collision risk exists, making the system self-servicing rather than relying on manual driver checks
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical checking with an automated optical detection system. A camera captures images of the vehicle bed and tailgate area, and a processor analyzes these images to detect tailgate position and trailer presence, substituting the mechanical/manual inspection process with an automated vision-based system
2Reliability
If automated camera-based detection is implemented, then the reliability of collision prevention improves, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system serves multiple functions: it detects tailgate position, identifies trailer presence, and provides visual documentation of the coupling area. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate sensors for each detection task, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining high reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The camera acts as an intermediary that captures visual information about the tailgate and trailer coupling area. This single intermediary device provides data that enables multiple detection functions, reducing the need for multiple separate sensors and minimizing the overall system complexity increase
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the gate is automatically opened to prevent collision, then the safety improves, but the ease of operation deteriorates because it may interfere with the driver's intended action
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by automatically opening the tailgate when a collision risk is detected. The processor determines that both the tailgate is closed and a trailer is present, indicating potential collision risk, and preemptively opens the tailgate to prevent the harmful collision before it can occur
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the coupling area via camera and provides feedback about tailgate position and trailer presence. This feedback loop enables the system to detect collision risks in real-time and automatically adjust the tailgate position, creating a closed-loop control system that balances safety with operational needs
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for preventing a collision with a gate of a vehicle are provided. The method includes: determining whether a hitch in a vehicle bed will be coupling with a trailer; determining whether a gate of the vehicle bed is in a closed position; and performing at least one from among displaying a warning of a potential collision and opening the gate of the vehicle bed, if it is determined that the hitch in the vehicle bed will be coupling with the trailer and the gate of the vehicle bed is in the closed position.