Trailer Hitch Height Detection Using Rear Vision System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing collision avoidance systems for vehicles do not effectively determine the height of a trailer hitch ball relative to the trailer hitch coupling during reverse maneuvering, leading to potential collisions due to the driver's limited visibility and inability to assess whether the ball will collide with the coupling.
Innovation Solution
A method using a rear-facing vision system and electronic control unit to calculate the adjusted top height of the trailer hitch ball, comparing it to the clearance height of the trailer hitch coupling, and alerting the driver or initiating automatic braking if a collision is imminent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the driver manually aligns the trailer hitch with the trailer hitch coupling during reverse maneuvering, then the driver can control the vehicle positioning, but the driver cannot see the trailer hitch or trailer hitch coupling due to limited visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vision system as an intermediary between the driver and the trailer hitch components. The system includes a camera mounted on the vehicle that captures images of the trailer hitch ball and trailer hitch coupling, and a display device that presents these images to the driver. This intermediary system resolves the visibility problem by providing visual information that the driver cannot obtain directly during reverse maneuvering.
Solution Approach 2:
The vision system creates a visual copy of the trailer hitch area by capturing images with a camera and displaying them on a screen. This optical copy allows the driver to see the position and orientation of the trailer hitch ball relative to the trailer hitch coupling without direct line of sight, enabling informed manual control decisions.
2Ease of operation
If the driver operates the vehicle in reverse to align the trailer hitch, then the driver can position the vehicle, but the driver cannot assess whether the ball will collide with the coupling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual assessment with an automated vision-based measurement system. The system uses a camera to capture images and electronic processing to calculate the height of the trailer hitch ball and its relationship to the trailer hitch coupling. This substitution of mechanical/vision-based automated measurement for human visual assessment provides objective height information that the driver cannot obtain manually.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback to the driver about the height of the trailer hitch ball and its projected position relative to the trailer hitch coupling. By processing images and calculating height measurements, the system feeds back critical dimensional information that enables the driver to assess collision risk and make informed positioning decisions during reverse maneuvering.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If a vision system is used to provide guidance for hitch alignment, then the driver can see the trailer hitch components, but the system does not determine the height of the ball of the trailer hitch
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the vision system's capability from two-dimensional image capture to three-dimensional height measurement. By incorporating known dimensions of the trailer hitch components and using perspective geometry calculations, the system derives height information (vertical dimension) from two-dimensional camera images, enabling precise height assessment of the trailer hitch ball relative to the coupling.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Prevents collisions by accurately determining the height of the trailer hitch ball relative to the trailer hitch coupling, providing timely alerts or automatic braking to avoid contact during reverse maneuvering.
Implementation Method 1
a line of sight of a vision sensor of the rear facing vision system that is tangent to the attached object
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system of avoiding a collision between an object attached to a rear of a vehicle and an object behind the vehicle during reverse maneuvering of the vehicle includes determining with an electronic control unit of the vehicle an adjusted top height of a first object attached to a rear of the vehicle. The electronic control unit then determines whether the adjusted top height is lower than a clearance height of a second object behind the vehicle and unattached to the vehicle. Upon determining that the adjusted top height of the first object is not lower than the clearance height of the second object, the electronic control unit determines that the first object would collide with the second object if the vehicle is reverse maneuvered too close to the second object and upon determining that the collision would occur alerting a user of the vehicle.