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 the 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 hitch ball will collide with the coupling.

Innovation Solution

A method using a rear-facing vision system and an electronic control unit to calculate the adjusted height of the trailer hitch ball by determining the angle between a reference plane and the line of sight of a vision sensor, applying a correction factor, and comparing it to the clearance height of the trailer hitch coupling, with alerts and automatic braking if a collision is imminent.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering 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

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriver controlVSAvoidvisibility of trailer hitch

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

A vision system acts as an intermediary between the driver and the trailer hitch components. The system captures images of the trailer hitch and trailer hitch coupling, processes them to determine heights and alignment, and provides guidance information to the driver, enabling indirect observation and control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The manual visual alignment process is replaced with an automated vision-based measurement and calculation system. The electronic control unit computes the relative heights and alignment of trailer hitch components using image processing and geometric calculations, substituting the driver's manual visual assessment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If existing vision systems provide guidance for trailer hitch alignment, then the driver receives alignment assistance, but the systems cannot determine the height of the trailer hitch ball relative to the trailer hitch coupling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment assistanceVSAvoidheight determination

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Physical measurement tools are replaced with a vision-based optical measurement system. The system uses image processing to detect the positions of the trailer hitch ball and trailer hitch coupling in the captured image, calculates their heights relative to the ground plane, and determines their relative height difference without physical contact

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from two-dimensional image data to three-dimensional spatial understanding by calculating heights above the ground plane and determining vertical relationships between components. This enables height measurement and collision prediction in the vertical dimension

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Extent of automation

If the vehicle is equipped with automatic reverse maneuvering, then collision avoidance can be automated, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic collision avoidanceVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The height determination function is integrated into the existing vision system and electronic control unit. The system combines image capture, image processing, geometric calculation, and control functions into a unified integrated system, reducing the need for separate components while enabling automatic collision avoidance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9434381B2Collision avoidance method including determining height of an object fixed to a vehicle

Publication Date: 2016.09.06 FCA US LLC

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.