Trailer Obstruction Overlay for Reversing Camera Parking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current parking maneuver assistance systems, especially reversing camera-based systems, lack the ability to align vehicles with static structures during shunting maneuvers due to limited visibility, particularly at the end of parallel parking lines, and are often cost-inefficient, requiring multiple cameras.
Innovation Solution
A method using a reversing camera and an evaluation unit to detect stationary objects, such as parking lines, and superimpose a graphic representation of obscured objects onto the camera's image, allowing for alignment without additional cameras, and incorporating a bird's-eye view with motion compensation and trajectory representation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a reversing camera-based parking maneuver assistance system is used, then cost is reduced, but the ability to align with static structures is lost due to limited visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The system records images of the surroundings before the trailer obscures them, during the approach phase, and stores these preliminary images for later use during the shunting maneuver when the trailer blocks the camera view
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a graphical copy (superimposed image element) of the previously recorded stationary object and displays it on top of the current camera image, allowing the user to see both the real-time view and the hidden object simultaneously
2Ease of operation
If multiple cameras are used to provide full visibility during shunting maneuvers, then alignment capability is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses an evaluation unit as an intermediary that processes images from a single camera, determines when objects are obscured by the trailer, and generates superimposed graphical representations to compensate for the limited view
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of adding physical cameras to capture obscured areas, the system creates virtual copies of previously seen objects and superimposes them onto the current image feed, achieving enhanced visibility with computational rather than hardware solutions
3Loss of information
If the entire field of view is continuously displayed, then user awareness is improved, but user distraction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different display treatments to different regions of the image: the current camera feed is shown normally, while only the specific obscured areas contain superimposed graphical elements representing hidden objects
Solution Approach 2:
The system displays only the necessary information (superimposed objects) rather than attempting to reconstruct or display the entire obscured field of view, providing just enough information to prevent collisions without creating visual clutter
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for providing assistance during a parking maneuver of a vehicle combination of a towing vehicle and a trailer, having the steps of: detecting (200) a stationary object by means of a reversing camera of the towing vehicle; ascertaining (300) that the object is being obscured from view of the reversing camera by the trailer; and overlaying (400) an image of the trailer with an image element which represents the obscured object in an image ascertained by means of the reversing camera.