Trailer Sensor Unit for Path Following Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing trailer control systems require additional communication and sensory connections between the towing vehicle and trailer, making them complex and expensive, and fail to accurately follow the towing vehicle's path without additional mechanical or electrical connections.
Innovation Solution
A trailer control system where a sensor unit exclusively assigned to the trailer detects and evaluates its movement to calculate steering angles for the trailer's wheels, allowing it to follow the towing vehicle's path without needing communication or mechanical connections, using sensors like gyroscopes and acceleration sensors to determine the towing vehicle's path based on the trailer's movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensors and communication connections are added between towing vehicle and trailer to detect system movement, then path following accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sensor system from the towing vehicle and places it exclusively on the trailer. This eliminates the need for communication connections between towing vehicle and trailer, as all necessary movement detection is performed locally on the trailer using its own sensor unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The trailer becomes self-sufficient by equipping it with its own sensor unit that detects the trailer's movement independently. The trailer controls itself without requiring external assistance from the towing vehicle, eliminating complex inter-vehicle communication systems.
2Measurement precision
If mechanical connections are added between towing vehicle and trailer for movement detection, then path following accuracy is improved, but ease of coupling and uncoupling deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical connection systems with an electronic sensor-based system. Instead of using mechanical linkages to detect movement, the trailer uses its own sensor unit to detect movement electronically, eliminating the need for complex mechanical connections during coupling and uncoupling operations.
3Device complexity
If the trailer uses fixed steering geometry to follow the towing vehicle, then device complexity is reduced, but path following accuracy deteriorates when entering or exiting curves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic steering control that continuously adapts the trailer's steering angle based on real-time sensor data about the trailer's movement. This allows the steering geometry to change dynamically in response to curve entry and exit conditions, maintaining path following accuracy without excessive complexity.
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
Enables the trailer to accurately follow the towing vehicle's path with reduced complexity and cost, as the trailer's sensor unit determines its position and orientation, allowing for real-time steering adjustments to minimize path deviations without additional connections.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor unit which is assigned exclusively to the trailer detects and evaluates its movement
Implementation Method 2
using sensors like gyroscopes and acceleration sensors to determine the towing vehicle's path based on the trailer's movement
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A method for steering a trailer (2) towed by a towing vehicle (1) with at least one steerable axle (9) and/or drawbar is disclosed, wherein the towing vehicle and the trailer are connected to each other at a coupling point (4) by means of a towing device, and wherein a movement of the trailer is detected by at least one sensor unit exclusively functionally and/or spatially assigned to the trailer, the sensor data are evaluated during a driving movement of the towing vehicle and the trailer to obtain control data for steering the at least two wheels (6) and/or drawbar of the trailer, and the steering angle (7) of the at least two wheels (6) and/or drawbar of the trailer is calculated on the basis of a path (8) of the towing vehicle calculated from the sensor data and for approximately following the path of the towing vehicle by the variable steering angle of the wheels and/or drawbar of the trailer.