Trailer Size Estimation Using Virtual Grid Occupancy Frequency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) face accuracy issues and disabled features when a trailer is attached, as sensors often detect non-trailer objects or fail to accurately determine hitch angle during turns, leading to inaccurate blind spot monitoring and lane departure warnings.
Innovation Solution
A system using existing sensors to generate a virtual grid and determine trailer size by analyzing occupancy frequency, with alerts triggered if the distribution exceeds a predefined threshold, allowing continuous monitoring without decreased accuracy and integration with other ADAS features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing sensors are used to detect trailer position, then the system can provide basic ADAS functionality, but the accuracy of trailer size estimation and monitoring deteriorates due to detection of non-trailer objects and inability to accurately determine hitch angle
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the detection space into a virtual grid of multiple cells behind the vehicle. Instead of treating the entire rear area as one detection zone, each cell independently tracks occupancy frequency. This segmentation allows the system to distinguish between transient detections (non-trailer objects) and consistent detections (trailer) by analyzing the spatial distribution pattern across multiple cells, thereby improving measurement precision without requiring additional sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension to the spatial detection data by calculating occupancy frequency over time for each cell. This transforms static position detection into dynamic pattern recognition, where the system analyzes not just where objects are detected but how consistently they appear in specific spatial zones. This dimensional transformation enables accurate trailer size estimation by identifying stable occupancy patterns that distinguish trailers from other objects.
2Measurement precision
If additional high-cost sensors are installed to improve trailer detection accuracy, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a virtual representation (copy) of the physical detection space by generating a virtual grid that mirrors the spatial arrangement behind the vehicle. This virtual model allows the system to perform complex analysis and trailer size estimation using data from existing sensors, eliminating the need for additional physical sensors. The virtual grid serves as a computational abstraction that provides high measurement precision without increasing hardware complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the raw sensor data by changing the parameter of analysis from simple object presence to occupancy frequency distribution across multiple spatial cells. This parameter transformation enables the system to extract meaningful trailer size information from existing sensor data through computational methods, avoiding the need for additional sensors while maintaining high measurement precision.
3Productivity
If sensors continuously monitor trailer position, then real-time monitoring capability is provided, but false detections increase due to non-trailer objects in the detection path
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously updating occupancy frequency counts for each cell based on sensor detections and comparing these frequencies against threshold values. This feedback mechanism allows the system to distinguish between transient detections (false positives from non-trailer objects) and consistent detections (true trailer presence) by analyzing whether occupancy patterns exceed established thresholds, thereby maintaining high reliability during continuous monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis by establishing a virtual grid and calculating occupancy frequencies for each cell before making final trailer detection decisions. This preliminary processing of detection data allows the system to filter out false detections from non-trailer objects by identifying consistent spatial patterns, ensuring that continuous monitoring produces reliable results without requiring additional sensors.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle system for estimating a trailer size may include a plurality of sensors arranged on a vehicle and may be configured to detect objects external to the vehicle and provide trailer data indicative of a trailer location behind a vehicle and a memory configured to maintain a virtual grid including a plurality of cells. The system may also include a controller in communication with the sensors and memory and configured to determine, based on the trailer data received within a predefined amount of time, an occupancy frequency for each of the plurality of cells, the occupancy frequency being an incrementation of each time an object was detected within the respective cell; determine a threshold distribution based on the occupancy frequency of each cell; and determine a trailer size based on the cells having an occupancy frequency exceeding the threshold distribution.