Trailer Sway Detection Using Pitch Angle and Sensor Fusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to effectively detect early signs of trailer sway, which can amplify and lead to hazardous conditions, especially in vehicles towing trailers, due to environmental factors and weight distribution issues.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing sensors and machine learning models to analyze trailer and vehicle pitch angles, weight distribution, and environmental attributes to determine trailer sway confidence, generating warnings or autonomous control signals to mitigate sway.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If trailer sway detection systems are implemented, then safety and stability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a single sensor assembly that performs multiple functions: detecting pitch angle, roll angle, and yaw rate simultaneously. This multi-functional approach improves detection accuracy without proportionally increasing system complexity, as one integrated sensor unit replaces what would otherwise require multiple separate sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a processor as an intermediary component that receives raw sensor data and computes trailer sway confidence. This intermediary layer simplifies the overall system architecture by centralizing the complex computation logic in a dedicated processing unit, rather than distributing complexity across multiple sensors and control elements.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensor data parameters are analyzed, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple sensor functions into a single sensor assembly that simultaneously measures pitch angle, roll angle, and yaw rate. This consolidation achieves high measurement precision through multi-parameter sensing while reducing device complexity by eliminating the need for multiple separate sensor units and their associated mounting and wiring systems.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If early detection of trailer sway is implemented, then harmful factors are reduced, but loss of time in processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors sensor data and computes trailer sway confidence in real-time, performing detection actions before actual sway amplification occurs. This preliminary continuous monitoring enables early warning generation without significant processing delays, as the system is already in a state of active data acquisition and analysis ready to immediately detect and respond to sway conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback by constantly processing sensor data and updating trailer sway confidence levels. This real-time feedback mechanism allows the system to detect early signs of trailer sway and generate warnings promptly, minimizing the time between sway onset and detection while maintaining accurate measurement through ongoing data analysis.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, method and computer program product are provided for providing trailer sway detection. In one example, the apparatus receives sensor data and determines a pitch angle of a trailer based on the sensor data. The apparatus further determines a confidence of trailer sway occurring based on the pitch angle and in response to the confidence exceeding a threshold, the apparatus generates a warning signal indicating a potential trailer sway.