Trailer Towbar Geometry Detection via Camera Scanline Overlay
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current driver assistance systems for vehicles with trailers cannot accurately determine the maximum possible bend angle between the vehicle and trailer, leading to restricted driving dynamics, as they assume the widest towbar shape to prevent collision, without considering the actual geometry of the trailer towbar.
Innovation Solution
A method that uses a camera to generate images at different time points, defines scanlines, and determines profiles along these lines to compare and overlay, allowing for the identification of object boundaries and predicting the maximum bend angle without prior knowledge of the trailer's geometry by averaging out background components and isolating the object's pattern.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the widest towbar shape is assumed to prevent collision, then safety is improved, but driving dynamics are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical assumption of fixed worst-case geometry with an optical measurement system (camera) that captures and processes images to determine actual towbar geometry. Image processing algorithms analyze the captured images to identify towbar boundaries and calculate actual dimensions, substituting physical safety margins with precise visual measurement and computational analysis.
2Device complexity
If a fixed worst-case geometry is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the vehicle's existing camera infrastructure to automatically capture and analyze towbar geometry without requiring external measurement devices or manual input. The image processing algorithms automatically identify towbar features, calculate dimensions, and provide precise geometric data, enabling the system to self-determine accurate measurements using readily available resources.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for determining object boundaries of an object outside of a transportation vehicle, wherein images of the object are generated by a control apparatus by a camera, and at least one scanline is specified in a first image and a corresponding scanline is specified for each scanline in every other image, and a profile resulting along the scanline is determined for each scanline of the first image, and a corresponding resulting profile is determined along the respective corresponding scanline of every other image, and the corresponding profile of every other image, displaced by a respective displacement distance, is overlaid on the profile of each scanline of the first image, and a reference pattern is determined in the resulting overlay profile of each scanline, and respective boundaries of the reference pattern are indicated as the respective object boundaries.