Trailer Wheelbase Estimation from Active Wheel Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems are inadequate for accurately estimating the wheel base length of vehicle combinations with multiple articulation joints, particularly in scenarios where trailers with different sizes and configurations are used, and some wheels may be unused, affecting the wheel base length.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing wheel identification sensors to perform measurements, determining the maximum number of active wheels, and estimating the wheel base length based on their positions, while disregarding unreliable measurements to ensure precision and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If wheel identification sensors are used to perform multiple measurements to determine the maximum number of active wheels, then the measurement precision of wheel base length is improved, but the loss of time increases due to multiple measurements and data processing
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs wheel identification measurements continuously during vehicle operation and pre-processes the data to identify all active wheels. This preliminary action ensures that when wheel base estimation is needed, the maximum number of active wheels has already been determined, reducing the time for actual estimation while maintaining high precision through multiple accumulated measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement system automatically identifies active wheels and determines their positions without requiring manual intervention. The system self-adjusts to account for unused wheels by identifying only those wheels that are actively supporting the vehicle combination, thereby improving measurement precision while minimizing the time required for manual assessment.
2Reliability
If the system accounts for unused wheels by determining the maximum number of active wheels, then the reliability of wheel base estimation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional sensors and processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel identification sensor serves multiple functions: it identifies the presence of wheels, determines which wheels are active (in use), and provides position information for calculation. This multi-functionality improves reliability by accurately distinguishing active from unused wheels while avoiding the need for separate dedicated sensors for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces complex mechanical assessment methods with sensor-based detection and computational analysis. Instead of manual inspection or complex mechanical linkages to determine active wheels, the invention uses wheel identification sensors and algorithmic processing to automatically determine the maximum number of active wheels, improving reliability while keeping the added complexity manageable through electronic rather than mechanical means.
3Measurement precision
If the system disregards unreliable measurements to improve precision, then the measurement precision is improved, but the productivity decreases due to selective data usage
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors wheel identification measurements and uses feedback to determine which measurements are reliable. By comparing multiple measurements and identifying patterns, the system can disregard unreliable data points while maintaining a steady stream of valid estimations. This feedback mechanism improves precision by filtering out bad data while preserving productivity through continuous processing of valid measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts which measurements are used based on reliability criteria. By changing the parameter of measurement selection rather than uniformly processing all data, the system improves precision by focusing on reliable measurements while maintaining productivity through automated selection algorithms that efficiently identify and process only the necessary data points.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a method for estimating a wheel base length (D) of at least one trailer (10) of a vehicle combination (100) comprising a towing vehicle (1), the at least one trailer and more than one articulation joint (A1, A2), wherein the towing vehicle comprises at least one wheel identification sensor (2) for identifying wheels (11, 12, 13) of the at least one trailer, the method comprising the following steps: —(S1) performing a plurality of wheel identification measurements on at least one side of the at least one trailer, by means of the at least one sensor during use of the vehicle combination, —(S2) determining a number of identifiable active wheels on the at least one side of the at least one trailer in each one of the plurality of wheel identification measurements, —(S3) determining a total number of active wheels on the at least one side of the at least one trailer, wherein the total number of active wheels is determined based on at least one of the plurality of wheel identification measurements in which a maximum number of identifiable active wheels was determined, —(S4) determining a position of each identifiable active wheel at least from the at least one of the plurality of wheel identification measurements in which the maximum number of active wheels was determined, and —(S5) estimating the wheel base length based on the determined position of each active wheel.