Trailer Width Detection for Lane Centering in Vehicle Combinations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for assisting drivers of motor vehicle combinations when negotiating bends or straight paths fail to accurately account for the width of trailers, leading to imprecise lane centering and inadequate collision warnings.
Innovation Solution
A method that determines the overall width of the motor vehicle combination by considering the width of the trailer, using sensors and image processing, to calculate a nominal track for the towing vehicle, ensuring the vehicle remains within the traffic lane, and provides warnings or automatic steering corrections if necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the width of the trailer is not taken into account, then the calculation is simpler, but the lane centering precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of trailer presence and automatic determination of trailer width before the driver needs to input manual data. This preliminary action ensures that the width information is ready when needed for lane centering calculations, improving precision without adding complexity to the driver's workflow.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses existing sensors (rear-facing cameras, ultrasonic sensors) already present in the vehicle to automatically detect and calculate trailer width. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate manual measurement tools or complex external equipment, achieving higher precision while maintaining simple device architecture.
2Ease of operation
If manual input of trailer width is required, then the system is simpler to implement, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system makes existing multi-functional sensors serve an additional function: rear-facing cameras and ultrasonic sensors originally designed for reverse parking assistance now also detect trailer width. This universal use of existing components improves ease of operation by eliminating manual input while avoiding the complexity of dedicated trailer detection equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual mechanical input (driver physically entering width values) with automated optical and acoustic sensing. This substitution eliminates the need for driver intervention while using sensors that are already mechanically integrated into the vehicle, balancing operational ease with system simplicity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the trailer width is determined using rear-facing sensors, then no additional equipment in the trailer is needed, but the measurement precision may be affected by sensor limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges data from multiple sensor types (rear-facing camera images and ultrasonic distance measurements) to determine trailer width. This combination compensates for individual sensor limitations: the camera provides visual width information while ultrasonic sensors provide accurate distance data, together achieving both high precision and broad adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the vehicle's existing rear-facing sensor system as an intermediary to measure trailer width without direct contact or special equipment on the trailer. This intermediary approach maintains system compatibility with standard trailers while achieving sufficient measurement precision through computational processing of sensor data.
4Reliability
If the swept path calculation does not consider trailer width, then the computation is faster, but the collision warning quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculation of the swept path envelope using the determined trailer width before the vehicle begins maneuvering. This preliminary computation establishes accurate collision boundaries in advance, improving warning reliability while avoiding the need for complex real-time recalculation during high-speed maneuvers.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the swept path calculation based on the determined trailer width and current vehicle state (steering angle, speed). This dynamic approach maintains computation speed by using simplified geometric models that adapt to changing conditions, while still incorporating trailer width for accurate collision warning boundaries.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for assisting a driver of a motor vehicle combination with a towing vehicle and a trailer is described. A width of the motor vehicle combination is determined and a traffic lane is detected. A space required by the motor vehicle combination when travelling is predicted. A nominal track for the towing vehicle is calculated such that the motor vehicle combination remains inside the traffic lane. A computer software product, a lane departure warning system and a towing vehicle are also described.