Truck-Trailer Load Estimation Using Wheel-to-Spring Deflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles lack accurate methods to determine the total mass and center of gravity of a truck-trailer combination, which is crucial for safe maneuvering, as these factors significantly influence the vehicle's dynamic behavior on the road.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing image sensors and weight sensors at a hub to measure the total mass and center of gravity of a truck-trailer combination by determining distance changes between wheel centers and chassis springs before and after loading, employing machine learning algorithms to process sensor data and calculate these parameters accurately.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If visual inspection and driver experience are used to assess mass and center of gravity, then the assessment process is simple and quick, but the accuracy and reliability of the measurements are insufficient for autonomous vehicle safety
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection and driver experience with an automated optical measurement system using image sensors. The system captures images of the vehicle from multiple angles, detects wheel positions and chassis spring positions, and calculates mass and center of gravity through image processing algorithms, eliminating the need for human assessment while providing precise quantitative measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces image sensors as an intermediary device between the vehicle and the measurement system. These sensors capture visual data of the vehicle's physical state, which is then processed to extract measurement information. The intermediary converts complex physical measurements into accessible image data that can be analyzed computationally to determine mass and center of gravity.
2Measurement precision
If multiple image sensors and processing algorithms are deployed to accurately measure mass and center of gravity, then measurement precision improves, but the device complexity and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the measurement task into distinct components: image acquisition from multiple sensors, image processing to detect specific features (wheel centers, spring positions), coordinate system transformations, and final calculation of mass and center of gravity. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses multiple image sensors to capture multiple copies or views of the same vehicle from different angles and positions. These multiple image copies provide redundant measurement data that can be cross-validated and combined to improve measurement accuracy while enabling comprehensive detection of all relevant vehicle features.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise determination of the total mass and center of gravity, enhancing the safety and maneuverability of autonomous trucks by providing accurate data for behaviors and planning systems.
Implementation Method 1
a first set of plurality of image sensors positioned in the first section... determining a first distance between a center point of a wheel and a chassis spring of the vehicle based on first sensor data of the first set of plurality of image sensors
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes at least one processor configured to: (i) determining a first distance between a center point of a wheel of an unloaded vehicle and a chassis spring of the vehicle based on first sensor data of the first set of plurality of image sensors; (ii) determining a second distance between the center point and the chassis spring for the loaded vehicle based on second sensor data of the first set of plurality of image sensors; (iii) based upon a difference between the first distance and the second distance, and characteristics of the chassis spring, determining a load at each wheel for determining a total mass of the vehicle and a first coordinates of a center of gravity of the vehicle along a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis with respect to a front axle of the vehicle.