Under-Trailer Camera Measurement for Accurate Trailer Length

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems lack an efficient method to accurately determine the length of a trailer attached to a tractor, which is crucial for safe and efficient towing operations.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device equipped with a camera positioned at the rear of the tractor captures images from underneath the trailer, identifies covered and uncovered areas, and calculates the trailer length using image processing and neural networks to determine the trailer's dimensions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a camera is used to capture images for trailer length measurement, then non-contact measurement is achieved, but measurement precision is insufficient due to image processing challenges

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenon-contact measurementVSAvoidtrailer length accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The image processing is divided into multiple stages: edge detection to identify trailer boundaries, perspective correction to account for camera angle, and length calculation. This segmentation of the measurement process enables each stage to be optimized independently, achieving both ease of operation and measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Reference objects of known dimensions are introduced into the scene as intermediaries. These reference objects serve as mediators between the camera image and the actual trailer dimensions, enabling accurate scale conversion and length measurement through image processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If manual measurement methods are used, then measurement precision can be ensured, but productivity decreases due to time-consuming operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetrailer length accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The manual mechanical measurement process is replaced with an automated optical measurement system. The camera captures images and electronic processing algorithms automatically calculate trailer length, eliminating the need for manual physical measurement while maintaining precision and significantly improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-measurement by using the camera mounted on the towing vehicle to automatically capture and process images of the trailer. The electronic device autonomously completes the entire measurement process from image capture to length calculation without requiring external measurement tools or manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If multiple sensors are deployed to improve measurement accuracy, then measurement precision increases, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetrailer length accuracyVSAvoidsystem configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The camera serves multiple functions: capturing trailer length information, providing visual documentation, and enabling post-processing analysis. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated measurement sensors, reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision through sophisticated image processing algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250285448A1Electronic device, method, and non-transitory computer readable storage medium for estimating length of trailer using camera

Publication Date: 2025.09.11 THINKWARE

AI summary

In an embodiment, an electronic device of a vehicle including a tractor for towing a trailer includes a communication interface, a processor, and the processor is configured to obtain, through the communication interface, an image of a camera viewing toward a rear direction of the tractor from underneath the trailer, wherein the camera is disposed at a rear portion of the tractor, identify, within the image, a first portion covered by the trailer and a second portion not covered by the trailer, and based on a size of the second portion, determine a length of the trailer.