Utility Vehicle Pose Control via External Camera ML
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Solution Overview
Problem
In construction sites, the limited perspective from the cabin of utility vehicles, such as those used for garbage collection, can hinder precise movement and control, especially in crowded or narrow areas where the operator's view is obstructed, making it difficult to monitor obstacles and align the vehicle accurately without entering and exiting the cabin repeatedly.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus equipped with cameras and machine-learning processors that analyze video data to determine the pose of individuals outside the vehicle, allowing for remote control of the utility vehicle based on predefined poses, enabling operators to monitor distances and alignments without entering the cabin, and incorporating authorization systems to restrict vehicle control to authorized personnel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the operator controls the utility vehicle from the cabin, then the vehicle can be operated with standard controls, but the operator's view is limited and obstructed in crowded or narrow areas, making it difficult to monitor obstacles and align the vehicle accurately
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of external cameras and a portable computing device that mediates between the vehicle's movement and the operator's control. The cameras capture the environment outside the vehicle, and the portable device processes and displays this visual information to the operator, enabling remote monitoring and control without requiring the operator to be inside the cabin. This resolves the contradiction by providing comprehensive external visibility while maintaining vehicle control capability.
2Loss of information
If the operator enters and exits the cabin repeatedly to monitor distances and alignments, then the operator can obtain better visibility, but this frequent movement reduces operational efficiency and productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables the operator to perform monitoring functions remotely using the portable computing device, which self-containedly provides camera feeds, pose detection, and control interfaces. The operator can stand outside the vehicle and access all necessary visual information and control functions through the portable device, eliminating the need to repeatedly enter and exit the cabin. This maintains full visibility while preserving operational efficiency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If remote control of the utility vehicle is enabled without authorization systems, then operational flexibility is improved, but vehicle security and access control are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary authorization verification through biometric authentication (fingerprint sensor) before enabling remote control functionality. The system checks the operator's authorization status in advance, and only unlocks the remote control features for authenticated users. This preliminary security check ensures that remote control capability is maintained for authorized personnel while preventing unauthorized access, thus balancing versatility with security.
Data Source
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Figure 1d
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AI summary
Various examples relate to a utility vehicle, and to a corresponding apparatus, method and computer program for a utility vehicle. The apparatus comprises at least one interface for obtaining video data from one or more cameras of the utility vehicle. The apparatus further comprises one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to process, using a machine-learning model, the video data to determine pose information of a person being shown in the video data. The machine-learning model is trained to generate pose-estimation data based on video data. The one or more processors are configured to detect at least one pre-defined pose based on the pose information of the person. The one or more processors are configured to control the utility vehicle based on the detected at least one pre-defined pose.