Vehicle Attachment Detection for Trailer Resource Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicles lack systems to detect changes in configuration due to item attachments, such as trailers, and utilize the resources associated with these items, leading to unsafe driving conditions and inefficiencies in resource utilization.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for detecting item attachments to a vehicle, establishing connections with the item and its carried objects, determining resources, and utilizing them, including sensors and batteries, to adaptively adjust safety zones and resource utilization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the vehicle uses existing systems without item attachment detection, then the system complexity is low, but the safety and resource utilization are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of item attachments before driving operations begin. The processor continuously monitors for attached items and establishes communication connections in advance, allowing the vehicle to adapt its safety parameters and resource allocation before actual driving scenarios arise, thereby improving safety without requiring complex real-time responses

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback loops where the processor receives information about attached items through communication modules, processes this information to determine safety zones and resource availability, and continuously adjusts vehicle operations based on this feedback. This closed-loop approach enhances safety while maintaining manageable system complexity through iterative adaptation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If the vehicle establishes multiple connections to detect item resources, then the resource utilization improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidconnection complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The communication module is designed with multi-functionality to handle various types of connections and data exchanges with attached items. A single universal communication interface can establish different types of connections (first connection for basic item detection, second connection for resource-specific communication), reducing the need for multiple specialized connection systems while improving resource utilization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The connection architecture uses a nested structure where the first connection (basic item detection) contains and enables the second connection (resource-specific communication). The processor first establishes a basic connection to detect item presence, then nests additional resource-specific connections within this framework, allowing hierarchical resource access without requiring completely separate connection systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Reliability

If the vehicle dynamically adjusts safety zones based on attached items, then the driving safety improves, but the computational requirements and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriving safetyVSAvoidcomputational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically changes safety zone parameters based on detected item characteristics. The processor adjusts safety zone size, shape, and position as variables that change in response to attached item properties, allowing flexible safety adaptation without requiring completely new computational models for each scenario

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The safety zone is implemented as a dynamic entity that automatically adapts its characteristics based on real-time detection of attached items. The system continuously updates safety zone parameters in response to changing vehicle configurations, enabling adaptive safety management while keeping computational complexity manageable through standardized adjustment algorithms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4574566A1Method and apparatus to utilize resources of item attached to the vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.06.25 VOLVO CAR CORP
  • EP4574566A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4574566A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4574566A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

According to an embodiment, it is a system comprising a processor; a communication module; wherein the processor is operable to determine, that an item is attached to a vehicle forming a vehicle combination; establish, a first connection of the vehicle with the item that is being attached via the communication module; initiate, a communication via a connector with the item, wherein the communication comprises a message comprising a specification, wherein the specification comprises an object that is being carried by the item; establish, a second connection with the object that is being carried by the item; determine, a first resource with the item; determine, a second resource with the object; and use the first resource and the second resource.