Vehicle-Mounted Camera Control Using Body Reorientation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle cameras have limited shooting angles and are primarily used for recording and obstacle detection, lacking the ability to adjust their shooting direction freely.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for controlling a vehicle-mounted camera that adjusts its shooting direction by adjusting the camera itself and, if necessary, adjusting the vehicle's body position through independent wheel rotation, steering, and ground clearance adjustments to achieve the desired shooting angle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the camera is fixed on the vehicle, then the camera structure is simple and stable, but the shooting angle is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the camera adjustable rather than fixed. The camera can rotate and tilt to change shooting directions, transforming from a static to a dynamic mounting system. This allows the camera to adapt to different shooting angles while maintaining structural stability through controlled mechanical adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera system is designed to perform multiple functions: it can photograph in various directions (front, rear, left, right sides) and at different angles. This multi-functional capability allows a single camera to replace what would traditionally require multiple fixed cameras, increasing versatility without proportionally increasing system complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the camera adjustment range is increased, then the shooting flexibility is improved, but the camera control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system incorporates automatic control capabilities where the camera can autonomously adjust its shooting direction based on detected targets or pre-programmed sequences. This self-service function reduces the operational burden on users while maintaining extensive adjustment ranges, as the camera performs complex positioning tasks automatically.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback mechanisms to monitor the camera's current position and shooting direction, then automatically makes adjustments to achieve the desired angle. This closed-loop control simplifies operation by eliminating the need for manual positioning, as the system self-corrects based on feedback from sensors and position detectors.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the vehicle body position is adjusted to change shooting direction, then the camera's shootable range is expanded, but the vehicle control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the shooting direction adjustment into two independent parts: camera orientation adjustment and vehicle body position adjustment. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized separately - the camera handles fine-angle adjustments while the vehicle body provides coarse positional changes, reducing the overall complexity of the integrated system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the camera adjustment system with the vehicle body control system, allowing coordinated operation where camera positioning and vehicle orientation work together. This integration enables the system to achieve extended shootable ranges by combining relatively small camera articulations with larger vehicle body movements, distributing the complexity across both subsystems.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle and a control method thereof may increase a shooting angle of a camera mounted on the vehicle to photograph without limitation of the shooting angle. The method of controlling a vehicle including at least one camera, the control method including: adjusting a direction of a vehicle body to adjust a shooting direction of the at least one camera to a target direction thereof; and controlling the at least one camera to photograph in the adjusted shooting direction.