Vehicle Hitch Alignment Control with Coupler Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hitching a trailer to a vehicle is a difficult and time-consuming process due to the challenge of aligning the vehicle hitch ball with the trailer hitch, often requiring repeated driving and steering maneuvers without clear sightlines, which can lead to collisions.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control system that uses sensors to capture data and a controller to identify the coupler position of a trailer, align the hitch, and control emergency braking operations, suppressing unnecessary braking to prevent interference with the alignment process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the emergency braking operation is activated to prevent collisions during hitching, then safety is improved, but the alignment process is interrupted causing loss of time
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors sensor data during the alignment process and provides feedback to distinguish between actual obstructions and the coupler. This feedback mechanism allows the emergency braking operation to be selectively suppressed when the coupler is detected, preventing false interruptions while maintaining safety for genuine obstacles.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary identification of the coupler position using sensors before the emergency braking operation is activated. By预先 identifying the coupler's location and characteristics, the system can differentiate it from actual obstructions and prevent false braking interruptions during the alignment maneuver.
2Reliability
If the system uses sensor data to detect obstructions for emergency braking, then collision prevention is improved, but false detection of the coupler as obstruction causes unnecessary braking
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the alignment routine and sensor data to continuously refine its identification of the coupler versus actual obstructions. This feedback loop improves measurement precision by learning from previous detections and adjusting the classification criteria for objects in the sensor data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis of sensor data to identify the coupler's characteristic features and position before making obstruction detection decisions. This preliminary identification establishes a baseline that prevents false positive detections during the critical alignment phase.
3Manufacturing precision
If the vehicle alignment routine requires precise positioning of the hitch ball, then alignment accuracy is improved, but the process becomes time-consuming requiring multiple maneuvers
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual mechanical alignment operations with an automated control system that uses sensors to detect the coupler position and automatically controls vehicle motion. This substitution eliminates the need for repeated manual driving and steering maneuvers while maintaining high alignment accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment system performs self-positioning by automatically detecting the coupler location and controlling the vehicle's motion to achieve proper alignment. The system serves itself by integrating sensor data processing, decision-making, and actuation control, eliminating the need for external manual intervention and reducing time loss.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle control system comprises a sensor configured to capture sensor data and a controller configured to identify a coupler position of a trailer in the sensor data. The controller is further configured to control a vehicle alignment routine aligning the hitch with the coupler position and control an emergency braking operation in response to detecting an obstruction in the sensor data. The controller is configured to suppress the emergency braking operation in response to the obstruction corresponding to the coupler in the sensor data.