Vehicle Joint Tracking for Six-DOF Relative Motion Monitoring
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to effectively monitor and manage the complex relative movements between movably connected vehicle parts, particularly in articulated vehicles, which are crucial for controlling joint dynamics and predicting maintenance needs.
Innovation Solution
A tracking system with two tracking modules and a sensor device is used to determine the position and orientation of vehicle parts relative to each other, employing cable-operated sensors, optical sensors, and IMUs to capture up to six degrees of freedom, with calibration and data fusion to ensure accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional sensors are used to determine articulation angle between vehicle sections, then the system can monitor relative movements, but the system lacks completeness in capturing all six degrees of freedom and cannot provide comprehensive vehicle dynamics data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical articulation angle sensors with optical tracking systems (laser trackers, cameras, or optical sensor devices) to measure relative movements between vehicle sections. This substitution enables comprehensive capture of all six degrees of freedom (three translational and three rotational movements) without the mechanical constraints and limited measurement capabilities of traditional sensors, thereby improving measurement completeness while reducing mechanical system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The tracking system is designed to simultaneously measure all six degrees of freedom (lateral displacement, vertical displacement, approach movements, and rotational movements) between vehicle sections, rather than requiring separate specialized sensors for each movement type. This multi-functional approach provides comprehensive vehicle dynamics data through a single integrated system, improving measurement completeness without proportionally increasing system complexity
2Reliability
If multiple sensors are deployed to capture all six degrees of freedom, then complete relative movement data can be obtained, but installation complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces multiple traditional mechanical sensors with optical tracking systems that can capture all six degrees of freedom using fewer components. Laser trackers or camera-based systems can determine complete relative movement data through optical field measurements, reducing the number of physical sensors required and simplifying installation while maintaining high measurement accuracy and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces reference objects or markers as intermediaries between the tracking system and vehicle sections. These reference objects serve as measurement targets for optical sensors, enabling accurate determination of relative movements without requiring direct sensor-to-sensor communication or complex sensor arrays. This intermediary approach simplifies system installation while ensuring reliable and accurate vehicle dynamics measurement
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to the use of a tracking system (7) comprising a first tracking module (8) and a second tracking module (9), the position and/or orientation of which relative to each other can be determined by means of a sensor device (12) of the tracking system (7), for determining relative movements of a first vehicle part (2) of a vehicle assembly relative to a second vehicle part (3) of the vehicle assembly movably connected thereto, wherein the first tracking module (8) is connected to the first vehicle part (2) and the second tracking module (9) is connected to the second vehicle part (3).