17938087. TRAILER SIDESWIPE AVOIDANCE SYSTEM simplified abstract (Ford Global Technologies, LLC)
Contents
- 1 TRAILER SIDESWIPE AVOIDANCE SYSTEM
- 1.1 Organization Name
- 1.2 Inventor(s)
- 1.3 TRAILER SIDESWIPE AVOIDANCE SYSTEM - A simplified explanation of the abstract
- 1.4 Simplified Explanation
- 1.5 Potential Applications
- 1.6 Problems Solved
- 1.7 Benefits
- 1.8 Potential Commercial Applications
- 1.9 Possible Prior Art
- 1.10 How does the system differentiate between objects in the trailer's path and those outside of it?
- 1.11 What is the range of the sensor system and how does it affect the system's effectiveness?
- 1.12 Original Abstract Submitted
TRAILER SIDESWIPE AVOIDANCE SYSTEM
Organization Name
Inventor(s)
Douglas Rogan of Mountain View CA (US)
TRAILER SIDESWIPE AVOIDANCE SYSTEM - A simplified explanation of the abstract
This abstract first appeared for US patent application 17938087 titled 'TRAILER SIDESWIPE AVOIDANCE SYSTEM
Simplified Explanation
The patent application describes a trailer sideswipe avoidance system for a vehicle towing a trailer, which includes sensors to detect objects in the vehicle's operating environment and a controller to determine if an object is in the trailer's travel path. A visual display shows a bird's eye view of the vehicle and trailer, with a collision warning band that changes color if an object is in the trailer's path.
- Sensor system detects objects in the vehicle's operating environment
- Controller processes sensor information to determine if an object is in the trailer's travel path
- Visual display shows bird's eye view of vehicle and trailer
- Collision warning band changes color if object is in trailer's path
Potential Applications
The technology can be applied to various vehicles towing trailers, such as trucks, RVs, and boats, to prevent sideswipe accidents.
Problems Solved
The system helps prevent collisions between the trailer and objects in its path, reducing the risk of damage to both the trailer and the object.
Benefits
- Improved safety for vehicles towing trailers - Reduced risk of sideswipe accidents - Enhanced visibility of potential obstacles in the trailer's path
Potential Commercial Applications
The technology can be integrated into new vehicles with towing capabilities, as well as offered as an aftermarket add-on for existing vehicles.
Possible Prior Art
One possible prior art could be existing collision warning systems for vehicles, which may not specifically address the unique challenges of towing a trailer.
Unanswered Questions
How does the system differentiate between objects in the trailer's path and those outside of it?
The abstract does not provide details on how the system distinguishes between objects that pose a threat to the trailer and those that do not.
What is the range of the sensor system and how does it affect the system's effectiveness?
The abstract does not mention the range of the sensor system and how it impacts the system's ability to detect objects in the trailer's path.
Original Abstract Submitted
A trailer sideswipe avoidance system for a vehicle towing a trailer includes a sensor system configured to detect an object in an operating environment of the vehicle. The trailer sideswipe avoidance system also includes a controller that processes information received from the sensor system to determine whether an object detected in the operating environment of the vehicle is in a forward travel path of the towed trailer as the vehicle turns. The trailer sideswipe avoidance system further includes a visual display that displays bird's eye view representations of the vehicle and the trailer and a collision warning band that extends around at least a portion of the bird's eye view representation of the trailer. A portion of the collision warning band changes color based on the controller determining that the object is in the travel path of the towed trailer.
