Method, apparatus and system for wireless automotive trailer assist in various maneuvers

• US 10,126,755 B1
• Filed: 07/20/2017
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Lavi, Nadav, Scheim, Kobi J., Cohen, Daniel T., Camden, Andrew R., Bika, Anil, Buchbut, Yohay, Levkovich, Nadav
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cuong H
• Application Number:
  US15/655,462
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 701 23, 701 24, 701 25, 701408-409, 180167
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/245 for facilitating push back or parking of trailers
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/62 involving supply lines, electric circuits, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0011 associated with a remote control arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0214 in accordance with safety or protection criteria, e.g. avoiding hazardous areas monitoring the location of vehicles within a certain area, e.g. forbidden or allowed areas, in traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/13
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0225 involving docking at a fixed facility, e.g. base station or loading bay parking aids B62D15/027
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/028 using a RF signal

Abstract

A system, apparatus and method for wireless communication in an ecosystem of wireless devices interconnected for assisting a vehicle, or a vehicle and trailer in maneuvers which includes at least one radio frequency (RF) system configured to operate as part of a vehicle system, a trailer system or combination thereof, or as an independent unit with wireless connectivity to the vehicle and/or trailer system or other independent unit to form the ecosystem of wireless devices interconnected. The RF system includes a transceiver for the wireless connectivity with extended range ultra-wide band capabilities wherein each RF system includes: at least one vehicle RF system, at least one trailer RF system and at least one independent RF unit system.

Claims

1. A system for communicating data between a plurality of wireless devices for assisting a vehicle and trailer in various maneuvers, comprising:

at least a first and second radio frequency (RF) device attached or positioned with a vehicle, trailer and/or a desired location and coupled together in a manner to allow for data exchanges therebetween wherein both the first and second RF device are each configured with a respective ultra-wide band (UWB) transceiver for enabling, using UWB wireless protocols, couplings at extended ranges therebetween, each RF device further comprises;

a processor locally disposed within each RF device for generating data packet for sending between the first and second RF device to enable a measurement of a distance to be determined between each device based on a transmission time of a data packet transmitted back and forth between each RF device, the processor configured to;

generate a request for message data between RF devices wherein the first RF device sends message data in response thereof and the second RF device receives the message data or vice versa;

compute, using algorithmic solutions, one or more measurements from a transmission time ascertained of a sending and a receiving of the message data between the RF devices to determine at least a distance between each of the RF devices having performed the sending and receiving of the message data, and further using measurements ascertained to determine a relative physical position of a vehicle and/or trailer associated with at least one of the RF devices; and

generate data with respect to the measurements and physical position of the vehicle and/or trailer for either an operator of the vehicle and/or trailer, or for a vehicle control system to cause the vehicle and/or trailer to maneuver to the desired location or follow a path to the desired location.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine, using transmission times ascertained between RF devices from a distance to the desired location and to generate instructions to the vehicle and/or a trailer to assist an operator in maneuvering either to the desired location or to follow a path to the desired location.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a function of the RF device for marking a point of the desired location or a series of points for the path to the desired location to navigate the vehicle to maneuver to the desired location or for marking in an alternate, a point of an undesired location or series of points of undesired locations in manner to enable the vehicle to maneuver by a path to the desired location while avoiding the undesired location or locations.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one or more transceivers to transmit data in wireless protocols different from the UWB protocol for coupling with a vehicle, a trailer, or a mobile device.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

attaching at least the first and second RF devices to a vehicle and trailers respectively, for monitoring the trailer when maneuvering the trailer by the vehicle by computing measurements and/or changes in measurements therebetween.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

attaching the first and second RF devices to a load associated with a vehicle, trailer, or a combination thereof, for monitoring the load when maneuvering the vehicle or trailer by computing measurements and/or changes in measurements with respect to the load and the vehicle or trailer respectively.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

generate data with respect to the measurements and physical position of the vehicle for either an operator of the vehicle or for a vehicle control system to cause the vehicle to maneuver in manner to avoid a particular location or to follow a path around particular locations.

8. An apparatus for wireless communication in an ecosystem of wireless devices interconnected for assisting a vehicle, or a vehicle and trailer in maneuvers, comprising:

at least one radio frequency (RF) system configured to operate as part of a vehicle system, a trailer system or combination thereof, or as an independent unit with wireless connectivity to the vehicle and/or trailer system or other independent unit to form the ecosystem of wireless devices interconnected wherein the RF system includes a transceiver for the wireless connectivity with extended range capabilities wherein each RF system comprises;

at least one vehicle RF system, at least one trailer RF system and at least one independent RF unit system;

a processor disposed within the RF system communicatively coupled to at least another one RF system, the processor configured to;

generate a unique data packet for each of the at least one RF system;

generate an instruction for each of the at least one RF system to transmit the unique packet associated with the at least one RF system;

receive, from the at least one RF system at least one response packet transmitted from the at least another one RF system wherein the at least another one RF system corresponds to the vehicle, trailer, or independent unit or is a combination thereof;

determine, for each received response packet, a distance between a corresponding receiving one of the at least one vehicle RF system, one trailer RF system or one independent RF unit system and a corresponding transmitting one of the at least, one vehicle RF system, one trailer RF system or one independent RF unit system based upon a time of flight of a corresponding transmitted unique packet and a corresponding response packet;

determine a relative physical position of one or more of at least one vehicle RF system, one trailer RF system or one independent RF unit system, and each of the at least one vehicle RF system, one trailer RF system or one independent RF unit system based upon the determined distance; and

generate, based upon the determined relative physical position of the at least one vehicle RF system, of the at least one trailer RF system, or of the one independent RF unit system, data to maneuver the vehicle or vehicle and trailer to a desired location or avoid an undesired location.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a function of the RF system for marking a point of the desired location or a series of points for a path to the desired, or for marking a point of the undesired location or a series of points of undesired locations for defining a boundary to avoid, and for enabling the vehicle to navigate or maneuver to the desired location or avoid the undesired location.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

generate, based on data of the at least one trailer RF system, or of the one independent RF unit system a plurality of dimensions of the trailer for assessing a plurality of attributes associated with the trailer for assisting the vehicle or vehicle and trailer in maneuvers.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the instructions cause a control system of the vehicle to operate in an autonomous or semi-autonomous mode and to either in an automated or semi-automated manner assist vehicle maneuvers to the desired location or avoid the undesired location.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the ecosystem of wireless devices interconnected includes at least two RF systems, wherein the processor is further configured to determine the relative physical position of two or more of a plurality of RF systems in the ecosystem consisting of the following:

each of the at least one of the vehicle RF system, each of the at least one trailer RF system and each of the independent RF unit system by estimating the position of the at least one of the plurality of RF systems relative to at least two of any other RF systems in the ecosystem.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the ecosystem of wireless devices interconnected includes at least two RF systems, wherein the processor is further configured to determine the relative physical position of two or more of a plurality of RF systems in the ecosystem for monitoring a load or a trailer or combination associated thereof wherein the RF systems consisting of the following:

one vehicle RF system, one trailer RF system or one independent RF unit system, and each of the at least one vehicle RF system, one trailer RF system or one independent RF unit system.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the RF system further comprising:

at least one or more transceivers for capabilities to transmit data differently than in the extended range capability between each RF system in order to connect with the vehicle, the trailer, or a mobile device.

15. A method for monitoring and assisting a vehicle and trailer in maneuvers, the method comprising:

coupling at least a first and second radio frequency (RF) device together in a manner to allow for data exchanges therebetween wherein both the first and second RF device are each configured with a respective ultra-wide band (UWB) transceiver for enabling, using UWB wireless protocols, couplings at extended ranges therebetween wherein the first and second RF device are associated with a trailer and an entity for monitoring or maneuvering the trailer wherein the entity includes an operator of a vehicle or a vehicle control system, each RF device further comprises;

generating by a processor disposed locally within each RF device a request for a data packet to send between the first and second RF device to enable a measurement of a distance to be determined between each RF device based on a time of flight of a data packet transmitted back and forth between each RF device;

generating a request for location data between each RF device wherein the first RF device sends location data in response thereof and the second RF device receives the location data or vice versa;

computing, using algorithmic solutions, one or more measurements from a transmission time ascertained of a sending and a receiving of the location data between each RF device to determine at least a distance between each of RF device which performs the sending and receiving of the location data, and further using measurements ascertained to determine a relative physical position of a trailer associated with at least one of each RF device; and

generating data with respect to the measurements and the relative physical position of the vehicle to the entity to cause the trailer to maneuver to a desired location or follow a path to the desired location, or to maneuver in a manner to avoid an undesired location.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

configuring the processor to determine the relative physical position of each RF device by estimating the position of more than two of the RF devices corresponding to the trailer, vehicle, and entity.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

marking points by a function of the RF device for the desired location or a series of points for the path to the desired location, or for marking points of the undesired location or a series of points of undesired locations for defining a boundary to avoid, and for enabling the vehicle to navigate or maneuver to the desired location or avoid the undesired location.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

transmitting by at least one or more transceivers data in wireless protocols different from the UWB protocol for connecting with a vehicle, a trailer, or a mobile device.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the first and second RF devices are associated with a trailer and an entity for monitoring loads associated with the trailer and/or vehicle.

20. The method of claim 15, comprising:

instructing, by the data, the entity to operate in an autonomous or semi-autonomous manner to maneuver to the desired location or avoid the undesired location.