Vehicle attachment point positioning in relation to a vehicle environment

• US 10,317,909 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2016
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Hurst, Kameron R., Hall, Jonathan C., Grant, Cassandra R., Reed, Frankie B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Bao Long T
• Application Number:
  US15/381,639
• Publication Number:
  US 20180173241A1
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/38 Sleeping arrangements , e.g. living or sleeping accommodation on the roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0075 Automatic parameter input, automatic initialising or calibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/00 Input parameters relating to exterior conditions, not covered by groups B60W2552/00, B60W2554/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/45 External transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/00 Purposes of road vehicle drive control systems not related to the control of a particular sub-unit, e.g. of systems using conjoint control of vehicle sub-units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/02 related to ambient conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/04 for measuring tension in flexible members, e.g. ropes, cables, wires, threads, belts or bands G01L5/0004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/101 using sensors inserted into the flexible member
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/08 for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S17/46; active triangulation systems G01S17/48
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/88 Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications

Abstract

Provided is a method and device for positioning a vehicle attachment point in a vehicle environment. On retrieving a plurality of object parameters relating to an object, a determination is made for a vehicle distance value relative to the vehicle attachment point in order to accommodate an object distance parameter that was retrieved from the plurality of object parameters. A vehicle environment assessment is then made relating to accommodating the physical characteristics of the object and the vehicle associated with the vehicle attachment point. Based on the assessment, vehicle attachment point positional data may be generated for positioning the vehicle attachment point relative to a vehicle environment based on at least the object distance parameter and the vehicle distance value.

Claims

1. A method for positioning a vehicle attachment point comprising:

retrieving a plurality of object parameters relating to an object that includes at least one tether for removably coupling the object to the vehicle attachment point;

determining a vehicle distance value relative to the vehicle attachment point to accommodate an object distance parameter of the plurality of object parameters;

assessing a vehicle environment, via a vehicle-based sensor device, for the vehicle distance value and based on a plurality of vehicle parameters; and

producing vehicle attachment point positional data for positioning the vehicle attachment point relative to the vehicle environment based on at least the object distance parameter and the vehicle distance value.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sampling force sensor device data to determine whether the at least one tether of the object is coupled to the vehicle attachment point, wherein the force sensor device data corresponds to a force vector applied to the vehicle attachment point;

when the at least one tether of the object is coupled to the vehicle attachment point, determining whether the force sensor device data exceeds a predetermined threshold value; and

when the force sensor device data exceeds a predetermined threshold value, announcing that the force sensor device data exceeds the predetermined threshold value.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the predetermined threshold value is based on a tensile strength parameter of the plurality of object parameters.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

when the at least one tether of the object is coupled to the vehicle attachment point, adjusting a tension force value to the object through the vehicle attachment point.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the adjusting the tension force value to the object comprises:

receiving a remote control signal including a tension force control value; and

adjusting the tension force value to the object based on the tension force control value and a feedback of force sensor device data at the vehicle attachment point.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the force sensor device data comprises at least one of:

a very taut value;

a somewhat taut value; and

a slack value.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of object parameters relating to the object comprises:

a textile parameter;

a length parameter;

a width parameter;

a tensile strength parameter;

a footprint parameter;

a use-counter parameter; and

a manufacturer parameter.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of vehicle parameters comprises:

a vehicle width parameter;

a vehicle length parameter;

a vehicle height parameter;

a vehicle attachment point elevation parameter; and

a vehicle attachment point distance parameter.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the object comprises at least one of:

a hammock;

a slack line;

a dog-run tether;

a clothes line; and

a tent.

10. A method for positioning a vehicle attachment point comprising:

retrieving a plurality of object parameter data relating to an object that includes at least one tether for removably coupling the object to the vehicle attachment point;

sensing suitability of an area based on the plurality of object parameter data and a plurality of vehicle parameter data, wherein when the area is suitable;

determining a vehicle distance value relative to the vehicle attachment point to accommodate object distance parameter data of the plurality of object parameter data; and

autonomously positioning the vehicle attachment point relative to a vehicle environment based on at least the object distance parameter data of the plurality of object parameter data and the plurality of vehicle parameter data.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

sensing whether the at least one tether of the object is removably coupled to the vehicle attachment point;

when the at least one tether of the object is removably coupled to the vehicle attachment point, sensing a force vector at the vehicle attachment point and producing force vector data; and

when the force vector data exceeds a predetermined threshold value, announcing that the force vector data exceeds the predetermined threshold value.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the predetermined threshold value is based on a tensile strength parameter of the plurality of object parameter data.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of object parameter data comprises:

a textile parameter;

a length parameter;

a width parameter;

a tensile strength parameter;

a footprint parameter;

a use-counter parameter; and

a manufacturer parameter.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of vehicle parameter data comprises:

a vehicle width parameter;

a vehicle length parameter;

a vehicle height parameter;

a vehicle attachment point elevation parameter; and

a vehicle attachment point distance parameter.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the object comprises at least one of:

a hammock;

a slack line;

a dog-run tether;

a clothes line; and

a tent.

16. A vehicle control unit for generating vehicle attachment point positional data for positioning a vehicle attachment point, the vehicle control unit comprising:

a wireless communication interface to service communication with at least a vehicle network and a handheld mobile device of a vehicle user;

a processor coupled to the wireless communication interface, the processor for controlling operations of the vehicle control unit; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory for storing data and program instructions used by the processor, the processor configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to;

retrieve a plurality of object parameters relating to an object that includes at least one tether for removably coupling the object to the vehicle attachment point;

determine a vehicle distance value relative to the vehicle attachment point to accommodate an object distance parameter of the plurality of object parameters;

assess a vehicle environment, via a vehicle-based sensor device, for the vehicle distance value and based on a plurality of vehicle parameters; and

generate vehicle attachment point positional data to position the vehicle attachment point relative to the vehicle environment based on at least the object distance parameter and the vehicle distance value; and

transmit the vehicle attachment point positional data.

17. The vehicle control unit of claim 16, the processor being further configured to execute further instructions stored in the memory to:

sense whether the at least one tether of the object is removably coupled to the vehicle attachment point;

when the at least one tether of the object is coupled to the vehicle attachment point, sense a force vector at the vehicle attachment point and produce force sensor device data therefrom; and

when the force sensor device data exceeds a predetermined threshold value, announce that the force sensor device data exceeds the predetermined threshold value.

18. The vehicle control unit of claim 17, wherein the predetermined threshold value is based on a tensile strength parameter of the plurality of object parameters.

19. The vehicle control unit of claim 16, the processor being further configured to execute further instructions stored in the memory to:

when the at least one tether of the object is coupled to the vehicle attachment point, adjust a tension force value to the object through the vehicle attachment point.

20. The vehicle control unit of claim 19, the processor being further configured to execute further instructions stored in the memory to adjust the tension force value to the object by:

receiving a remote control signal including a tension force control value; and

adjusting the tension force value to the object based on the tension force control value and a feedback of force sensor device data at the vehicle attachment point.