IP Library Granted Patent US 10,884,425
Granted Patent B2
US 10,884,425 · App. 16/141,608 · Granted Jan 5, 2021

Autonomous trailer hitching using neural network

Inventors: Dalong Li (Rochester Hills, MI); Kyle P Carpenter (Rochester, MI); Dominik Froehlich (Royal Oak, MI); Ibro Muharemovic (Warren, MI); Julien Ip (Madison Heights, MI); Lubna Khasawneh (Rochester Hills, MI); Uriel Sanchez (Tlajomulco de Zuniga, MX); Steffen Hartmann (Royal Oak, MI)
Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
G05D1/0231B60D1/06B60D1/36B60D1/62B60G17/015G01C21/3623G05D1/0016G05D1/0038G05D1/0225G06K9/00355G06K9/00805B60G2300/044B60G2500/30G05D2201/0213
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,884,425
App. No.
16/141,608
Granted
Jan 5, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

One aspect of the disclosure provides a method of maneuvering a vehicle in reverse for attachment to a trailer. The method includes: determining, at a computing device in communication with the neural network, a selected trailer in proximity to the vehicle; detecting at least one user input gesture performed by a user and captured in at least one image from at least one camera on the vehicle; selected a maneuver command for the vehicle based on the detected gesture; and executing the maneuver to move the vehicle from the initial position toward a final position adjacent the trailer.

Claims (34)

1. A method of maneuvering a vehicle in reverse for attachment to a trailer, the method comprising:

receiving an indication of an autonomous hitch mode is started;

detecting at least one first gesture performed by a user and captured in at least one image from at least one camera on the vehicle;

determining a first command associated with the at least one first gesture using a gesture recognition system;

planning a path based on the first command with a path planning system and maneuvers to follow the path;

executing the maneuvers to move the vehicle along the path from an initial position toward an intermediate position being an intermediate distance along the path from a final position;

at the intermediate position, receiving a second gesture performed by the user, the second gesture including a suspension adjustment gesture;

determining a second command associated with the suspension adjustment gesture using the gesture recognition system;

executing a suspension adjustment behavior causing a suspension system of the vehicle to adjust;

receiving a third gesture performed by the user;

determining a third command associated with the third gesture using the gesture recognition system; and

executing the maneuvers to move the vehicle along the path from the intermediate position to the final position adjacent the trailer.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate position is closer to the final position than the initial position.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, at the final position, connecting a vehicle hitch with a trailer hitch.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the maneuvers include steering, braking, and speeding.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gesture recognition system is located in a neural network device to learn a plurality of gestures and associate each of the learned plurality of gestures with a command for the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and third gestures include at least one of: a stop gesture, a pause gesture, a move in reverse gesture, a lower suspension gesture, a raise suspension gesture, a move forward gesture, a move to the right gesture, a move to the left gesture, repeat path planning gesture, or final alignment path following gesture.

7. A method of maneuvering a vehicle in reverse for attachment to a trailer, the method comprising:

capturing, from at least one camera supported by a rear portion of the vehicle, images of a user;

detecting a first gesture performed by the user;

determining, using a gesture recognition system, a first command associated with the first gesture and causing the vehicle to perform an action;

executing vehicle maneuvers causing the vehicle to move along a path from an initial position towards an intermediate position being at an intermediate distance along the path from a final position, the vehicle maneuvers based on the first command;

at the intermediate position, receiving a second gesture performed by the user, the second gesture including a suspension adjustment gesture;

determining, using a gesture recognition system, a second command associated with the suspension adjustment gesture; and

executing a suspension adjustment behavior causing a suspension system of the vehicle to adjust.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

receiving a third gesture performed by the user;

determining, using a gesture recognition system, a third command associated with the third gesture; and

executing vehicle maneuvers to move the vehicle along the path from the intermediate position to the final position adjacent the trailer.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising, at the final position, connecting a vehicle hitch with a trailer hitch.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the intermediate position is closer to the final position than the initial position.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the maneuvers include steering, braking, and speeding.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the gesture recognition system is located in a neural network device to learn a plurality of gestures and associate each of the learned plurality of gestures with a command for the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first gesture include at least one of: a stop gesture, a pause gesture, a move in reverse gesture, a lower suspension gesture, a raise suspension gesture, a move forward gesture, a move to the right gesture, a move to the left gesture, repeat path planning gesture, or final alignment path following gesture.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 6, 2022
From: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
To: CONTINENTAL AUTONOMOUS MOBILITY US, LLC.
Reel/Frame 061100/0217 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62562734 · Sep 25, 2017
Related Publication 20190094872A1 · Mar 28, 2019