SMART TRAILER SYSTEM
A smart trailer system coupled to a trailer of a vehicle includes a sensor configured to measure a parameter of the trailer, a sensor interface board electrically coupled to the sensor and configured to retrieve the measured parameter, and a master controller communicatively coupled to the sensor interface board via a data bus.
1 . A smart trailer system coupled to a trailer of a vehicle, the smart trailer system comprising:
a wireless sensor module electrically coupled to a light of the trailer, and configured to monitoring a condition of the light and to generate sensed data; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the wireless sensor module,
wherein the wireless sensor module is further configured to wirelessly transmit status information indicative of the condition of to the master controller 104 .
2 . The smart trailer system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless sensor module is configured to be serially connected to be in a current path of the light,
wherein each of an input connector and an output connector of the wireless sensor module has two ports configured to electrically conduct a power signal and a ground signal, and
wherein the wireless sensor module is electrically powered from the power and ground signals.
3 . The smart trailer system of claim 1 ,
wherein the wireless sensor module further comprises:
a temperature sensor configured to monitor a temperature of the light,
wherein the wireless sensor module further comprises:
a wireless block configured to communicate the sensed data to the controller, and
wherein the wireless sensor module comprises:
a voltage monitor configured to monitor a voltage at an input of the light; and
a current monitor configured to monitor a current draw of the light.
4 . The smart trailer system of claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to:
identify an expected state of the light as either on or off; and
detect failure of the light based on the identification of the expected state of the light as being on, the monitored voltage at the input of the light being above a first threshold, and the monitored current being below a second threshold.
5 . The smart trailer system of claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to:
detect failure of the light in response to the monitored current being above a third threshold; and
turn off the light by removing electrical power from a power line coupled to the light.
6 . The smart trailer system of claim 5 , wherein, in response to detecting failure of the light, the controller is configured to communicate the detected failure to one or more of a user device, a remote server, and a security center,
wherein, in response to detecting failure of the light, the controller is configured to notify a driver of a vehicle comprising the trailer that the light has failed and direct the driver, via a console or a mobile device, to a closest distributor for replacement of the light.
7 . The smart trailer system of claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of wireless sensor modules comprising the wireless sensor module,
wherein the plurality of wireless sensor modules are configured to operate mesh nodes to extend a range of communication of each of the plurality of wireless sensor modules,
wherein each of the plurality of wireless sensor modules is configured to relay information to one or more other mesh nodes that are within range until information reaches the controller, and
wherein the plurality of wireless sensor modules are configured to employ bluetooth protocol to transmit information to, and receive commands from, the controller.