Continental Automotive Systems Corporation

Continental Autonomous Mobility Us, LLC

Kyle P Carpenter

Julien Ip

Xin Yu

Matthew Donald Berkemeier

Dhiren Verma

Eduardo Jose Ramirez Llanos

Danny Bynum

Eduardo Llanos

Joseph Zagroba

Ibro Muharemovic

Dominik Froehlich

William Benson Nichols

Dalong Li

Andrew Phillip Bolduc

Steffen Hartmann

Francisco Alejandro Fuentes Perez

Victor Manuel Camacho Ruiz

Lubna Khasawneh

Erick Daniel Rivera Gutierrez

Isemany Angelica Leal Martinez

Uriel Sanchez

Jeremy Tuggle

A camera system for a vehicle provides for the generation of different perspectives with a single camera to improve location accuracy. The camera system includes a camera configured for generating an image of an area proximate the vehicle and a mirror mounted proximate the camera and within a field of view of the camera. The mirror provides a secondary view of the area proximate the vehicle to the camera that is included as part of a single image.

Rear camera triangulation mirror

A trailer assist system includes a controller configured to determine whether a trailer is in a jackknife condition based on an angle of the trailer relative to a vehicle. Determination is made whether the jackknife condition can be corrected by utilizing vehicle brakes, trailer brakes, or vehicle steering.

Trailer assist system with jackknife escape

A method for autonomously parking a vehicle-trailer system is provided. The method includes receiving sensor system data from a sensor system supported by the vehicle. The sensor system data includes images of surroundings along a driving path of the vehicle-trailer system. The method includes determining a local map based on the sensor system data. The local map includes surroundings along the driving path. The method includes receiving a user selection of an image location within the images. The image location representing a position in the local map associated with a selected location within the surroundings. The method includes determining a parking path from a current location of the vehicle-trailer system to the position based on the local map and instructing a drive system to execute an autonomous parking behavior causing the vehicle-trailer system to autonomously drive along the parking path and autonomously park in the selected location.

Autonomous truck-trailer maneuvering and parking

An automated parking system for a vehicle includes a camera configured to obtain images of objects proximate the vehicle, and a controller configured to review the obtained images of objects proximate the vehicle to classify an environment proximate the vehicle, determine a type of parking lot associated with the classified location and initiate an automated parking function of the vehicle corresponding to the determined type of parking lot.

Parking spot detection reinforced by scene classification

A method determining an angle of a trailer relative to a vehicle. The method includes generating a projection on a trailer with a projector. An image is obtained of the projection on the trailer with a camera. An angle of the trailer relative to a vehicle is determined by comparing the image of the projection with a known pattern of the projection.

Method and device for detecting a trailer angle

A method for autonomously maneuvering a vehicle in a rearward direction towards a point of interest is provided. The method includes receiving one or more images from a camera positioned on a back portion of the vehicle. The method includes overlaying a path on the one or more images. In addition, the method includes receiving a command by way of a user interface. The command includes instructions to adjust the path. The method includes adjusting the path based on the received command. The method also includes transmitting a drive command to a drive system supported by the vehicle. The drive command causes the vehicle to autonomously maneuver along the adjusted path in a rearward direction.

User-adjustable trajectories for automated vehicle reversing

A method includes receiving one or more images from a camera positioned on a back portion of the vehicle and receiving a driver planned path from a user interface. The driver planned path includes a plurality of waypoints. The method also includes transmitting one or more commands to a drive system causing the vehicle to autonomously maneuver along the driver planned path. The method also includes determining a current vehicle position and an estimated subsequent vehicle position. The method also includes determining a path adjustment from the current vehicle position to the estimated subsequent vehicle position. The method also includes transmitting instructions to the drive system causing the vehicle to autonomously maneuver towards the estimated subsequent vehicle position based on the path adjustment.

Automated reversing by following user-selected trajectories and estimating vehicle motion

A method for autonomously maneuvering a tow vehicle towards a trailer positioned behind the tow vehicle is provided. The method includes receiving one or more images from one or more cameras positioned on a back portion of the tow vehicle. The method also includes identifying a trailer representation within the one or more images. The trailer representation being indicative of the trailer positioned behind the tow vehicle. The method also includes setting a vertical center of the trailer representation as a target. The method also includes determining a first steering wheel angle to turn the tow vehicle such that the vehicle autonomously maneuvers in a direction towards the target. The method also includes transmitting instructions to a drive system causing the tow vehicle to maneuver based on the first steering wheel angle.

Trailer detection and autonomous hitching

A method for adjusting a power mirror supported by a tow vehicle attached to a trailer based on a position of the trailer allowing a driver of the tow vehicle to view an edge of the trailer is provided. The method includes receiving sensor system data from a sensor system positioned on a rear portion of the tow vehicle and receiving a current mirror angle associated with the power mirror. The method includes determining an adjusted mirror angle based on the current mirror angle and the received sensor system data. The method also includes transmitting instructions to the power mirror. The instructions causing the power mirror to adjust the current mirror angle to the adjusted mirror angle resulting in the power mirror maintaining a trailer edge within a field of view of the driver when looking at the power mirror.

Trailer edge tracking

A method for autonomously maneuvering a tow vehicle. The method includes receiving images from one or more cameras positioned on a back portion of the tow vehicle and receiving sensor data from an inertial measurement unit supported by the tow vehicle. The method also includes determining a pixel-wise intensity difference between a current received image and a previous received image. The method includes determining a camera pose and a trailer pose with respect to a world coordinate system. The camera pose and the trailer pose are based on the images, the sensor data, and the pixel-wise intensity difference. The method includes determining a tow vehicle path based on the camera pose and the trailer pose. The method also includes instructing a drive system supported by the tow vehicle to autonomously maneuver along the tow vehicle path in a reverse direction causing the tow vehicle to hitch with the trailer.

A method of autonomously maneuvering a tow vehicle towards a trailer positioned behind the tow vehicle is provided. The method includes receiving one or more images from a camera positioned on a back portion of the tow vehicle. The method also includes receiving, at the data processing hardware, a first user selection of a trailer representation within the one or more images. The method includes sending first instructions to a drive system causing the tow vehicle to autonomously maneuver towards the trailer associated with the first user selection of the trailer representation. The method also includes receiving a second user selection of a coupler representation within the one or more images. The coupler representation associated with a trailer coupler of the trailer. The method also includes sending second instructions to the drive system causing the tow vehicle to autonomously maneuver towards the trailer coupler associated with the second user selection.

Automated reversing by choice of target location

A method of maneuvering a vehicle in reverse for attachment to a trailer, includes receiving a trailer hitch receiver image location shown within one or more images from at least one vehicle camera. The method also includes determining, a pixel angular difference in the image between a tow vehicle fore-aft axis and a trailer fore-aft axis, determining a pixel distance between a tow vehicle hitch ball and a hitch receiver, and determining a vehicle path from an initial position to a final position adjacent the trailer. The vehicle path includes maneuvers configured to move the vehicle along the vehicle path from the initial position to the final position. Then autonomously following, at a drive system in communication with the computing device, the vehicle path from the initial position to the final position.

Automated trailer hitching using image coordinates

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.

Autonomous trailer hitching using neural network

A method of calibrating a driver assistance system comprises entering a calibration mode for a driver assistance system, determining a first estimated position and heading of the vehicle at a first location, capturing an image from a camera and selecting at least one feature in the image. The method of calibrating also includes moving the vehicle to a second location and heading and determining a second estimated position and heading of the vehicle, capturing a second image from a camera and selecting at least one feature in the second image, where the selected feature in the second image the same feature as the selected feature in the first image. The method also includes calculating new vehicle motion parameter values based on the first estimated position and heading, second estimated position and heading, first recorded at least one feature data, and second recorded at least one feature data.

Growing community of inventors

Rochester, MI, United States of America

Kyle P Carpenter