Vehicle attachment point positioning in relation to a vehicle environment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10317909-B2
Application number	US-201615381639-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 16, 2016
Priority date	Dec 16, 2016
Publication date	Jun 11, 2019
Grant date	Jun 11, 2019

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

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 objec

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Hurst Kameron R
• Hall Jonathan C
• Grant Cassandra R
• Reed Frankie B

Classifications

• B60W2555/00

  Input parameters relating to exterior conditions, not covered by groups B60W2552/00, B60W2554/00 · CPC title

• G01L5/101

  using sensors inserted into the flexible member · CPC title

• B60P3/38

  Sleeping arrangements {, e.g. living or sleeping accommodation on the roof of the vehicle} · CPC title

• G01S17/08 Primary

  for measuring distance only (indirect measurement G01S17/46; active triangulation systems G01S17/48) · CPC title

• G01S17/88

  Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications · CPC title