Autonomous boat launching

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9821808-B1
Application number	US-201615225885-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Aug 2, 2016
Priority date	Aug 2, 2016
Publication date	Nov 21, 2017
Grant date	Nov 21, 2017

Abstract

A computing device for a vehicle includes a processor and a memory. The processor is programmed to determine that a vehicle destination includes a boat launch and that the vehicle is towing a trailer including a boat. The computing device guides the vehicle at the boat launch to position the trailer to launch the boat.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A computing device for a vehicle including a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor such that the processor is programmed to:
determine that a vehicle destination includes a boat launch and that the vehicle is towing a trailer including a boat; and
guide the vehicle at the boat launch, to position the trailer to launch the boat.

2. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to:
receive, via a human-machine interface, a selection of a first launch location within the boat launch.

3. The computing device of claim 2 , wherein the processor is further programmed to:
identify a parking area proximate to the boat launch and
park the vehicle in the parking area.

4. The computing device of claim 2 , wherein the processor is further programmed to:
receive a first instruction to back the trailer into the first launch location, and
back the trailer into the first launch location.

5. The computing device of claim 4 , wherein the processor is further programmed to:
determine, based on sensed data, that a water depth for a section of the trailer is greater than a predetermined threshold at a first position of the trailer relative to the first launch location; and
halt the trailer at the first position relative to the first launch location.

6. The computing device of claim 5 , wherein the processor is further programmed to:
receive an instruction for the vehicle to park; and
park the vehicle in the parking area.

7. The computing device of claim 6 , wherein the processor is further programmed to:
receive an instruction to back the trailer into a second launch location; and
back the boat trailer into the second launch location.

8. The computing device of claim 7 , wherein the instruction to back the trailer into the second launch location is received from a second computing device.

9. The computing device of claim 8 , wherein, the processor is programmed to:
receive, prior to receiving the instruction to back the boat trailer into the second launch location, a request to transmit a graphical user interface to the second computing device; and
transmit, to the second computing device, the graphical user interface.

10. A computing device for a vehicle including a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor such that the processor is programmed to:
receive a first instruction to back a trailer into a first launch location;
back the trailer into the first launch location;
determine, based on sensed data, that a water depth is greater than a predetermined threshold; and
halt the trailer based on the determination.

11. The computing device of claim 10 , further programmed to:
receive a second instruction for the vehicle to park; and
park the vehicle in a parking area.

12. The computing device of claim 11 , further programmed to:
receive a third instruction to back the trailer into a second launch location; and
back the boat trailer into the second launch location.

13. The computing device of claim 12 , further programmed to:
receive, prior to receiving the third instruction to back the boat trailer into the second launch location, a request to transmit a graphical user interface to a second computing device; and
transmit the graphical user interface to the second computing device.

14. The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further programmed to:
receive, prior to receiving the first instruction to back the trailer into the first launch location, a destination for the vehicle;
determine that the vehicle destination includes the a boat launch including the first launch location and that the vehicle is towing a trailer including a boat; and
guide the vehicle at the boat launch, to position the trailer to launch the boat.

15. The computing device of claim 14 , wherein the processor is further programmed to:
receive, via a human-machine interface, a selection of the first launch location within the boat launch.

16. A method, comprising:
determining, by a computer in a vehicle, that a vehicle destination includes a boat launch and that the vehicle is towing a trailer including a boat; and
guiding the vehicle at the boat launch, to position the trailer to launch the boat.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
receiving, via a human-machine interface, a selection of a first launch location within the boat launch.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
identifying a parking area proximate to the boat launch and
parking the vehicle in the parking area.

19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
receiving a first instruction to back the trailer into the first launch location, and
backing the trailer into the first launch location.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
determining, based on sensed data, that a water depth for a section of the trailer is greater than a predetermined threshold at a first position of the trailer relative to the first launch location; and
halting the trailer at the first position relative to the first launch location.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Abbas Samer
• Joyce John P

Classifications

• B60W2050/146

  Display means · CPC title

• B60W50/14

  Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention · CPC title

• B60W10/18

  including control of braking systems · CPC title

• B60W30/06

  Automatic manoeuvring for parking · CPC title

• B60P3/10 Primary

  for carrying boats {(for carrying sailboards B60R9/08, B63B32/80; equipment forming part of or attachable to vessels facilitating transport over land, e.g. wheel units, towing units, B63C13/00)} · CPC title