Trailer angle detection using rear backup camera

A method for determining trailer angle, said method comprising:

• providing a data recording device;
• wherein the data recording device has a camera disposed thereat;
• wherein the camera has a field of view that encompasses a hitch ball of the data recording device;
• wherein the data recording device comprises a processor operable to process image data captured by the camera;
• hitching a trailer hitch at the hitch ball of the data recording device and pivoting the trailer hitch about the hitch ball of the data recording device;
• capturing image data via the camera while the trailer hitch pivots about the hitch ball of the data recording device;
• determining angles of the trailer hitch relative to the data recording device via an angle measuring device while the trailer hitch pivots about the hitch ball of the data recording device;
• wherein the angle measuring device comprises an electromechanical device that is disposed at a hitch joint between the trailer hitch and the hitch ball of the data recording device;
• while the trailer hitch pivots about the hitch ball of the data recording device, determining trailer hitch information responsive to processing by the processor of image data captured by the camera and responsive to determined angles of the trailer hitch relative to the data recording device as determined by the angle measuring device;
• after determining trailer hitch information, providing data representative of the determined trailer hitch information to an electronic device;
• equipping a vehicle with the electronic device, wherein the equipped vehicle has a hitch ball at a rear portion of the equipped vehicle, and wherein the equipped vehicle is equipped with a rear backup camera;
• hitching a hitch of a trailer to the hitch ball at the rear portion of the equipped vehicle;
• wherein the rear backup camera has a field of view that encompasses the hitch ball at the rear portion of the equipped vehicle and at least a portion of the hitch of the trailer hitched to the hitch ball at the rear portion of the equipped vehicle;
• capturing image data via the rear backup camera and processing, via a processor at the equipped vehicle, image data captured by the rear backup camera as the equipped vehicle and trailer move along a road;
• and
• using the data representative of the determined trailer hitch information that was provided to the electronic device, and responsive to processing by the processor of image data captured by the rear backup camera, determining an angle of the trailer relative to the equipped vehicle as the equipped vehicle and trailer move along the road.

A method for determining trailer angle, said method comprising:

• providing a data recording device;
• wherein the data recording device has a camera disposed thereat;
• wherein the camera has a field of view that encompasses a hitch ball of the data recording device;
• wherein the data recording device comprises a processor operable to process image data captured by the camera;
• hitching a trailer hitch at the hitch ball of the data recording device and pivoting the trailer hitch about the hitch ball of the data recording device;
• capturing image data via the camera while the trailer hitch pivots about the hitch ball of the data recording device;
• determining angles of the trailer hitch relative to the data recording device via an angle measuring device while the trailer hitch pivots about the hitch ball of the data recording device;
• wherein the angle measuring device comprises an electromechanical device that is disposed at a hitch joint between the trailer hitch and the hitch ball of the data recording device;
• while the trailer hitch pivots about the hitch ball of the data recording device, determining trailer hitch information responsive to processing by the processor of image data captured by the camera and responsive to determined angles of the trailer hitch relative to the data recording device as determined by the angle measuring device;
• wherein determining trailer hitch information comprises synchronizing determined angles of the trailer hitch relative to the data recording device with the image data captured by the camera;
• after determining trailer hitch information, providing data representative of the determined trailer hitch information to an electronic device;
• equipping a vehicle with the electronic device, wherein the equipped vehicle has a hitch ball at a rear portion of the equipped vehicle, and wherein the equipped vehicle is equipped with a rear backup camera;
• hitching a hitch of a trailer to the hitch ball at the rear portion of the equipped vehicle;
• wherein the rear backup camera has a field of view that encompasses the hitch ball at the rear portion of the equipped vehicle and at least a portion of the hitch of the trailer hitched to the hitch ball at the rear portion of the equipped vehicle;
• capturing image data via the rear backup camera and processing, via a processor at the equipped vehicle, image data captured by the rear backup camera as the equipped vehicle and trailer move along a road;
• using the data representative of the determined trailer hitch information that was provided to the electronic device, and responsive to processing by the processor of image data captured by the rear backup camera, determining an angle of the trailer relative to the equipped vehicle as the equipped vehicle and trailer move along the road;
• wherein determining the angle of the trailer relative to the equipped vehicle comprises use of a neural network;
• and
• wherein video images derived from image data captured by the rear backup camera are displayed at a display screen of the equipped vehicle for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle during a reversing maneuver of the equipped vehicle.

A method for determining trailer angle, said method comprising:

• providing a data recording device;
• wherein the data recording device has a camera disposed thereat;
• wherein the camera has a field of view that encompasses a hitch ball of the data recording device;
• wherein the data recording device comprises a processor operable to process image data captured by the camera;
• hitching a trailer hitch at the hitch ball of the data recording device and pivoting the trailer hitch about the hitch ball of the data recording device;
• capturing image data via the camera while the trailer hitch pivots about the hitch ball of the data recording device;
• determining angles of the trailer hitch relative to the data recording device via an angle measuring device while the trailer hitch pivots about the hitch ball of the data recording device;
• wherein the angle measuring device comprises an electromechanical device that is disposed at a hitch joint between the trailer hitch and the hitch ball of the data recording device;
• while the trailer hitch pivots about the hitch ball of the data recording device, determining trailer hitch information responsive to processing by the processor of image data captured by the camera and responsive to determined angles of the trailer hitch relative to the data recording device as determined by the angle measuring device;
• after determining trailer hitch information, providing data representative of the determined trailer hitch information to an electronic device;
• equipping a vehicle with the electronic device, wherein the equipped vehicle has a hitch ball at a rear portion of the equipped vehicle, and wherein the equipped vehicle is equipped with a rear backup camera;
• hitching a hitch of a trailer to the hitch ball at the rear portion of the equipped vehicle, wherein the trailer hitched to the hitch ball at the rear portion of the equipped vehicle comprises a targetless trailer;
• wherein the rear backup camera has a field of view that encompasses the hitch ball at the rear portion of the equipped vehicle and at least a portion of the hitch of the trailer hitched to the hitch ball at the rear portion of the equipped vehicle;
• capturing image data via the rear backup camera and processing, via a processor at the equipped vehicle, image data captured by the rear backup camera as the equipped vehicle and trailer move along a road;
• using the data provided to the electronic device, and responsive to processing by the processor of image data captured by the rear backup camera, determining an angle of the trailer relative to the equipped vehicle as the equipped vehicle and trailer move along the road;
• and
• wherein the rear backup camera comprises part of a multi-camera vision system of the equipped vehicle, and wherein image data captured by the rear backup camera and other exterior viewing cameras of the multi-camera vision system are processed for display of video images surrounding the equipped vehicle during a parking maneuver of the equipped vehicle.