Panable camera with trailer length and object detection for mirrorless vehicles

A method comprising:

• performing in a vehicle comprising a tractor, a trailer towed by the tractor, and an image capture device:
• causing the image capture device on the tractor to pan until a leading edge of the trailer is detected;
• causing the image capture device to capture an image of the leading edge of the trailer;
• causing the image capture device to further pan until a trailing edge of the trailer is detected;
• causing the image capture device to capture an image of the trailing edge of the trailer;
• and
• estimating a length of the trailer based on viewing positions of the image capture device when the images of the leading and trailing edges of the trailer were captured by the image capture device.

A tractor comprising:

• at least one image capture device;
• and
• means for:
• causing the at least one image capture device on the tractor to pan until a leading edge of a trailer towed by the tractor is detected;
• causing the at least one image capture device to capture an image of the leading edge of the trailer;
• causing the at least one image capture device to further pan until a trailing edge of the trailer is detected;
• causing the at least one image capture device to capture an image of the trailing edge of the trailer;
• and
• estimating a length of the trailer based on viewing positions of the image capture device when the images of the leading and trailing edges of the trailer were captured by the at least one image capture device.