Trailer load distribution sensing systems and methods
AssigneeTORC Robotics, Inc.
InventorsWilliam Gray Davis, Hamzah Imtiaz Khan, Joseph R. Fox-Rabinovitz
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Abstract
A system for monitoring a load distribution of an autonomous vehicle is provided. The system includes a processor in communication with a memory device. The processor is configured to receive weight data from a grid of weight sensors disposed on a cargo bed surface of the autonomous vehicle, generate a weight distribution map of the cargo bed surface based on the received weight data, the weight distribution map including an array of weight values, and control operation of the autonomous vehicle based in part on the generated weight distribution map.
Claims15
A system for monitoring a load distribution of an autonomous vehicle, the system comprising a processor in communication with a memory device, the processor configured to:
- receive weight data from a grid of weight sensors disposed on a cargo bed surface of the autonomous vehicle, wherein the grid of weight sensors includes:
- a plurality of capacitance sensors;
- a plurality of first wires;
- a plurality of second wires, each of the plurality of second wires overlapping over one or more wires of the plurality of first wires at a respective overlapping area;
- and
- a dielectric material disposed in a vertical gap at each respective overlapping area forming a capacitance sensor of the plurality of capacitance sensors, the capacitance sensor including a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode corresponding with a wire of the plurality of first wires and the second electrode corresponding with a wire of the plurality of second wires;
- generate a weight distribution map of the cargo bed surface based on the received weight data, the weight distribution map including an array of weight values;
- and
- control operation of the autonomous vehicle based in part on the generated weight distribution map.
A method for monitoring a load distribution of an autonomous vehicle, method comprising:
- receiving weight data from a grid of weight sensors disposed on a cargo bed surface of the autonomous vehicle, wherein the grid of weight sensors includes:
- a plurality of capacitance sensors;
- a plurality of first wires;
- a plurality of second wires, each of the plurality of second wires overlapping over one or more wires of the plurality of first wires at a respective overlapping area;
- and
- a dielectric material disposed in a vertical gap at each respective overlapping area forming a capacitance sensor of the plurality of capacitance sensors, the capacitance sensor including a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode corresponding with a wire of the plurality of first wires and the second electrode corresponding with a wire of the plurality of second wires;
- generating a weight distribution map of the cargo bed surface based on the received weight data, the weight distribution map including an array of weight values;
- and
- controlling operation of the autonomous vehicle based in part on the generated weight distribution map.
A sensor system for monitoring a load distribution of an autonomous vehicle, the sensor system comprising:
- a grid of weight sensors disposed on a cargo bed surface of the autonomous vehicle, the grid of weight sensors comprising:
- a plurality of capacitance sensors;
- a plurality of first wires;
- a plurality of second wires, each of the plurality of second wires overlapping over one or more wires of the plurality of first wires at a respective overlapping area;
- and
- a dielectric material disposed in a vertical gap at each respective overlapping area forming a capacitance sensor of the plurality of capacitance sensors, the capacitance sensor including a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode corresponding with a wire of the plurality of first wires and the second electrode corresponding with a wire of the plurality of second wires;
- a memory device;
- and
- a processor in communication with the grid of weight sensors and the memory device, the processor configured to:
- receive weight data from the grid of weight sensors;
- generate a weight distribution map of the cargo bed surface based on the received weight data, the weight distribution map including an array of weight values;
- and
- control operation of the autonomous vehicle based in part on the generated weight distribution map.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.