Determination of vehicle clearance and optimized orientation of objects placed on roof
AssigneesToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsBenjamin Piya Austin, John K. Lenneman, Joshua E. Domeyer, Philip J. Babian, George M. Evans
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method in communication with a sensor that can attach to objects placed on the roof of a vehicle acquires dimensional data to determine the position/orientation of the objects on the roof and determine the clearance of the vehicle based on the orientation of the object. The system recommends an orientation of the object to be placed in (e.g., based on the acquired dimensions of the object) to optimize aerodynamics and/or to reduce clearance.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- obtaining, using a sensor communicably coupled to a vehicle processing unit, dimensional data of an object on a roof of a vehicle;
- determining, using the dimensional data, a first orientation of the object on the roof;
- determining, using the first orientation of the object, a second orientation for the object;
- wherein the processing unit outputs the second orientation.
A vehicle system, comprising:
- a vehicle processing unit;
- and
- a sensor communicably coupled to the vehicle processing unit,
- wherein the vehicle processing unit is configured to:
- obtain, using the sensor, dimensional data of an object on a roof of a vehicle;
- determine, using the dimensional data, a first orientation of the object on the roof;
- determine, using the first orientation of the object, a second orientation for the object;
- and
- output the second orientation.
A method comprising:
- obtaining, using a sensor communicably coupled to a vehicle processing unit, dimensional data of an object on a roof of a vehicle;
- and
- determining, using the dimensional data, an orientation for the object to optimize aerodynamics of the vehicle or reduce clearance of the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.