Commercial Vehicle Back-Up Trainer and Method

A commercial vehicle backup trainer and method for enabling drivers to practice backing up and to provide the drivers with real-time feedback during backup training.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter relates to a commercial vehicle backup trainer and method of use by drivers to practice backing up with real time feedback.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Backup exercises are an integral part commercial driver training, but there are no assistive devices that are currently used to provide real-time driver feedback during training. There is no commercially-available product designed to give real time feedback during commercial vehicle backing exercises.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one construction, the disclosure provides a commercial vehicle backup trainer comprising a distance sensor for measuring the distance between the rear of a commercial vehicle and a fixed training target while a driver is practicing backing up the commercial vehicle and a visual indicator viewable by the driver of the commercial vehicle that changes color as the distance between the commercial vehicle and the training target changes as the driver is practicing backing up towards the training target.

In another construction, the disclosure provides a commercial vehicle backup trainer comprising a distance sensor, color changeable lights, a display screen a processor in communication with the distance sensor, the color changeable lights and the display screen and a support structure for supporting the distance sensor, the color changeable lights, the display screen and the processor, wherein the distance sensor continually measures the distance between the rear of a commercial vehicle that is being backed up toward the support structure and continually communicates that distance to the processor, wherein the processor continually communicates the distance to the display screen for viewing by the commercial vehicle's driver, and wherein the processor changes the color changeable lights for viewing by the commercial vehicle's driver as the distance of the commercial vehicle to the support structure decreases as the commercial vehicle is being backed up toward the support structure.

In another construction, the disclosure provides a method for a driver to practice backing up a commercial vehicle toward a fixed training target while being provided real time feedback in a first mode, the method comprising the steps of providing a fixed training target for a driver of a commercial vehicle to practice backing up toward, continuously measuring the distance between the rear of the commercial vehicle and the fixed training target while the driver is practicing backing up the commercial vehicle and providing real-time visual feedback to the driver as the distance between the rear of the commercial vehicle and the fixed training target changes using color changeable lights.

In another constructions, the disclosure provides a method for a driver to practice backing up a commercial vehicle toward a fixed training target while being provided real time feedback comprising the steps of providing a fixed training target for a driver of a commercial vehicle to practice backing up toward, continuously measuring the distance between the rear of the commercial vehicle and the fixed training target while the driver is practicing backing up the commercial vehicle, and providing real-time feedback to the driver of the distance between the rear of the commercial vehicle and the fixed training target and of the skew angle of the commercial vehicle relative to the fixed training target.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any constructions of the disclosure are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The disclosure is capable of other constructions and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.

FIGS.1and2illustrate a commercial vehicle backup trainer10according to one embodiment of the invention. The backup trainer10provides a fixed training target for a driver to back up a commercial vehicle12toward to practice back up skills and improve proficiency. Commercial vehicles12can include all types of commercial vehicles such as semi-trailer trucks, box trucks, passenger buses, and heavy machinery. The backup trainer10uses a visual indicator14as real-time feedback to notify the driver of the distance between the back of the commercial vehicle12and the fixed training target. This allows the driver to easily gauge and learn to perceive the space occupied by the commercial vehicle12while backing up. Through the use of the backup trainer10, commercial vehicle drivers will more quickly learn how to back up a precise or predetermined distance to a target location.

The backup trainer10includes a distance sensor16that measures the distance between the rear of the commercial vehicle12and the fixed training target. For example, the distance sensor16can includes a LIDAR type of sensor available from Benewake as model TFmini-i. It should be noted, however, that other types of distance sensors can also be utilized.

The visual indicator14for the driver in this embodiment is used as a real-time status indicator during a driver's backup attempt while practicing. The visual indicator14preferably includes color changeable, individually addressable lights such as strips18of LEDs. Color changeable or changes in color with respect to lights includes different colors, different intensities of the same color or variable lighting such as blinking, strobing or solid. For example, visual indictor14can include individually addressable type LEDs available from Bright LED Electronics Corp as model BB-HJXGABG32K-TRB in a strip configuration18. It should be noted that other types of LEDS, LED configurations and visual indicators can be utilized such as other types of lights, neon lights, LCD displays and the like.

As shown inFIGS.1and2, the backup trainer10in this embodiment includes a structure20that is assembled at a training facility or location and positioned near the rear of the commercial vehicle12. As an example, the structure20may include a crossbeam22, an upright24on each end of the crossbeam22, and two posts26supporting the crossbeam22. It should be noted that other structures can be utilized such as a traffic barricade, sawhorse structure and the like. The structure20acts as the fixed training target for the driver while practicing backing up. The visual indicator14for the driver is preferably located on each upright24so as to be viewable by the driver in the commercial vehicle mirrors.

A controller28is mounted to the crossbeam22, such as in the center of the crossbeam22between the uprights24. As shown inFIG.3, the controller28includes the distance sensor16as well as a display screen30, a processor32, a power supply34and a communications module36, as are known in the art. The controller28is in wired or wireless communication with the distance sensor16, the display screen30and the visual indictor14as is known in the art. The processor32receives the distance inputs from the distance sensor16and communicates with the visual indicator14based upon the distance measured to provide real-time feedback to the driver. The processor32receives the distance inputs from the distance sensor16and communicates with the display screen30to display the current numerical distance.

In operation in a training or first mode and with reference toFIG.4, a driver positions the commercial vehicle12in front of the structure20. The display screen30visually indicates the distance between the rear of the commercial vehicle12and the structure20as a starting point. The visual indicator14is in a first color as a starting point. The driver then starts to back up the commercial vehicle12with the goal of ending up a predetermined distance from the structure20which is acting as the fixed training target. As the commercial vehicle12progresses toward the fixed training target decreasing its distance to the fixed training target, the distance sensor16measures that distances and continually communicates that distance to the processor32. The processor32continually communicates the distance to the display screen30which displays the current distance as real-time feedback for the driver so that, while practicing, the driver can learn to gauge a distance to a target and learn to perceive distances while backing up a commercial vehicle12.

As the commercial vehicle12progresses toward the fixed training target decreasing the distance to the fixed training target, the visual indicator14changes colors. For example, the starting point can be a flashing green light, then as the distance decreases as the commercial vehicle12is closer to the fixed training target, the visual indicator changes to solid green and then progressively changes to solid yellow and then solid red. When the driver reaches a predetermined set distance from the fixed training target, the visual indicator14changes from solid red to flashing red to caution the driver to stop backing up. It should be noted that other colors, combinations of colors, intensity or blinking can be utilized to provide visual feedback to the driver as they near the fixed training target while practicing back up the commercial vehicle12.

While using the backup trainer10, the driver is provided with real-time feedback while in the process of practicing backing up. The real-time feedback can include the numerical distance from the commercial vehicle12to the fixed training target and/or the color changeable lights.

Further, the real-time feedback may include a skew angle of the commercial vehicle12relative to the fixed training target during or after the backup attempt. To determine a skew angle, the backup trainer10measures the angle at which the commercial truck12is backing up in relation to the fixed training target. In an optimal backup attempt, the rear of the commercial vehicle12should be parallel with the fixed training target when the commercial vehicle12comes to a stop. An example of two methods of determining the skew angle are as follows, however, it should be noted that other methods known to those of skill in the art can also be utilized. In a first example, a second distance sensor (not shown) is placed at a known angle to the distance sensor16. The sensor pair determines how far the commercial vehicle angle deviates from the ideal parallel position using the distance measured by the distance sensor16, which measures the distance to the back of the commercial vehicle12and the distance measured by the second sensor, which measures the distance to the back of the commercial vehicle12at the known angle from the distance sensor16. Using the two distances and the known angle, the processor32can then determine the skew angle. In a second method for determining the skew angle, the two distance sensors both measure distance perpendicular to the fixed training target but are spaced a known distance apart from each other. Using this known distance, the distance measured by the distance sensor16and the distance measured by the second sensor, the processor32can determine the skew angle. The skew angle measured either during or after the backup attempt is communicated to the driver using the visual indicator14or using the display screen30.

With reference toFIG.5, the backup trainer10can be used in a second or practice mode. The driver positions the commercial vehicle12in front of the backup trainer10and begins to back up the commercial vehicle12toward the structure20, acting as the fixed training target, without any feedback from the visual indicator14and/or display screen30. Once the backup has been executed and the commercial vehicle12has come to a stop, the visual indicator14and/or display screen30may indicate a score to the driver and/or indicate how close the stopped position is to the predetermined distance. For example, the score can be based upon how close in distance to the fixed training target the driver stopped the commercial vehicle12and/or the final skew angle of the commercial vehicle12relative to the training target. It should be noted that other criteria or combinations of criteria can also be utilized to score the backup effort. The score can be communicated to the driver using the visual indicator14such as by changing the lights, using a specific color for a given score or flashing a specific color sequence. The score can also be communicated to the driver via the display screen30, via an auditory signal or any other methods.

Turning now toFIG.6and a second embodiment of a backup trainer38, there is shown a structure40including a distance sensor42in communication with a visual indicator44such as the strip of LEDs shown. One or more of these structures40can be utilized to provide real-time feedback to a commercial vehicle driver while the driver is practicing backing up. In operation, the distance sensor42measures the distance between the rear of the commercial vehicle12and the structure40and communicates that to the visual indicator44to change color based up the distance measured.

Turning now toFIG.7and a third embodiment of the backup trainer46, a distance sensor48is mounted to the rear of the commercial vehicle12. A display screen50is located in the cab52of the commercial vehicle12for viewing by the driver during the backup training toward a fixed training target (not shown). The display screen50can include a video screen or a screen such as on a mobile phone, laptop, smartwatch and the like, however, other display screens can also be utilized. See for exampleFIGS.8-10showing various displays on a smart watch54acting as the display screen wherein the distance in shown in numeric form (for example14) and also optionally shows the skew angle of the commercial vehicle12as it is backing up or after it has stopped backing up. For example, a left skew angle is shown inFIG.8, no skew angle is shown inFIG.9and a right skew angle is shown inFIG.10. It should also be noted that color changeable visual indicator can be represented on the display screen50as well showing the progress toward the fixed training target.

Turning nowFIG.11and a fourth embodiment of a backup trainer58, a box60includes a distance sensor62and is mounted to the rear of the commercial vehicle12and a box64is a display that is positioned in the cab of the commercial vehicle12for displaying real-time feedback for the driver while practicing backing up. The box64includes one or both of a display66of the numerical distance and color changeable lights68. The boxes60and64wirelessly communicates with each other.

In any of the embodiments of the backup trainer described above, sound can also be utilized as feedback for the driver during backup practice. For example, speakers can be located outside of or inside the commercial vehicle cab to provide a beeping tone that changes in tone, frequency and/or volume as the commercial vehicle gets closer to training target. It should be noted that other audio feedback for the driver can also be utilized.