Patent Publication Number: US-2005128060-A1

Title: Universally usable object detection system and method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
      This application claims priority to copending U.S. provisional application entitled, “Universally Usable Reverse Detection System,” filed November  19 ,  2003  and having application Ser. No. 60/523,459, which is entirely incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
      The present disclosure generally relates to object detection systems and, more particularly, to a system and method for detecting objects and obstacles in the rear path of a vehicle.  
     BACKGROUND  
      Each year, many accidents occur when a driver of a vehicle attempts to move the vehicle in reverse, subsequently resulting in a collision with another object. A driver&#39;s view when driving in reverse is typically not as good as when the vehicle is moving forward, thereby causing most drivers to rely on rear view mirrors and/or to constantly turn in an attempt to find obstacles within the path of the vehicle. However, due to the relative position of the driver in the vehicle, the driver&#39;s vantage point oftentimes results in the failure to see and/or maneuver around various stationary or moving obstacles. It is not uncommon for drivers of rear moving vehicles to strike other people who may walk or otherwise move into the path of the rear-moving vehicle, unbeknownst to the driver. In these situations, when the obstacle is a person, such as a child who may dart into the path of the rear-moving vehicle, the consequences can be catastrophic.  
      Even when relying on rear view mirrors and moving in reverse, a driver still may not be able to see a stationary or moving object that may be in the driver&#39;s blind spot. Thus, late model vehicles are increasingly being equipped by manufacturers with object detection systems that aid the driver handle the vehicle so as to avoid obstacles in the path of the rear-moving vehicle.  
      Although such systems vary, at least one such solution includes the placement of a camera in the rear portion of the vehicle so as to capture images of the area behind the vehicle, which is simultaneously displayed on the screen viewable by the driver. In this way, a driver at least has a viewable image of the area behind the rear-moving vehicle so as to see obstacles that may be in the path.  
      However, even cameras are constrained by the respective fields of view, which means that a camera may also have a blind spot or experience poor resolution depending on ambient lighting conditions. Furthermore, weather conditions and other environmental conditions may result in a poor image quality viewed by the driver, thereby negating any substantial beneficial effect that a camera system may provide.  
      Manufacturers also have begun equipping new vehicles with automatic sensing systems to detect objects by including in the newly manufactured vehicle one or more rear facing sensors that may detect the presence of objects within a predetermined range. When an obstacle comes within the vehicle&#39;s path, an emitted signal wave may be disturbed or reflected back to the sensor, thereby indicating to the driver by processing electronics that an obstacle is in the path of the rear moving vehicle. Thus, it is possible according to this solution to increase the awareness of the driver as to obstacles that may be in the rear path so as to prevent damage to the vehicle and/or injury to passengers in the vehicle or to persons that may be within the path of the vehicle.  
      While such systems may be employed in newly manufactured vehicles to effectively reduce the number of collisions by such vehicles when moving in reverse, this solution does not account for the millions of existing vehicles that are in use and were manufactured prior to the development of such safety systems, as well as particular vehicle configuration types that may not necessarily lend themselves to these manufacturer-installed detection systems.  
      The use of object detection systems to aid a driver when moving in reverse is found mostly in passenger vehicles and conventional light trucks. The application of these safety systems to larger trucks and especially to tractor-trailer rigs and specialty vehicles, such as sanitation trucks and dump trucks, is found much less frequently. For example, many current object detection systems utilize a hardwiring harnesses to electrically connect the sensors in the rear of the vehicle to an electrical control unit that may be in the front portion of the vehicle to audio or visual alerting means that may also be in the front of the vehicle. Depending on the vehicle type, extending a wiring harness throughout the length of a vehicle may be prohibited due to vehicle construction.  
      As a nonlimiting example, a rear loading sanitation truck that has various moving parts at the rear portion of the vehicle may not be ideally suited for the installation of certain obstacle detection systems after initial manufacture. Because of the moving parts on this vehicle associated with trash collection, placing the various components and routing the associated wiring harnesses may be impractical, especially if the control unit is positioned away from the sensors and alerting devices.  
      There have been attempts to overcome these limitations; however, the solutions have been limited. For example, transmitting data from sensors to a control unit near the front of the vehicle via wireless means, such as radio or microwave, is one such solution. However, this scheme often is not practical for trucks with detachable trailers due to the fact that a driver of a vehicle may tow a multitude of trailers in relatively short periods of time. Thus, such wireless transmitters are typically either universal or configured in such a way wherein the driver may easily determine and tune to the appropriate frequency so as to receive and understand communications from a transmitter in the rear portion of the vehicle.  
      If such devices are configured to include a wide range of frequencies, efforts need to be made to prevent unintentional interception by a receiver of another vehicle. More specifically, and as a nonlimiting example, if one vehicle is moving in reverse at, for example, a truck stop and detects an obstacle, the wireless communication reporting the detected obstacle may very well be received by a nearby vehicle also moving in reverse, which would thereafter be reported to the driver as an obstacle within the rear path of his vehicle, even though the obstacle is in the rear path of another vehicle.  
      The complexity and function of hardwired or radio frequency systems may ultimately render these systems impractical for use in certain situations and applications. Sanitation trucks, as a nonlimiting example, have an articulated chassis and carry electromechanical equipment that may interfere with a transmitted RF signal. So as to overcome interference with other electrical components in an effort to increase the efficiency of the wireless communications, the cost of such components may be greater.  
      Thus, there is a heretofore unaddressed need to resolve the deficiencies and problems described above. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principals of the present invention. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.  
       FIG. 1  is a diagram of a tractor trailer rig comprised of a tractor and a trailer.  
       FIG. 2  is a diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the tractor trailer rig of  FIG. 1  equipped with rear detection sensors on the rear portion of the trailer to detect objects behind the tractor trailer rig.  
       FIG. 3  is a diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the tractor trailer rig of  FIGS. 1 and 2  with sensors configured to detect the presence of an obstacle and to report the detection of that presence to the driver in the tractor.  
       FIG. 4A  is a side view diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the tractor trailer rig of  FIG. 3  approaching an obstacle.  
       FIG. 4B  is a diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a rear portion of the trailer of  FIG. 4A  to show at least a nonlimiting example of the object detection system disclosed herein and as shown in  FIG. 3 .  
       FIG. 5  is a diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a rear portion of the trailer of the tractor trailer rig of  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the tractor trailer rig of  FIG. 3 .  
       FIG. 7  is a nonlimiting example diagram of a sanitation truck equipped with an object detection system of  FIGS. 2-4A .  
       FIG. 8  is a diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the flatbed tractor trailer rig equipped with an object detection system, as shown in  FIG. 4A .  
       FIG. 9  is a diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a box truck that is also configured with an object detection system of  FIG. 4A .  
       FIG. 10  is a diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the tractor trailer rig of  FIG. 1  equipped with an object detection system having a wireless transmission system.  
       FIG. 11  is a side view diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the tractor trailer rig of  FIG. 10  depicting the alerting mechanism of alert and receiver upon the detection of an object in the rear driving path of the tractor trailer rig.  
       FIG. 12  is a diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the electrical control unit of  FIG. 4A   
       FIG. 13  is a diagram depicting an exemplary embodiment of the visual indicator coupled to the side of the trailer of  FIG. 4A . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      In addition to the drawings discussed above, this description describes one or more embodiments as illustrated in the above-referenced drawings.  
      However, there is no intent to limit this disclosure to a single embodiment or embodiments that are disclosed herein. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents included within the spirit and scope of this disclosure and as defined by the appended claims.  
      A universally useable object detection system is disclosed herein, which may be temporarily or permanently positioned on an existing vehicle not previously equipped with such a system during manufacture. As a nonlimiting example, a driver of any tractor trailer rig for pulling commercial trailers may be able to simply connect to any trailer so equipped with a universally useable object detection system and be able to use it without any additional equipment in the cab of the tractor trailer rig so as to be able to move in reverse and to detect obstacles within the rear path of the vehicle.  
      In one embodiment among others, a universally useable object detection system comprises a plurality of positionable sensors, such as ultrasonic sensors, positioned on a vehicle in a direction so as to direct energy into a predetermined area respective to the vehicle, such as, for example, in the rear driving path of the vehicle. A control unit is electrically coupled to each sensor and is also detachably coupled to the vehicle proximate to the sensors. As a nonlimiting example, the control unit may be located under the vehicle near the rear of the vehicle. The control unit may be configured to receive signals from the sensors corresponding to a detected presence of an object within a predetermined range of one or more of the sensors. One or more audio and/or visual alerting devices are electrically coupled to the control unit and detachably coupled to the vehicle so that a driver of the vehicle can see the one or more alerting devices through one or more rear view mirrors of the vehicle.  
       FIG. 1  is a diagram of tractor trailer rig  10  comprised of tractor  11  and trailer  12 . When tractor trailer rig  10  moves in reverse, the driver may utilize mirror  14  to view obstacles that may be in the line of sight area  16  on the left side of the vehicle. Similarly, the driver may utilize rear view mirror  18  to view into the line of sight area  20  for detecting obstacles and objects in this region to the right side of the vehicle. Thus, as the driver moves in reverse, objects that reside in line of sight areas  16 ,  20  may be viewable to the driver through rear view mirrors  14 ,  18  so that the driver may take evasive maneuvers to avoid collisions.  
      However, the driver of tractor  11  has at least three blind spots that include blind spot  22  directly behind trailer  12 , as well as blind spots  24 ,  25  which are beyond the line of sight areas  16 ,  20  described above. Thus, for an obstacle residing in any of these blind spots  22 ,  24 ,  25 , the driver of tractor  11  may not see these obstacles, thereby resulting in a collision when moving in reverse.  
      Further, due to the long distances from the driver as positioned in tractor  11  and the rear of the trailer to a loading dock or other obstacle, the ability of the driver to precisely judge the distance from the rear of the trailer to the obstacle even with use of the rear view mirrors may be greatly impeded. With rigs not equipped with the object detection systems described above, a driver may typically maneuver the vehicle by rear view mirrors  14 ,  18  so as to place the dock or other intended final destination within the line of sight areas  16 ,  20 . However, due to the inexperience of the driver and/or other conditions, such as a moving obstacle that may come into the path of the rear moving tractor trailer rig  10 , the driver may not always be aware of whether the path behind the tractor is clear for attempting maneuvers.  
       FIG. 2  is a diagram of an exemplary embodiment of tractor trailer rig  10  equipped with rear detection sensors  28 ,  31 ,  33 , and  34  on the rear portion of trailer  12  to detect objects behind the tractor trailer rig  10 . In this nonlimiting example, sensors  28 ,  31 ,  33 , and  34  may be any type of ultrasonic, microwave, infrared, or scanning laser type detectors that may be fastened or otherwise attached to a rear area of trailer  12 . More specifically, one of ordinary skill would know of various sensor technologies that could operate as sensors  28 ,  31 ,  33 , and  34  and also that a greater or lesser number of sensors may be implemented in an application.  
      If sensors  28 ,  31 ,  33 , and  34 , as a nonlimiting example, are ultrasonic sensors, ultrasonic energy  36  is emitted in the rear driving path of tractor trailer rig  10  into a predetermined area for detecting objects. Furthermore, sensors  28 ,  31 ,  33 , and  34  may be fastened to tractor trailer rig  10  by any known means such as screws, bolts, straps, magnets, clips, as well as any other means known to one of ordinary skill in the art. In this way, these sensors  28 ,  31 ,  33 , and  34  may be fastened to trailer  12  that was not otherwise equipped with such sensors during its manufacture.  
       FIG. 3  is a diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the tractor trailer rig  10  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  with sensors  28 ,  31 ,  33 , and  34  configured to detect the presence of an obstacle and to report the detection of that presence to the driver in tractor  11 . In this nonlimiting example, obstacle  39  may be detected by the ultrasonic energy  36  which is reflected back to the sensors, as shown by reference numeral  41 . An electrical control unit, which is not shown in  FIG. 3  but is shown in subsequent figures, receives a signal from sensors  28 ,  31 ,  33 , and/or  34  corresponding to the detection of object  39 . The electrical control unit thereafter activates visual alerting indicators  43 ,  44  positioned on either side of trailer  12 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The visual alerting indicators  43 ,  44  may be configured to go from a state of “off” to “on” or perhaps to otherwise go from one type of light to a different type of light so as to indicate to the driver the detection of obstacle  39 . As a more specific nonlimiting example, indicators  43  and  44  may be configured to change colors from, as a nonlimiting example, green to red upon the detection of obstacle  39  or may be simply configured to go from an “off” status to an illuminated status such that light beams  46  and  44  are reflected from rear view mirrors  14  and  18  respectively to the driver in tractor  11 . Upon detection of these light beams, the driver may, through the driver&#39;s rear view mirror, interpret this alert to mean that an obstacle is within the rear driving path of the vehicle, thereby leading the driver to take evasive maneuvers to avoid collision with the object.  
      One of ordinary skill would also know that the visual alerting indicators  43 ,  44  may be configured to flash or otherwise communicate distance information via changing the lighting pattern or brightness as trailer  12  approaches object  39 . Stated another way, as tractor trailer rig  10  moves closer to object  39 , the electrical control unit may receive a varied signal from the sensors  28 ,  31 ,  33 , and  34  indicating the closing proximity of object  39 . Thus, the electrical control unit may cause the visual alerting indicators  43 ,  44  to flash in a more rapid sequence or to change color to yet a third or a different color configuration to indicate the closing proximity. One of ordinary skill would know that indicators  43 ,  44  could be configured in a variety of illumination formats so as to communicate the detection of an object to the driver and/or range to the object.  
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  are side view diagrams of an exemplary embodiment of the tractor trailer rig  10  approaching obstacle  39 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . In the side view diagram, tractor trailer rig  10 , while moving in reverse toward object  39 , is in pending danger of colliding with object  39 , thereby causing damage to either trailer  12  and/or object  39 .  
      However, the object detection system as described herein may include sensor  28  that emits ultrasonic energy  36 , as a nonlimiting example, which strikes object  39  and is reflected back as reflected energy  41 . Reflected energy  41  is detected by sensor  28 . This detected reflection is communicated to electrical control unit  50 , which recognizes the signal as indicating the detected presence of an object within the rear driving path of tractor trailer rig  10 . Electrical control unit  50  may thereafter activate visual alerting indicator  44  (and also indicator  43  in  FIG. 3 ) as well as audio alerting indicator  52  in order to notify the driver in tractor  11 . Thus, the driver in tractor  11 , when looking through rear view mirror  18 , may see the illumination of visual alerting indicator  44  communicating the presence of object  39  within the rear driving path of the tractor trailer rig  10 .  
       FIG. 4B  is a diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the rear portion of trailer  10  and object  39  to describe at least a nonlimiting example of the object detection system disclosed herein and as shown in  FIG. 3 . In this nonlimiting example, the electrical control unit  50  is placed in the rear portion of trailer  12  proximate to sensor  28  (and the other sensors not shown in this figure) so that the communication path via a wiring harness  47  may be relatively short. Likewise, electrical control unit  50  is also coupled to visual alerting indicator  44  by wiring harness  48 , which in this nonlimiting example is a relatively short span. Finally, electrical control unit  50  is coupled to audio alerting indicator  52  by wiring harness  49  in similar fashion.  
      As a further nonlimiting example, the electrical control unit  50  may be attached to the underportion of trailer  12  by screws, bolts, or other attaching means, as one of ordinary skill in the art would know, and also electrically coupled with the existing power system of the trailer. More specifically, a trailer may be electrically connected to the battery or other power source within the tractor  11  of  FIG. 4A ; however, the electrical control unit may be electrically coupled with the existing wiring harness to lights, for example, so as to draw power from the power source within tractor  11  for activating and operating the object detection system described herein. For this reason, electrical control unit  50 , sensor  28  (as well as the other sensors described above), visual indicator  44 , and audio indicator  52  may either temporarily or permanently remain on trailer  12  irrespective of any additional configuration in tractor  11 . As further described above, any tractor  11  may be coupled to trailer  12  as shown in  FIG. 4A  and be able to detect objects within the rear driving path of the vehicle without additional equipment and additional specialized equipment within the tractor  11  because the entire object detection system, including sensors, the control unit, and visual and audio indicators, is contained on trailer  12 .  
      As to the operation of the object detection system in  FIG. 4B , the emitted ultrasonic energy  36  impacts object  39  and is reflected as signal waves  41  back to sensor  28 . Sensor  28  communicates this detected presence to the electrical control unit  50  on the underside of trailer  12  via harness  47 , which, thereafter, activates visual indicator  44  and audio indicator  52  by wiring harnesses  48  and  49 , respectively.  
       FIG. 5  is a diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a rear portion of trailer  12  of the tractor trailer rig  10  of  FIG. 1 . In this nonlimiting example, the tractor trailer rig  10  is prepared to move in reverse, as indicated by reverse indicator lights  54  and  55 . As these lights  54 ,  55  are illuminated, the electrical control unit  50  is thereby activated, causing sensors  28 ,  31 ,  33 , and  34  to activate as well. As a result, ultrasonic energy  36  is emitted from each of sensors  28 ,  31 ,  33  and  34  into the area behind the rear of trailer  12 . Although not shown illuminated, visual indicators  43  and  44  are positioned along either side of trailer  12  such that, when illuminated, the driver in tractor  11  may detect the illumination of indicators  43  and  44  in this position.  
      One of ordinary skill in the art would know that various types of cabling and/or wiring harnesses may be implemented for connecting control unit  50  with each of sensors  28 ,  31 ,  33 , and  34 , as well as visual indicators  43  and  44 . As one nonlimiting example, cabling with detachable connectors may be utilized for temporary or extended use applications of the object detection system on trailer  12  in  FIG. 5 .  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the tractor trailer rig  10  of  FIG. 3 . More specifically,  FIG. 6  depicts two perspective view diagrams of tractor trailer rig  10  to show the illumination of the visual indicators  43  and  44  respective to the driver  60  of the tractor trailer rig  10 . On the left side portion of  FIG. 6 , driver  60  may view the illumination of visual indicator  44  via rear view mirror  18 . Thus, sight line  62 , as reflected through mirror  18 , enables the driver to see the illumination of visual indicator  44  on the side of trailer  12 . So a person  61  positioned within the rear driving path of tractor trailer rig  10  may be detected by the sensors described and shown in  FIG. 5  so as to cause the visual indicator  44  to illuminate, thereby notifying the driver of the presence of an obstacle behind the tractor trailer rig  10 .  
      Likewise, the right side portion of  FIG. 6  shows the driver&#39;s  60  viewing of the illumination of visual indicator  43  through right side rear view mirror  14 . Sight path  63  enables the driver to look through rear view mirror  14  to see the illumination of visual indicator  43  when person  61  is positioned within the rear driving path of tractor trailer rig  10 .  
      Thus far, the object detection system of this disclosure has been described as implemented on a tractor trailer rig  10 . However, one of ordinary skill in the art would know that this system may be implemented on various types of vehicles, either permanently or temporarily, irrespective of any special electronics within the driving cab of the vehicle for which the system is installed.  
       FIG. 7  is a nonlimiting example diagram of a sanitation truck  70  equipped with an object detection system described above. In this nonlimiting example, sanitation truck  10  includes one or more sensors  74  positioned so as to emit ultrasonic energy, in this nonlimiting example, into a rear driving path of the sanitation truck  70 . As discussed above, sensors  74  are electrically coupled to electrical control unit  75 , which is configured to receive signals corresponding to the detected presence of an obstacle, such as person  78 , within the rear driving path of sanitation truck  70 . In such instances, electrical control unit  75  causes audio indicator  77  to produce an alerting sound that may be recognizable by the driver of the sanitation truck  70  in cab  71  as well as by the person  78  within the rear driving path of the sanitation truck. As described above, the driver in cab  71  via sight path  83  and rear view mirror  84  may see the illumination of visual indicator  80  placed upon the side of the rear portion  72  of sanitation truck  70 .  
      One or more additional visual indicators  81  may be positioned at the rear of sanitation truck  70  so as to give person  78  within the rear driving path of the vehicle an additional warning of the approaching sanitation truck  70 . The inclusion of visual indicator  81  and audio indicator  77  on sanitation truck  70  is merely a nonlimiting example, as one of ordinary skill in the art would know that one or both of these alerting devices as well as other types of alerts may be activated by the electrical control unit  75  upon the detection of person  78  (or other object) within the rear driving path of sanitation truck  70 . As an additional nonlimiting example, electrical control unit  75  may be configured to produce an output signal that causes the sanitation truck  70  to automatically actuate its brakes or otherwise terminate its engine so as to cease the rear movement toward person  78 .  
      It should be noted that the object detection system shown in  FIG. 7  may be installed on sanitation truck  70  in a manner so as to avoid any moving portions of the truck. By locating electrical control unit  75  near the sensors  74 , installation of the system is simpler due in part to the avoidance of extended wiring runs. Installation in this manner enables use of the system, irrespective of the vehicle&#39;s moving components.  
       FIG. 8  is a diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a flatbed tractor trailer rig  88  comprising a tractor  89  and flatbed trailer  90 . In this nonlimiting example, one or more sensors  91  may be positioned at a rear portion of the vehicle by one or more of the means described above and electrically coupled to electrical control unit  92  in the same manner as described above, which is positioned near the rear of flatbed trailer  90 . Upon the detection of an obstacle within the rear driving path of flatbed tractor trailer rig  88 , electrical control unit  92  may activate audio indicator  93  and/or visual indicator  95 , which in this nonlimiting example is positioned near the front portion of flatbed trailer  90  proximate to the tractor  89 . Just like above, visual indicator  95  may be on either side of flatbed trailer  90  so that the driver may view the illumination of visual indicator  95  through rear view mirror  98  on the right side of the vehicle and through the similar rear view mirror on the left side of the vehicle (not shown). Thus, driver  97  may use rear view mirror  98  to view the illumination of visual indicator  95  upon the detection of an object within the rear driving path of flatbed tractor trailer rig  88 .  
       FIG. 9  is a diagram of an exemplary embodiment of box truck  101  that is also configured with an object detection system including one or more sensors  103  coupled to the electrical control unit  102 . In this nonlimiting example, box truck  101  may be equipped with the object detection system described in this disclosure subsequent to its manufacture by attaching electrical control unit  102 , sensors  103 , visual indicators  104  and  105 , and audio indicators  107  to the box truck  101 . Similarly, electrical wiring harnesses may be routed between the various components described above, as one of ordinary skill in the art would know. Thus, the driver of box truck  101  may utilize rear view mirror  109  to view the illumination of visual indicator  104  as well as hear the report of audio indicator  107 . As similarly discussed above, visual indicator  105  may be positioned in the rear portion of box truck  101  so as to alert a person who may be within the rear driving path of the vehicle so as to take evasive action as the box truck  101  approaches.  
      Although some of the problems of wireless communications in object detection systems are described above, the electrical control unit may indeed be programmed with a transmitter so as to securely, reliably, and wirelessly communicate the detection of objects within the rear driving path of a vehicle to an alerting device that may be positioned on another part of the vehicle. More specifically,  FIG. 10  is a diagram of an exemplary embodiment of tractor trailer  110  equipped for wireless alerts. In this nonlimiting example, tractor trailer  110  includes one or more sensors  112  positioned so as to emit ultrasonic energy, as a nonlimiting example, into the rear driving path of the tractor trailer  110 . The sensors  112  are electrically coupled to electronic control unit  114 , which is shown in dashed lines as it may be positioned on an under portion of tractor trailer  110 , as described above. Thus, upon the detection of object  113  within the rear driving path of tractor trailer  110 , sensors  112  communicate the detected presence to electrical control unit  114 .  
      In this nonlimiting example, electrical control unit  114  may be equipped with a wireless communication device such as an RF transmitter or other similar device so as to communicate an alerting message to a wireless receiver  116  that may be positioned within the cab of the tractor trailer  110 . Although shown as separate components, one of ordinary skill in the art would know that visual and/or audio alerting device  118  may be an integral portion with receiver  116  or a separate component that is electrically coupled to the receiver  116 . In this nonlimiting example, receiver  116  receives a wireless communication from the transmitter of electrical control unit  114 , and alerting indicator  118  thereafter produces an alerting message, which is either visual, audio, or both, to the driver of tractor trailer rig  110 .  
      One of ordinary skill in the art would know, however, that other nonlimiting examples may be implemented in addition to the receiver  116  and indicator  118 . As a nonlimiting example, the transmitter in electrical control unit  114  may transmit an AM or FM signal receivable by an in-dash radio in the cab of the tractor trailer rig  110 , which the driver may tune to when attempting reverse driving. Thus, when object  113  is detected, a signal is broadcast from electrical control unit  114  that is received and output by the radio system in the cab of tractor trailer rig  110 , thereby informing the driver of the presence of the detected object.  
       FIG. 11  is a side view diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the tractor trailer rig  110  depicting the alerting mechanism of alert  118  and receiver  116  upon the detection of an object in the rear driving path of tractor trailer rig  110 . As discussed in  FIG. 10 , electrical control unit  114  in this nonlimiting example is positioned on the underside of the tractor trailer  110  and is equipped with a wireless transmitter to communicate the detection of an object within the rear driving path of the tractor trailer rig  110  to the driver in the cab. The output of alert indicator  118  may be audio, visual, or both as described above, so as to communicate to the driver the detection of an object within the rear driving path of tractor trailer rig  110 .  
       FIG. 12  is a diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the electrical control unit  50  of  FIG. 4A  and is described in this disclosure. In this nonlimiting example, electrical control unit  50  may be coupled to a power source  121 , such as a battery within the tractor  11  of  FIG. 3  or a rechargeable battery device.  
      Electrical control unit  50  includes a processor  124  that executes instructions contained in memory  126 . More specifically, memory  126  includes an operating system  127  executable by the processor and one or more application programs  129  for executing instructions and determining whether an object is detected within the rear driving path of tractor trailer  10  of  FIG. 3  so that appropriate action can be taken thereafter.  
      As described above, one or more sensors  28 ,  31 ,  33 , and  34  ( FIG. 3 ) may be electrically coupled to the electrical control unit  50  via sensor interface  130 . Thus, the sensor interface  130  may receive a signal from one or more of the sensors  28 ,  31 ,  33 , and  34 , which is communicated via local interface  135  to processor  124  and/or memory  126 . Processor  124  is configured to recognize the signal received as indicating the detected presence of an obstacle or object within the rear driving path of tractor trailer  10  of  FIG. 3  when one is detected. Upon such recognition, processor  124  thereafter may be configured to cause one or more alerting devices to activate.  
      In one nonlimiting example, processor  124  may communicate an output signal to output interface  133 , which is electrically coupled to one or more alerting devices, such as visual alerting indicators  43  and  44  of  FIG. 3 , as well as audio alerting indicator  52  of  FIG. 4A . As described in regard to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , processor  124  may also be configured to communicate an output signal to transmitter  135 , which broadcasts an output signal wirelessly to receiver  116 . One of ordinary skill in the art would know that a variety of communication methods and protocols could be used to wirelessly communicate the output from processor  124 .  
      One of ordinary skill in the art would also know that electrical control unit  50  may be placed within a housing sufficient for withstanding the environmental conditions for which the electrical control unit may otherwise be subjected to. By positioning the electrical control unit  50  near the sensors  28 ,  31 ,  33 , and  34 , the electrical control unit may be subject to temperature, moisture, and perhaps even road debris during normal operation. So the housing of electrical control unit  50  is configured to withstand these conditions so as to protect the processor and other components described in  FIG. 12 .  
      Each of the components described in the object detection system above may be coupled to a vehicle for operation in a variety of mechanisms, as one of ordinary skill in the art would know.  
       FIG. 13  is a diagram depicting an exemplary embodiment of the visual indicator  43  coupled to the side of trailer  12  of  FIG. 3 . In this nonlimiting example, visual indicator  43  may be attached to the side wall of trailer  12  via magnet  139  if trailer  12  is of the appropriate metal such that the magnet  139  may attach. However, one of ordinary skill in the art would know that visual indicator  43 , as well as each other component described above, may be fastened by screws, bolts, straps, clips, adhesives, ties, etc. as one of ordinary skill in the art would know.  
      To continue with this nonlimiting example, visual indicator  43  may include electrical connector  144  so as to connect visual indicator  43  with electrical control unit  50 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . One or more cable routing stays  142  may be attached to the side of trailer  12  by the same means described above in regard to visual indicator  43 . Thus, as a nonlimiting example, one may install an object detection system as described above by attaching an electrical control unit near the rear portion of the trailer  12  in conjunction with a plurality of sensors  28 ,  31 ,  33 , and  34 . Furthermore, visual indicators  43  and  44  may be magnetically placed or attached by other means upon the side of the trailer  12  with cabling routed and positioned by magnetic stays  142  so that the trailer now becomes equipped with an object detection system that may actually be permitted to remain on the trailer for an extended time. However, the object detection system may likewise be moved quickly and simply to another trailer if so desired. In each instance, though, the driver of the tractor pulling trailer  12  does not need specialized equipment within the cab portion of the tractor for implementing the object detection system, thereby increasing the simplicity of use of the object detection system of this disclosure.  
      It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments and nonlimiting examples are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles disclosed herein. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) and nonlimiting examples without departing substantially from the spirit and principles disclosed herein. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.