Patent · US Active

Natural marker based boat loading assistant

US11787325B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by

6References

20Claims

0Family size

Assignees

ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG · DE
ZF MARINE PROPULSION SYSTEMS MIRAMAR, LLC · US

Inventors

Stefan Traub · Eppelheim, DE
Gabriela Jager · Friedrichshafen, DE
Lars Hoffmann · Birkenfeld, DE
Andrew ORVIETO · Plantation Gardens, US

Key dates

Filing date	May 21, 2021
Grant date	Oct 17, 2023
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Apr 27, 2042

Classification

Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
CPC primaryB63H2025/028
WIPO fieldTransport
WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A navigational system for guiding a boat onto a trailer comprising at least a portion of a tow vehicle which forms a natural marker for the navigation system. A camera is located on the boat to assist the navigational system with aligning a longitudinal axis of the boat with a longitudinal axis of the trailer. A central vertical (mid) axis of the camera is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the boat. An image processing unit receives and processes images from the camera. The image processing unit, based upon a determination of a position of the central vertical (mid) axis of the camera relative to a target area of the detected natural marker, generating guidance commands to assist a user with alignment of the longitudinal axis of the boat with the longitudinal axis of the trailer and thereby facilitate proper loading of the boat onto the trailer.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.