It is clear, whenever any vehicle is loaded into the back of a van, or trailer, it implies a feeling of imminent danger. The reason is clear, we all know of a good number of mishaps, falls and sudden accelerations that have caused vehicles to fly. But, the new patent of Polaris It’s going to end all this. Yes, as you read it.
Polaris seems to have found a solution. The North American giant has recently patented an autonomous system that allows a UTV to be parked from outside the cabin and also safely loaded into the back of a truck or trailer. At least if something goes wrong, we’re some distance away.
This is the Polaris patent
The patent, titled “Autonomous and semi-autonomous control of off-road vehicles«, explains that «“Off-road vehicle operators may face situations where automated assistance from the vehicle itself could be useful and even improve safety.”. And they are right. Not everyone masters the technique of safely driving and parking a UTV, much less loading it safely.
The system of Polaris uses proprietary technologies BRP to facilitate these maneuvers. The patent describes a method that allows a controller, whether a special device or even a mobile phone, to direct the vehicle to be safely loaded onto a flatbed, trailer, or even into a tight parking space where it is not possible to open the doors. .
The system can work in several ways. The first is through sensors that automatically detect a loading ramp. The second, based on cameras that visually identify the environment. Additionally, the UTV could be controlled by a remote control or even by gestures. According to the patent, the vehicle can analyze images captured around it to interpret the operator’s gestures and convert them into commands, as if you were “pointing» where to go.
But when will we see this technology in action? That’s a good question. Based on the patent outlines and current technologies, it seems relatively simple to implement, so it’s likely to arrive sooner rather than later. That said, obviously, the development of autonomous systems is not always free of initial obstacles. But, time to time.
