Methods for recording road surface conditions and road surface condition recording systems

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for detecting (10) the road surface condition (12) of a road surface (16), comprising the steps of providing a tire sensor system (22) comprising at least one tire sensor (20) associated with a tire (26) of a vehicle (14) traveling on the road surface (16) and a position determination system (24) of the vehicle (14), providing sensor measurement data (42) of the tire sensor system (22) during a journey of the vehicle (14) on the road surface (16), providing position data (48) of the position determination system (24) associated with the sensor measurement data (42), determining (52) at least one road surface parameter (54) indicating the road surface condition (12) depending on the sensor measurement data (42), and assigning (56) the position data (48) to the at least one road surface parameter (54).Transmission (66) of at least one road surface parameter (54) and the associated position data (48) for retrievable storage on a data storage device (68). The invention further relates to a road surface condition detection system (18).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for detecting road surface conditions according to claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a road surface condition detection system. State of the art

[0002] In DE 10 2014 004 167 A1 a method for detecting a road surface condition is described in which the energy introduced into the vehicle by suspension dampers when driving on the road surface is measured and the road surface condition is determined depending on the measured introduced energy. Disclosure of the invention

[0003] According to the present invention, a method for detecting road surface conditions with the features of claim 1 is proposed. This can increase driving safety for vehicles traveling on the road. The vehicles can incorporate the detected information about the road surface conditions into route planning and / or driving.

[0004] The vehicle can be a motor vehicle or a truck. The vehicle can be a two-wheeled vehicle, in particular a motorcycle. The vehicle can be an electric vehicle.

[0005] The tire sensor system can have multiple tire sensors assigned to individual tires. The tire sensors can rotate with their respective tires. The tire sensors can be located within the tires. A first tire sensor can be located on a first tire, particularly on the left or right side of a front or rear axle, and a second tire sensor can be located on a second tire, particularly on the right or left side of the front or rear axle. The sensor measurement data can include initial sensor measurement data from the first tire sensor and subsequent sensor measurement data from the second tire sensor.If the sensor data includes initial sensor readings from a first tire sensor on the left side of the front or rear axle and second sensor readings from a second tire sensor on the right side of the front or rear axle, the road surface condition in the lateral direction, for example, the width of a transverse groove, can also be determined. At least one road surface parameter can be determined based on the initial and second sensor readings. This at least one road surface parameter can be determined by comparing the initial and second sensor readings. By comparing the initial and second sensor readings, the influence of the vehicle's suspension and / or tires can be taken into account.

[0006] The tire sensor can include a pressure sensor and optionally an acceleration sensor and / or a temperature sensor. The sensor measurement data can be pressure readings from the pressure sensor and / or acceleration readings from the acceleration sensor. The determination of at least one road surface parameter can be performed based on the pressure readings and / or the acceleration readings. The sensor measurement data can be in the time domain or frequency domain.

[0007] The road surface condition can include a road surface condition or a road surface property of the roadway.

[0008] The road surface parameter can specify the presence and, optionally, the severity and / or size of a road surface irregularity, roughness, hazard, surface texture, contamination, covering, and / or damage. The road surface parameter can be assigned to a position or a position-locatable area of ​​the road surface.

[0009] Determining road surface parameters can include calculating them based on sensor data. It can also involve processing the sensor data, such as filtering and / or performing a Fast Fourier Transform. Furthermore, the calculation might include peak detection, frequency analysis, or other signal processing methods. For example, a road surface parameter indicating damage can be determined if a peak in the frequency spectrum of the processed sensor data is present or exceeds a predefined amplitude.

[0010] Each of the at least one determined road surface parameter can be further associated with at least one weather parameter representing the weather conditions in the vehicle's environment. The weather parameter can be calculated using weather information provided by an information service, such as a weather service, and / or sensor information provided by at least one sensor in the vehicle, such as a rain sensor and / or a temperature sensor. This allows the road surface parameter, which, for example, indicates a hazard due to an aquaplaning area on the road surface, to be linked to the weather parameter. This enables the significance of the road surface parameter to be determined based on the weather parameter.

[0011] Each road surface parameter can be further assigned at least one time parameter. The time parameter can specify a time of day and / or season. This allows the road surface parameter, which, for example, indicates a hazard due to an icy patch on the road, to be linked to the time parameter. This makes it possible to specify the significance of the road surface parameter as a function of the time parameter.

[0012] The positioning system can include at least one positioning sensor, in particular a GPS sensor.

[0013] The data storage device can store at least one road parameter together with the associated position data and, if applicable, the weather parameter and / or the time parameter.

[0014] The calculated road surface parameter can be stored on a data storage device. If several historical road surface parameters are stored for the same location based on the positional data, a history of the road surface condition at that location can be determined. If several historical road surface parameters are stored for the same location based on the positional data, the calculation of the road surface parameter can also take these historical road surface parameters into account, for example, to exclude the influence of the vehicle's suspension or tires.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is advantageous if the data storage device comprises a temporary data storage unit for the retrievable intermediate storage of at least one road parameter along with the position data. The data storage unit can store several road parameters determined sequentially, each with position data. As soon as the stored data reaches a predetermined size and / or a predetermined time has elapsed, the stored data can be transferred from the temporary data storage unit to a permanent data storage unit.

[0016] The temporary data storage unit can include volatile storage or permanent storage.

[0017] In a specific embodiment of the invention, it is advantageous if the data storage device includes cloud storage for retrievable storage. The cloud storage can be accessible wirelessly, for example via mobile network.

[0018] The storage of the road parameter with the position data in the data storage device can be done in real time.

[0019] A preferred embodiment of the invention is advantageous in which the at least one road parameter, along with the position data, is first transferred to the temporary data storage unit and subsequently to the cloud storage. The temporary data storage unit can be an intermediate storage unit. The data can be collected in the intermediate storage unit up to a predetermined amount and / or time and then transferred to the cloud storage.

[0020] The temporary data storage unit can be installed in the vehicle. The temporary data storage unit can be a mobile device belonging to a user of the vehicle. The tire pressure monitoring system can include the temporary data storage unit.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is advantageous if the data storage device is configured for access by at least one other vehicle to retrieve the at least one stored road parameter along with the position data. Access to the data storage device can be wireless, for example via mobile network.

[0022] In a specific embodiment of the invention, it is advantageous if access by the other vehicle depends on a planned or existing position of the other vehicle with respect to the position data assigned to the at least one lane parameter. If a route is planned in advance for the other vehicle, the stored lane parameter of the lane that is part of the route can be retrieved during the planning and taken into account. If, during the journey, the other vehicle passes within a radius around the position or area of ​​the lane for which the lane parameter was determined, the stored lane parameter can be retrieved.

[0023] The road parameter can be signaled to the user of the other vehicle requesting the road parameter, in particular by means of a display.

[0024] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one road surface parameter is calculated based on the air pressure in the tire measured by at least one tire sensor, in particular a pressure sensor. This allows damping effects and filtering influences of the tire on the detection of road surface conditions to be taken into account, depending on the air pressure in the tire.

[0025] In a specific embodiment of the invention, it is advantageous if the determination of the road surface parameter is carried out by an algorithm that receives the sensor measurement data as input data. The algorithm can be trained by machine learning. The algorithm can comprise an artificial neural network. The neural network can comprise several interconnected artificial neurons, in particular at least one input layer, several intermediate layers, and at least one output layer. The parameters of the neural network can be trained by backward propagation. The algorithm can comprise a support vector machine (SVM).

[0026] According to the present invention, a road surface detection system with the features of claim 9 is further proposed. The road surface detection system can be arranged partially or completely within the vehicle. The road surface detection system can include a weather information query unit for retrieving weather information. The road surface detection system can include a time detection unit, in particular for recording the time of day and season.

[0027] In a specific embodiment of the invention, it is advantageous if the road surface detection system also includes the data storage device. A partial arrangement of the road surface detection system within the vehicle is possible, for example, if the data storage device is located outside the vehicle, such as on a server, while the other components are installed in the vehicle.

[0028] Further advantages and advantageous embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the description of the figures and the illustration. Character description

[0029] The invention is described in detail below with reference to the illustration.

[0030] The figure shows a method for detecting the road surface condition of a roadway and a road surface detection system, each in a specific embodiment of the invention. The method for detecting the road surface condition 10 of a roadway 16 traveled on by a vehicle 14 comprises providing a road surface detection system 18 with a tire sensor system 22 of the vehicle 14 comprising at least one tire sensor 20 and a position determination system 24 of the vehicle 14. The tire sensor 20 is arranged in a tire 26 of the vehicle 14. Preferably, the tire sensor system 22 comprises several tire sensors 20, which are arranged in respective tires 26 of the vehicle 14. A first tire sensor 28 can be arranged in a first tire 30, for example, of a front axle 32 of the vehicle 14, and a second tire sensor 34 can be arranged in a second tire 36, for example, of a rear axle 38 of the vehicle 14.The positioning system 24 can include a positioning sensor 40, in particular a GPS sensor.

[0031] Furthermore, sensor measurement data 42 from the tire sensor system 22 is provided during a journey of the vehicle 14 on the roadway 16. The sensor measurement data 42 can include first sensor measurement data 44 from the first tire sensor 28 and second sensor measurement data 46 from the second tire sensor 34.

[0032] The provision of position data 48 of the positioning system 24, which is associated with the sensor measurement data 42, is achieved by linking the sensor measurement data 42 with the position data 48. This can be done, for example, by appending the position 50 of the vehicle 14, at which the sensor measurement data 42 were recorded, to the sensor measurement data 42. Position 50 is a geographic position, specifically in geographic coordinates, and in particular comprising a longitude and a latitude value.

[0033] Furthermore, a processing unit 51 determines 52 at least one road surface parameter 54 indicating the road surface condition 12, for example, the presence of a pothole 53 in the road surface 16, depending on the sensor measurement data 42, and assigns 56 the position data 48 to the at least one road surface parameter 54. The road surface parameter 54 can indicate the presence and, optionally, the severity of, for example, damage to the road surface 16. For example, the road surface parameter 54 can have a value greater than zero to indicate damage to the road surface 16. The larger the value of the road surface parameter 54, the greater the detected damage to the road surface 16 can be. For example, the road surface parameter 54 can have several value categories 58, where each value category 58 represents a property of the road surface condition 12, for example, damage, roughness, hazard, or the like.The determination 52 can also calculate several roadway parameters 54 and, in particular, each value category 58 can be a single roadway parameter 54.

[0034] The determination 52 of the road surface parameter 54 can be repeated, for example, at regular intervals, while the vehicle 14 is traveling on the road surface 16. The determination 52 of the road surface parameter 54 is carried out, in particular, by an algorithm 62 that receives the sensor measurement data 42 as input data 60. The algorithm 62 can, for example, first filter the sensor measurement data 42, convert it using a Fast Fourier Transform, and perform a data analysis in the frequency spectrum. The input data 60 for the algorithm 62 can additionally include the position data 48. Alternatively, as shown by the dashed line, the calculation of the road surface parameter 54 can be performed independently of the position data 48, which can then be appended after the calculation of the road surface parameter 54.

[0035] Furthermore, a transmission unit 64 transmits the at least one road parameter 54 and the associated position data 48 to a data storage device 68 for retrievable storage. The data storage device 68 comprises, in particular, a temporary data storage unit 70 for temporarily storing the at least one road parameter 54 with the position data 48 and a cloud storage unit 72 for permanent, retrievable storage. Preferably, the at least one road parameter 54 with the position data 48 is first transferred to the temporary data storage unit 70 and then to the cloud storage unit 72.

[0036] The data storage device 68, in particular the cloud storage 72, is configured for access by at least one other vehicle 73 to retrieve the at least one stored road parameter 54 with the position data 48. Access by the other vehicle 73 is specifically dependent on a planned or existing position of the other vehicle 73 with respect to the position data 48 assigned to the at least one road parameter 54. If a route is planned in advance for the other vehicle 73, the stored road parameter 54 of the roadway 16, which is part of the route, can be retrieved during the planning and taken into account.

[0037] The at least one road surface parameter 54 is preferably calculated as a function of the air pressure measured by the at least one tire sensor 20 in order to take into account damping effects and filtering influences by the tire 26 on the detection of the road surface condition 12 as a function of the air pressure in the tire 26. For example, the first sensor measurement data 44 of the first tire sensor 28 are the first acceleration measurement data 74 of an acceleration sensor 76 of the first tire sensor 28, and the input data 60 comprise the first sensor measurement data 44 and the first pressure measurement data 78 of a pressure sensor 80 of the first tire sensor 28. Furthermore, for example, the second sensor measurement data 46 of the second tire sensor 34 are the second acceleration measurement data 82 of an acceleration sensor 76 of the second tire sensor 34, and the input data 60 further comprise the second sensor measurement data 46 and the second pressure measurement data 84 of a pressure sensor 80 of the second tire sensor 34. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2014 004 167 A1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Method for recording (10) a road surface condition (12) of a road surface (16), comprising the steps Providing a tire sensor system (22) comprising at least one tire sensor (26) of a vehicle (14) traveling on the roadway (16) and a vehicle positioning system (24) (14), Providing sensor measurement data (42) from the tire sensor system (22) during a journey of the vehicle (14) on the roadway (16), Providing position data (48) of the positioning system (24) associated with the sensor measurement data (42), Determination (52) of at least one road surface parameter (54) indicating the road surface condition (12) depending on the sensor measurement data (42), assignment (56) of the position data (48) to the at least one road surface parameter (54), Transmission (66) of at least one roadway parameter (54) and the position data (48) associated therewith to a data storage device (68) for retrievable storage. [2] Method for detection (10) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the data storage device (68) comprises a temporary data storage unit (70) for the retrievable intermediate storage of the at least one road parameter (54) with the position data (48). [3] Method for detection (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the data storage device (68) includes a cloud storage (72) for retrievable storage. [4] Method for detection (10) according to claims 2 and 3, characterized by , that at least one road parameter (54) is transferred with the position data (48) first to the temporary data storage unit (70) and then to the cloud storage (72). [5] Method for recording (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the data storage device (68) is equipped for access by at least one other vehicle (73) to retrieve the at least one stored road parameter (54) with the position data (48). [6] Method for recording (10) according to claim 5, characterized by , that the access by the other vehicle (73) depends on a planned or existing position (50) of the other vehicle (73) in relation to the position data (48) assigned to the at least one road parameter (54). [7] Method for recording (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that at least one road parameter (54) is calculated depending on the air pressure in the tire (26) measured by the at least one tire sensor (20). [8] Method for recording (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the determination (52) of the roadway parameter (54) is carried out by an algorithm (62) which receives the sensor measurement data (42) as input data (60). [9] Road surface condition detection system (18) for carrying out a detection method (10) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a tire sensor system (22) for determining (52) the sensor measurement data (42) of a vehicle (14), a position determination system (24) for determining (52) the position data (48) assigned to the sensor measurement data (42), a processing unit (51) for determining (52) the at least one road parameter (54) and for assigning (56) the position data (48) to the road parameter (54), a transmission unit (64) for transmitting (66) the at least one road parameter (54) with the position data (48) for retrievable storage on a data storage device (68). [10] Road surface condition detection system (18) according to claim 9, characterized by , that the road surface condition detection system (18) continues to include the data storage device (68).

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