Method and system for estimating the state of a road network and / or of a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for estimating the state of a road network and / or of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - providing (E1) at least one vehicle with at least one sensor, in particular a vibration sensor, in particular at least one accelerometer and / or microphone; - when the vehicle covers a portion of a road network, acquiring (E2), in particular in real time, at least one datum based on at least one parameter measured by said at least one sensor, said at least one datum relating in particular to the state of said portion of the road network and / or to the acoustic emission resulting from the contact of the vehicle on the road, and in that it comprises a step of comparing (E3) said at least one measured datum with at least one reference datum, and in that it comprises estimating (E4) the state of the road network and / or of said vehicle on the basis of the difference between said at least one measured datum and said at least one reference datum.

Description

Description Title of the invention: Method and system for estimating the state of a road network and / or a vehicle.

[0001] The invention relates to a method for estimating the state of a road network and / or a vehicle. The invention also relates to a system for estimating the state of a road network and / or a vehicle. The invention further relates to a vehicle comprising such a system. The invention also relates to a computer program implementing such a method. The invention also relates to a recording medium on which such a program is recorded. The invention finally relates to a signal of a data medium, carrying such a computer program.

[0002] In a motor vehicle, it is important to ensure the comfort of vehicle users with regard to noise. In addition, it is important to reduce the noise emitted by a moving vehicle outside the vehicle, to minimize external noise pollution.

[0003] Active interior noise control systems are known to reduce road noise inside a vehicle. However, existing solutions have drawbacks. In particular, they do not minimize exterior noise pollution.

[0004] The aim of the invention is to provide a system and a method for estimating the acoustic state of a road network and / or a vehicle, remedying the above drawbacks and improving the systems and methods known from the prior art. In particular, the invention makes it possible to produce a system and a method which have a reduced cost and which allow diversified exploitation of the data obtained.

[0005] The invention relates to a method for estimating the state of a road network and / or a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising the following steps: - provide at least one vehicle with at least one sensor, in particular a vibration sensor, in particular at least one accelerometer and / or microphone; - when the vehicle travels a portion of a road network, acquiring, in particular in real time, at least one piece of data, from at least one parameter measured by said at least one sensor, said at least one piece of data being in particular relative to the state of said portion of the road network and / or to the acoustic emission of the contact of the vehicle on the road, and comprising a step of comparing said at least one piece of measured data with at least one piece of reference data, and comprising an estimation of the state of the road network and / or said vehicle as a function of the difference between said at least one piece of measured data and said at least one piece of reference data.

[0006] The method may further comprise a step of associating, in particular in real time, said at least one piece of data with at least one piece of information, in particular location information, in particular information provided by a position sensor, for example of the GPS type, to obtain at least one piece of geolocated data, or in particular information on the speed of the vehicle.

[0007] The method may further comprise a step of dating said at least one piece of data.

[0008] The method may further comprise a step of storing said at least one piece of data.

[0009] The method may further comprise a step of transmitting to a server and / or processing and / or formatting said at least one item of data.

[0010] The method may further comprise a step of determining at least one indicator of a state of the roadway along said portion from said at least one piece of data, F at least one indicator being in particular a roughness indicator, for example a class or a level of roughness.

[0011] The at least one sensor may be intended to carry out active control of the acoustic emission of the contact of the vehicle on the road, in particular active control of rolling noise, inside and / or outside the vehicle.

[0012] The at least one vehicle may be provided with at least one accelerometer, in particular piezoelectric, intended to measure a vibration signal, and possibly at least one microphone intended to measure an acoustic signal.

[0013] The at least one sensor may include a fixed sensor arranged proximate a wheel of the vehicle.

[0014] The at least one sensor may comprise a portable connected object.

[0015] The method may comprise a step of constructing a database from a storage of at least one acquired data item, in particular in an electronic memory, in particular representative of a map of the state of a road network.

[0016] The invention also relates to a system for estimating the state of a road network and / or a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, the system comprising hardware and / or software elements implementing the method defined above, in particular hardware and / or software elements designed to implement the method defined above, and / or the system comprising means for implementing the method defined above.

[0017] The invention also relates to a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising a system defined previously.

[0018] The invention also relates to a computer program product comprising program code instructions recorded on a computer-readable medium. to implement the steps of the method defined above when said program operates on a computer or a computer program product downloadable from a communications network and / or recorded on a data medium readable by a computer and / or executable by a computer, the computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by the computer, cause the latter to implement the method defined above.

[0019] The invention also relates to a computer-readable data storage medium on which is recorded a computer program comprising program code instructions for implementing the method defined above or a computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the latter to implement the method defined above.

[0020] The invention also relates to a signal of a data medium, carrying the computer program product defined above.

[0021] The attached drawings represent, by way of example, an embodiment of a system according to the invention and an embodiment of a method according to the invention.

[0022] [Fig.l] [Fig.l] shows an embodiment of a vehicle equipped with accelerometers and microphones.

[0023] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] schematically represents an embodiment of a vehicle equipped with a system for estimating the state of a road network and / or the vehicle.

[0024] [Fig. ] [Fig. 3] is a flowchart of a method of executing a method for estimating the state of a road network and / or a vehicle.

[0025] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is an example of the use of a process of the type of that of the [Fig.3] for the detection of defects in a road network.

[0026] The noise emitted by a moving motor vehicle outside the vehicle is now mainly related to the contact between the tires and the road surface, in other words it is mainly rolling noise. The interaction between the tires and the road surface causes vibrations and / or shocks, resulting in noise outside the vehicle.

[0027] Rolling noise is also a source of noise inside the vehicle. The interaction between the tires and the road surface causes vibrations and / or shocks that are transmitted through the chassis, resulting in noise inside the vehicle.

[0028] "Exterior noise" means the noise emitted by a moving vehicle outside the vehicle. "Interior noise" means the noise emitted by a moving vehicle inside the vehicle. "Exterior rolling noise" means the noise emitted by a moving vehicle outside the vehicle, related to contact between the tires and the road surface. "Interior rolling noise" means the noise emitted by a moving vehicle inside the vehicle, linked to contact between the tires and the road surface.

[0029] External noise depends directly on the roughness of the road surface of the section of the road network travelled by the vehicle and on the peculiarities or defects of the section of road, in other words external noise depends on the condition of the road surface.

[0030] The condition of the road surface can be characterized in both microscopic and macroscopic terms. The condition of the road surface in the microscopic sense can be characterized by its roughness, particularly the roughness of a road surface. The condition of the road surface in the macroscopic sense can be characterized by the presence or absence of defects, particularly potholes.

[0031] Furthermore, observatories, called noise observatories, establish noise exposure maps or cartographies of road networks. Such maps are obtained from models of noise pollution emitted by road traffic. Such models are carried out according to the CNOSSOS / NMPB2008 standard in force. The models describe the acoustics of road surfaces according to three categories RI, R2, R3 or types of road surfaces. Assumptions are made on the roughness of the different sections of the road network and / or on the acoustic characteristics of the road surfaces to estimate or calculate noise. However, such models do not take into account the reality of road conditions (type of road surface, wear of the surface, defects, etc.).

[0032] Furthermore, a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, may be provided with an active interior noise control system, in particular rolling noise. Such an active interior rolling noise control system is intended to reduce or even eliminate interior rolling noise, in particular to improve user comfort and / or the interior acoustic performance of the vehicle.

[0033] Such an active rolling noise control system requires equipping the vehicle with at least one sensor, for example an accelerometer.

[0034] The invention proposes to use such a sensor, in particular of an active vehicle rolling noise control system, for: - assess or determine the condition of a road network or portions of a road network, in particular to determine which portions of a road network require repair work, for reasons of noise pollution and / or road safety; and / or - update noise exposure maps or maps; and / or - assess the health of a vehicle, in particular monitoring the wear and tear of a vehicle and / or preventing a possible breakdown, particularly mechanical, of a vehicle.

[0035] The invention proposes to use at least one signal provided by at least one sensor of a vehicle, in particular a sensor of an active vehicle rolling noise control system, for the purposes of constructing a database and / or management and / or monitoring of the condition of a road network and / or assessment of the health of a vehicle.

[0036] The invention proposes a system for simply characterizing roadway parameters influencing noise pollution and the energy consumption of any vehicle.

[0037] A measurement in a real situation at a given location of a portion of a road network and at a given time is thus achievable. Such a measurement can be carried out for any location of a road network and at any time.

[0038] The invention proposes to determine the roughness of a portion of a road network according to the minimum resolution corresponding to that obtained by the models carried out according to the CNOSSOS / NMPB2008 standard in force (classification of the acoustics of road surfaces according to three categories).

[0039] An embodiment of a vehicle 1 is described below with reference to [Fig.1].

[0040] Vehicle 1 may be a motor vehicle, for example a passenger vehicle or a utility vehicle.

[0041] The vehicle 1 may comprise at least one sensor 2, in particular a vibration sensor. The sensor 2 is, for example, a sensor for measuring vibrations in a single measurement direction.

[0042] The vehicle 1 may include in particular at least one accelerometer 3 AV G, 3 AV D, 3 ARG, 3 ARD , for example piezoelectric. The vehicle 1 may comprise at least one 5d, 5g microphone.

[0043] The at least one sensor 2 is intended to measure vibrations and / or noise, in particular noise in the vicinity of the sensor.

[0044] The at least one sensor 2 is intended to emit at least one signal, for example a vibration signal or an acoustic signal. The at least one accelerometer 3 AV G, 3 AV D, 3 ARG, 3 ARD is intended to measure a vibration signal. The at least one 5d, 5g microphone is intended to measure an acoustic signal.

[0045] The invention proposes to use such a sensor 2 to determine a state of at least one portion of a road network traveled by the vehicle and / or to evaluate the state of the vehicle 1.

[0046] The at least one sensor 2 is in particular intended to estimate roughness parameters (IRI, PMP (acronym for average profile depth)) influencing the dominant acoustic source which is the contact between a tire of the vehicle and the road, regardless of the type of traction chain of the vehicle.

[0047] Advantageously, the sensor 2 can be coupled to a position sensor, for example arranged inside the vehicle.

[0048] Processing of the vibration signal provided by the at least one sensor 2 makes it possible to precisely estimate characteristics influencing the noise emitted externally by the vehicle in motion, and rolling resistance. The energy consumption of a vehicle can thus be estimated.

[0049] The at least one sensor 2 may be a non-specific sensor, in other words a sensor that can also be used for other functions (airbag, distress call, etc.).

[0050] The at least one sensor 2 may be a sensor intended to carry out active control of rolling noise. In this case, such a sensor 2 makes it possible to eliminate rolling noise inside a vehicle 1 by sending its signal to a computer making it possible to generate F anti-noise.

[0051] Preferably, the at least one sensor 2 is arranged near a wheel 7 of a vehicle 1.

[0052] The at least one sensor 2 can be arranged in a fixed manner near a wheel 7 of a vehicle 1.

[0053] Advantageously, a motor vehicle 1 can comprise several sensors 2.

[0054] A motor vehicle 1 may comprise at least one accelerometer. The at least one accelerometer may be arranged on the chassis or on the running gear of a vehicle, or at any other location allowing measurement of a vibration signal.

[0055] The at least one accelerometer can be coupled to a navigation unit which may or may not be part of the vehicle, and to a measurement and possibly processing unit making it possible to associate a position and speed of the vehicle with the measured parameters.

[0056] This information makes it possible to develop maps or charts of road surface quality from the perspective of road traffic noise emissions and the impact on a vehicle's energy consumption. These maps, in turn, help infrastructure managers, communities, and territories plan repair work based on the acoustic impact.

[0057] The measurement characteristics of the at least one sensor 2 are chosen to be able to determine noise pollution and energy consumption quantities, estimated from the evaluation of the roughness of the road.

[0058] A motor vehicle 1 may comprise at least two accelerometers, preferably four accelerometers 3 AVG , 3 A VD, 3 ARG , 3 ARD .

[0059] Advantageously, each accelerometer 3 AVG , 3 AV D, 3^, 3 ARD is arranged near one of the four wheels 7 of a vehicle 1. The accelerometer 3 AVG is for example arranged near the front left wheel 7 of the vehicle 1, F accelerometer 3 A V D is for example arranged near the front right wheel 7 of the vehicle 1, F accelerometer 3 ARG is for example arranged near the left rear wheel 7 of the vehicle 1, F accelerometer 3 ARDis for example arranged near the right rear wheel 7 of the vehicle 1.

[0060] Advantageously, the motor vehicle 1 may further comprise at least one microphone, for example two 5d, 5g microphones.

[0061] Advantageously, each microphone 5d, 5g is arranged near one of the two rear wheels 7 of the vehicle 1. The microphone 5g is for example arranged near the left rear wheel 7 of the vehicle 1. The microphone 5d is for example arranged near the right rear wheel 7 of the vehicle 1.

[0062] At least one accelerometer 3 A VG, 3 AV D, 3 ARG , 3 ARD is for example a single-axis or dual-axis or tri-axis accelerometer.

[0063] Advantageously, the vehicle 1 is provided with at least one tri-axis sensor 2. Preferably, the vehicle 1 is provided with four tri-axis sensors 3 AV G, 3 AV D, 3 ARG , 3^.

[0064] Advantageously, the at least one sensor 2 is arranged as close as possible to the noise source and / or at a location most influenced by the noise output to be characterized.

[0065] Advantageously, the at least one sensor 2 is arranged as close as possible to the contacts of a tire of a wheel 7 with a road surface.

[0066] The at least one sensor 2 is for example arranged on the chassis and / or on the cradle and / or on a steering knuckle of a vehicle 1. By “steering knuckle” is meant in particular a part through which an axis of rotation of a wheel 7 passes.

[0067] The at least one sensor 2 may be arranged at the location of any fixed part of a vehicle 1 located near a wheel 7, for example at a location of the chassis, preferably at a location of a force transfer point located near a wheel 7 of a vehicle 1.

[0068] At least one accelerometer 3 AVG , 3 AV D, 3 ARG , 3 ARDand / or the at least one 5d, 5g microphone may be chosen according to its sensitivity and / or its bandwidth and / or its usable frequency band and / or the desired measurement characteristics and / or its efficiency and / or the vibrations acceptable by the sensor.

[0069] In the exemplary embodiment of a vehicle 1 shown in [Fig.l], the motor vehicle 1 comprises four wheels 7 and is equipped with four tri-axis accelerometers 3 AVG, AVD , 3 ARG , 3 ARD and two 5d, 5g microphones.

[0070] The X axis refers to the longitudinal direction in which the vehicle usually travels in a straight line, and is oriented from the rear to the front of the vehicle. The Y axis refers to the transverse direction of the vehicle and is oriented from the right side to the left side of the vehicle. The Z axis refers to the vertical direction, and is oriented from the bottom to the top, from the bottom to the top of the vehicle.

[0071] The invention proposes to use at least one sensor 2 of the type described above of a vehicle 1 to carry out a diagnosis of the condition of the road surface of at least one portion of a road network and / or to carry out a diagnosis of the condition of the vehicle.

[0072] The vehicle 1 may comprise a system 10 for estimating the state of a road network and / or a vehicle.

[0073] A system 10 for estimating the state of a road network and / or a vehicle is described below with reference to [Fig.2].

[0074] The system 10 may comprise hardware and / or software elements 2, 12, 16, 18 implementing or governing a method for estimating the state of a road network and / or a vehicle of the type described below. In particular, the system 10 comprises the hardware and / or software elements making it possible to implement the steps of a method for estimating the state of a road network and / or a vehicle of the type described below. These different elements may comprise software modules.

[0075] For example, the hardware and / or software elements may include all or part of the following: - at least one sensor 2, in particular a vibration sensor; - an active control system 12, in particular of the acoustic emission of the contact of the vehicle on the road; - a calculator or computer; - a memory 16; - a comparator 18.

[0076] The vehicle 1 may comprise an active control system 12, in particular for the acoustic emission of the contact of the vehicle on the road. The active control system 12 may be included in the system 10. Each of the systems 10 and 12 may comprise a calculator or computer. Alternatively, a calculator or computer may be common to the systems 10 and 12.

[0077] The vehicle 1 and / or the system 10 and / or the active control system 12 may be in communication connection with an information provision device 14.

[0078] The information supply device 14 may be intended to supply the system 10 with information, in particular GPS satellite signal information (acronym of Anglo-Saxon origin for “Global Positioning System”) making it possible to determine the geographical position of the vehicle 1.

[0079] The information providing device 14 may further be intended to provide the system 10 with information concerning the type of roadway and / or the topography of the roadway.

[0080] The information supply device 14 may be intended to supply the system 10 with at least one location item of information, in particular of the GPS type.

[0081] The information providing device 14 may comprise at least one position sensor. The at least one position sensor may be arranged inside and / or outside the vehicle 1.

[0082] The vehicle 1, in particular the system 10, may comprise hardware and / or software elements configured so as to implement a method of the type described below. The hardware and / or software elements may comprise modules software.

[0083] An electronic memory 16 may form a recording medium readable by a calculator or computer comprising instructions which, when executed by the computer or calculator, cause the latter to implement a method of the type described below. The memory 16 may be located in the calculator.

[0084] The at least one sensor 2 makes it possible to measure or calculate at least one piece of data representative of the state of the road. The system 10 is thus intended to acquire, in particular in real time, when the vehicle 1 travels a portion of a road network, at least one piece of data, from at least one parameter measured or calculated by said at least one sensor 2, said at least one piece of data being in particular relative to the state of said portion of the road network and / or to the acoustic emission of the contact of the vehicle on the road.

[0085] The at least one sensor 2 is in particular arranged in a fixed manner relative to the vehicle 1.

[0086] Alternatively, measurements may be received in real time from a portable connected object 2 placed in the vehicle 1.

[0087] The at least one data from the at least one sensor 2 is suitable for providing a real-time indicator of rolling noise.

[0088] The system 10 may comprise a comparator 18 making it possible to compare said at least one piece of data with at least one piece of reference data, for example calculated for the same location of said portion of the road network and / or with at least one piece of reference data for one or more motor vehicles. The reference data may be standardized data, established by any theoretical calculation and / or originating from any processing of past measurements.

[0089] Said at least one reference data can be provided by mapping or modeling according to the CNOSSOS / NMPB2008 standard.

[0090] The comparator 18 may be located in the computer, embedded in the vehicle, or remotely located, in which case said data is automatically transmitted remotely for processing by the comparator.

[0091] An advantage of a system of the type described above is that the instrumentation used is simple. To equip any vehicle, a system can be provided that is completely external to the vehicle, with its own power source, including a battery, its navigation unit, and its processing and communication stage.

[0092] In the case of a fully integrated solution, the data collected at a frequency sufficient to allow the evaluation of roadway parameters are volatile: once post-processed, only a synthetic value (RMS) is retained so as to allow possible communication via wireless network, or storage, without requiring complex communication means or storage spaces incompatible with the constraints of a vehicle. The processing can be done on the vehicle's central unit (IVI) or in a separate computer if necessary, particularly in the event of memory and / or computing power limitations of the vehicle's main on-board computer.

[0093] Such a system is compatible with the presence in the vehicle of an active rolling noise control system, in particular of the “RANC” type.

[0094] A mode of execution of a method for estimating the state of a road network and / or a vehicle 1 is described below with reference to [Fig. 3]. This mode of execution is described in the case of a motor vehicle 1. In the following, the personal pronoun “on” is used for the system 10 or for the active control system 12 or for the vehicle 1 or for other devices or systems implementing the method.

[0095] In a step E1, a vehicle 1 is equipped with at least one sensor 2, in particular a vibration sensor, in particular at least one accelerometer 3 A VD, 3 A VG> 3 ARD , 3 ARG and / or at least a 5d, 5g microphone.

[0096] The at least one sensor 2 may be a sensor intended to carry out active control of the acoustic emission of the contact of the vehicle on the road or intended to carry out active control of a rolling noise. According to a variant, the at least one sensor 2 may be a sensor which is not intended to carry out active control of the acoustic emission of the contact of the vehicle on the road or of a rolling noise.

[0097] The at least one sensor 2 may be a sensor attached to the vehicle 1, in particular forming part of the vehicle's instrumentation.

[0098] In a step E2, a first portion of a road network is considered and at least one piece of data, in particular vibration and / or acoustic data, calculated or measured by the at least one sensor 2, is collected.

[0099] First, the road network can be divided into identified portions or sections.

[0100] When the vehicle 1 travels along said portion of a road network, at least one piece of data is collected in real time, in particular from at least one parameter measured by said at least one sensor 2, said at least one piece of data relating in particular to the state of said portion of the road network and / or to the acoustic emission of the vehicle's contact with the road.

[0101] A representative value or parameter, including at least one acoustic parameter of the roadway, may be determined or measured along the portion, for example a roughness of the surface and / or a sound absorption of the surface.

[0102] Simple laws link the pavement roughness parameters, in particular the mean profile depth (MPD) and the vibration signal provided by F at least one sensor 2 of the vehicle, after adequate signal processing of the vibration signal.

[0103] By moving a vehicle over different surfaces at different speeds, laws establishing roughness as a function of the vibration level treated can be constructed from regressions on the tests carried out, and appear in the form:

[0104] [Math.l] Roughness = f(Vibration, Vehicle speed)

[0105] These laws can be compared to the measurements made and allow an estimation of the roughness with an uncertainty of the order of 10%.

[0106] Furthermore, by measuring the noise emitted outside the vehicle during the same tests, laws of the type

[0107] [Math.2] Noise emitted = g(Roughness, Vehicle speed)

[0108] can be expressed, with an error less than IdBA.

[0109] Using the laws relating the increase in rolling resistance to roughness, and the share of rolling resistance in the overall energy loss of a vehicle, we can write:

[0110] [Math.3] Overconsumption = h(Roughness)

[0111] which expresses the increment in consumption compared to the vehicle's consumption on a reference road.

[0112] The data collected by the at least one sensor 2 thus makes it possible to characterize a roadway in a geolocalized manner, in particular its roughness, then the prediction of noise pollution and energy consumption. This makes it possible to evaluate the acoustic impact and emissions (CO2, particles) linked to traffic as a whole, in a manner not limited to the circulation of instrumented vehicles.

[0113] Raw data can be collected, especially as a data set at regular time intervals.

[0114] At least one signal processing can be implemented to obtain relevant quantities.

[0115] In the signal measured by said at least one sensor 2, at least one parameter which most characterizes the vibration can be determined.

[0116] Advantageously, the vehicle 1 can be equipped, during step E1, with several synchronous sensors 2, preferably at least four synchronous sensors 2. In this case, signal processing can be carried out for the four signals measured by the four sensors 2. An amplitude of random noise can be determined. A principal component analysis can be carried out.

[0117] In a step E3, said at least one measured data item can be compared with at least a reference datum, as mentioned above. For example, the reference datum is calculated for the same location of said portion of the road network and / or with at least one reference datum from one or more motor vehicles. Alternatively, it is established according to pollution standards.

[0118] Said at least one reference data can be provided by a communication network.

[0119] In a step E4, the state of the road network and / or said vehicle 1 can be estimated as a function of the difference between said at least one piece of data from said at least one sensor 2 and said at least one piece of reference data.

[0120] In the case of vehicle 1 condition assessment, if the measured value differs from the expected value, it is concluded that vehicle 1 has an anomaly.

[0121] The data measured during the journey of vehicle 1 on the section of the road network can be indicated, in particular in real time. A vehicle user can thus be warned of an anomaly, in particular by a display, for example when the measured data does not correspond to the reference data.

[0122] The at least one piece of data thus makes it possible to obtain at least one piece of information linked to the vehicle 1.

[0123] An anomaly of the vehicle 1 can be detected by the at least one sensor 2, for example from information such as the speed of the vehicle and / or the rotational speed of a wheel 7 at a given rotational frequency. This makes it possible, for example, to detect a detachment of a wheel 7 from the vehicle 1.

[0124] In a step E5, other information relating to said portion may be determined or measured or collected.

[0125] Step E5 may in particular comprise a sub-step E51 of geolocation of the at least one piece of data obtained at the end of step E2. This allows an association of said data and the location, and thus to construct a map of the data, and thus to obtain a map of the state of a road network.

[0126] Location information, for example GPS satellite signals, can be determined, measured or collected to determine the vehicle's geographic position.

[0127] During sub-step E51, an association of said at least one piece of data with at least one piece of information, in particular location information, in particular provided by a position sensor, for example of the GPS type, in particular to obtain at least one piece of geolocated data can be carried out.

[0128] Preferably, each raw acoustic data obtained at the end of step E2 can be associated with a position of the vehicle 1.

[0129] The at least one piece of data obtained at the end of step E2 can be contextualized to the at least one piece of information provided by the information supply device 14, especially GPS type.

[0130] Step E5 may in particular comprise a sub-step E52 of dating the at least one piece of data obtained at the end of step E2.

[0131] Advantageously, the at least one piece of data, preferably each piece of data, can be associated with a date.

[0132] The vehicle 1 and / or the system 10 and / or the active control system 12 of the vehicle may be in radio wave communication connection with the information supply device 14.

[0133] Step E5 can be carried out by on-board processing or off-board post-processing. One or more more or less advanced signal processing operations can be carried out.

[0134] Step E5 may in particular comprise a sub-step E53 of storing at least one piece of data obtained at the end of step E2.

[0135] During the session of use of the vehicle 1, the system 10 can record in the memory 16 the raw acoustic data, possibly associated with at least one location information, in particular associated with the positions of the vehicle, and / or possibly dated.

[0136] In a step E6, processing and / or formatting of at least one item of data can be carried out.

[0137] For example, the information from steps E1 to E6 can be collected and stored in a database.

[0138] A database can be constructed from a storage of measured data, in particular in an electronic memory 16.

[0139] A database may be constructed and stored in a memory of the motor vehicle. Alternatively, a database may be constructed and stored on a remote server. Alternatively, a database may be constructed and stored in a mobile terminal, in particular a connected object.

[0140] Steps E1 to E6 can be repeated on a plurality of vehicles.

[0141] Steps E1 to E6 can be repeated on all portions of the road network traveled by the vehicle. When the vehicle travels a portion other than the first portion, steps E1 to E6 are implemented in relation to said other portion. Advantageously, steps E1 to E6 are implemented on each portion traveled by the vehicle.

[0142] Advantageously, steps E1 to E6 can be repeated, for the same portion, at different times. This results in a possible determination of an evolution of the state of a road network over time.

[0143] Such a method can be used for conditional maintenance of land vehicles and / or to inform a driver of an anomaly on his vehicle.

[0144] Advantageously, a method for estimating the state of a road network and a method vehicle condition assessment of the type described above can be implemented in parallel.

[0145] Data obtained by a process of the type described above can be used to manage outdoor noise pollution from road traffic.

[0146] A common method in terms of modelling noise pollution due to road traffic to obtain noise exposure maps consists, according to the CNOSSOS / NMPB2008 standard in force, of describing the acoustic characteristics of the roadway according to three categories (RI, R2, R3).

[0147] The share of contact noise between tires and the road, or road noise, in the exterior noise pollution of a vehicle is high. Noise pollution depends directly on the condition of the road surface.

[0148] The invention proposes using at least one sensor 2 of a vehicle 1 to analyze the road surface of at least one portion of a road network.

[0149] An example of the use of a method of the type described above is described below.

[0150] In a step E7, at least one piece of data obtained at the end of step E6 can be provided to at least one noise observatory, in particular for updating the noise calculations of this observatory. Acoustic characteristics of a roadway of a portion of a road network can thus be supplemented and / or refined and / or updated. Competent authorities can thus decide on priorities for roadway repairs.

[0151] A process of the type described above makes it possible to accumulate data for geographic maps.

[0152] An advantage of a method of the type described above is that decisions can be made for roadway rehabilitation directly based on the actual condition of a roadway rather than solely from models.

[0153] An advantage of a method of the type described above is that it allows the evolution of the condition of a road network to be monitored, in particular the roughness of the road surface to be monitored over time. Such monitoring of the roughness of a road surface over time is particularly advantageous since the wear of the road surface has an impact on the noise emitted by a vehicle.

[0154] An advantage of a process of the type described above is that it allows the roughness of the road surface of a road network to be monitored, which makes it possible to prioritize repair operations in relation to noise pollution.

[0155] An advantage of a method of the type described above is that it can be implemented for a plurality of vehicles, for example for 1000 motor vehicles. Robust data and / or statistics are obtained, in particular thanks to the number effect.

[0156] An advantage of a method of the type described above is that a user can be informed of the health status of his vehicle throughout his journey, for example during each session of use of the vehicle.

[0157] One advantage of a method like the one described above is that measurements can be made on all types of roads, not just motorways.

[0158] An advantage of a system and method of the type described above is the reduced manufacturing and implementation cost. Indeed, at least one sensor can be a conventional sensor already used for other functions.

[0159] One advantage of a method like the one described above is that it allows for the construction of a database of road conditions that can be used by noise observatories. This results in a more detailed estimate of the noise environment and the health consequences linked to noise.

[0160] Acoustic data from a plurality of vehicles using a portion of a road network can be collected and analyzed in order to manage and / or monitor the condition of a road network. This makes it possible to refine maps intended to be shared by assigning acoustic data or indicators to different portions of the road network.

[0161] An advantage of a method of the type described above lies in the fact that it makes it possible to monitor the condition of a portion of a road network, in particular in terms of the acoustic quality of the roadway, while carrying out active control of the acoustic emission of the contact of the vehicle on the road. A system 10 for estimating the condition of a road network and / or of a vehicle and a system 12 for actively controlling the acoustic emission of the contact of a vehicle 1 on a road can operate in synergy.

[0162] The invention also relates to a database constructed by implementing a method such as that described above, for example on a file or a data file system on which the collected data are recorded. The invention also relates to a memory or a data medium containing such a database or such files.

[0163] An example of using a method of the type described above is described below. A method of carrying out a method for estimating roughness or topography along a portion of a road network is described below.

[0164] The method may comprise, at the end of step E2, a step E8 of determining at least one indicator of a state of the roadway along said portion from said at least one data item, F at least one indicator being in particular a roughness indicator, for example a class or a level of roughness.

[0165] In a step E8, a representative value can be calculated, from Fau minus one parameter measured by said at least one sensor 2 during step E2.

[0166] In particular, an average of a first parameter corresponding to the longitudinal axis X and a second parameter corresponding to the vertical axis Z are calculated. A spatial average of the roughness is obtained at the location of at least one contact zone between a tire and a road surface.

[0167] We can calculate an effective value, for example an RMS (acronym of Anglo-Saxon origin for "Root Mean Square"), for example filtered at low frequency.

[0168] From the effective value and at least one other piece of information, in particular a speed of the vehicle 1, an acoustic index can be obtained, in particular a roughness indicator, for example a class or a level of roughness.

[0169] The roughness indicator can be associated with at least one piece of information, in particular location information, notably provided by a position sensor, for example of the GPS type.

[0170] This makes it possible to obtain a roughness indicator at different locations on a road network, which makes it possible to assess the condition of the road surfaces on a road network.

[0171] The output of step E2 of the method can be used as input for at least one noise observatory.

[0172] An advantage of a method of the type described above is that it allows at least one geolocated and / or dated data to be obtained. Such a method makes it possible to classify the type of road surface of a road network and / or to decide on priorities for road resurfacing. Such a method makes it possible to evaluate the acoustic situation of a road surface of a road network frequently. This results in a wealth of data or information obtained by such a method.

[0173] A method of the type described above may be used for managing and / or monitoring the condition of a road network. A method of carrying out a method for determining the type of wear of a roadway along a portion of a road network is described below.

[0174] The use of at least one sensor 2 of a vehicle 1 allows a detailed diagnosis of the condition of a roadway.

[0175] Such a process makes it possible to detect and / or locate road information (obstacle, location, type of obstacle, etc.).

[0176] Such a method makes it possible to obtain a large amount of data, for example a phase shift between a front wheel and a rear wheel of a vehicle 1 and / or a phase shift between a left wheel and a right wheel of a vehicle 1.

[0177] In one step, statistical processing of the signal can be carried out, in particular from at least one piece of data provided by the at least one sensor 2.

[0178] A first roughness can be determined from at least one first 3 VD sensor arranged near the right front wheel and / or from at least one first 3 sensor A RD arranged near the right rear wheel. Roughness can be obtained from any calculation made from data from sensors, according to examples mentioned previously.

[0179] A second roughness can be determined from at least one second sensor arranged near the left front wheel 3 A VG and / or from at least one second sensor arranged near the left rear wheel 3 ARG .

[0180] We can compare the first roughness with the second roughness.

[0181] In the case where the first roughness is different from the second roughness, we can deduce a different wear of the road surface of the said portion at the edge of the road and in the center of the road. We can deduce a type of wear of the road surface.

[0182] A method of carrying out a method for detecting macroscopic defects in a roadway along a portion of a road network, and / or determining the type of defects, is described below with reference to [Fig.4],

[0183] Such a method makes it possible to determine the geometry of macro-defects or macroscopic defects of a roadway.

[0184] In one step, the speed of a vehicle 1 and / or the steering wheel angle or steered wheel angle of a vehicle 1 can be determined.

[0185] In one step, a measurement of at least one parameter is carried out by said at least one sensor 2.

[0186] In one step, the geometry or shape or morphology of a defect in a roadway can be estimated. For this, the invention proposes to carry out an exploitation of the shocks received by said at least one sensor 2, preferably by each sensor 2 arranged at a location close to one of the four wheels 7 of the vehicle 1. Advantageously, each sensor 3 AV D, 3 AVG , 3 ARD , 3 ARG placed at a location close to one of the four wheels 7 of the vehicle 1 makes it possible to obtain four measurement points.

[0187] If sensor 3 AV G associated with the left front wheel and sensor 3 AV D associated with the right front wheel detect an impact simultaneously at a time T (curves 21 and 22 of [Fig.4]), and if sensor 3 ARG associated with the left rear wheel and sensor 3 ARDassociated with the right rear wheel detect this signal after a duration equal to the wheelbase E divided by the speed V of the vehicle 1 (curves 23 and 24 of [Fig.4]), we deduce that the fault 26 detected can be a fault perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X in which the vehicle usually moves in a straight line, and of width at least equal to the width of the lane 28 of the portion of the road network on which the vehicle 1 moves.

[0188] The term "wheelbase" of vehicle 1 means the distance between the front right wheel 7 and the rear right wheel 7 or the distance between the front left wheel 7 and the rear left wheel 7.

[0189] If a shock is detected by sensor 3 AV D associated with the right front wheel (curve 32 of [Fig.4]) and sensor 3 AVG associated with the left front wheel (curve 31 of [Fig.4]) and / or by sensor 3 ARD associated with the right rear wheel (curve 34 of [Fig.4]) and sensor 3 A RG associated with the left rear wheel (curve 33 of [Fig.4]) in a non-simultaneous manner, for example with a time lag β, we deduce that the detected defect 36 may be an oblique defect of track 38 of the portion of the road network on which the vehicle 1 is moving.

[0190] If a shock is detected by only one of the 3 sensors AV D associated with the right front wheel or 3 AV G associated with the left front wheel (sensor 3 AV D in the example corresponding to curves 41, 42 of [Fig.4], sensor 3 AV G in the example corresponding to curves 51, 52 of [Fig.4]) and / or by only one of the sensors 3 ARD associated with the right rear wheel or 3 ARG associated with the left rear wheel (sensor 3 ARD in the example corresponding to curves 43, 44 of [Fig.4], sensor 3 ARGin the example corresponding to curves 53, 54 of [Fig.4]), we deduce that the detected defect 46, 56 may be a defect whose width is less than the width of the lane 48, 58 of the portion of the road network on which the vehicle 1 is moving.

[0191] A method for detecting macroscopic defects in a roadway along a portion of a road network, and determining the type of defects, such as that described above, can also be applied to a two-wheeled vehicle.

[0192] Such a process makes it possible to determine the severity of macro-defects or macroscopic defects in a roadway.

[0193] The amplitude of an impact, related to the speed of vehicle 1 and taking into account the steering wheel angle or steered wheel angle of the vehicle, can be used to establish the severity of the fault.

[0194] Appropriate signal processing, taking into account the mass of vehicle 1 and its inertia, makes it possible to determine, for example, the depth of a pothole or the height of a step-shaped defect on a road.

[0195] A process of the type described above makes it possible to offer new services for external stakeholders (regions, road resurfacing stakeholders), clients (vehicle fleet managers and individuals): - sale or monetization of the data collected; - detection of road defects, by equipping a vehicle with sensors of suitable sensitivity and sufficiently robust; - monitoring of roughness, in particular allowing the estimation of noise emissions from vehicles, which can be used in particular by noise observatories, and / or detection of singularities which could also be point sources of noise; - conditional maintenance of a vehicle, by detecting anomalies; - asset management, by tracking the history of a vehicle in a fleet, or, in the case of an individual, asset management or acquisition of information for their insurer; - for a rental company, allows you to know if the vehicle has been damaged or is in good condition (indicator of the vehicle's health).

[0196] According to an alternative embodiment, the system for estimating the state of a road network and / or a vehicle could be a dedicated system, not coupled with active control, making it possible to provide at least part of the services proposed above.

[0197] Such a system may include, for example, a sensor dedicated to conditional maintenance and asset management.

[0198] According to a variant, a method for estimating the state of a road network and / or a vehicle could use a portable connected object placed in a vehicle 1 instead of, or in addition to, the at least one fixed sensor 2.

[0199] An advantage of such a method is that it achieves even more precise results than those obtained with fixed sensors in a vehicle that are also used for other purposes.

[0200] The invention applies to all types of vehicles, in particular those with thermal or electric engines and hybrid vehicles.

[0201] Although the invention has been described above in the case of a motor vehicle, the invention may be applied to vehicles having a number of wheels other than four, for example to two-wheeled vehicles or to vehicles having a single wheel.

[0202] Although the invention has been described above in the case of rolling noise, the invention can be applied to other types of noise, for example to noise linked to the powertrain.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for estimating the state of a road network and / or a vehicle (1), in particular an automobile, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - provide (El) at least one vehicle (1) with at least one sensor (2), in particular vibrations, in particular at least one accelerometer (3 A VD> 3 AVG, 3 ARD , 3 ARG ) and / or microphone (5d, 5g); - when the vehicle travels a portion of a road network, acquiring (E2), in particular in real time, at least one piece of data, from at least one parameter measured by said at least one sensor (2), said at least one piece of data being in particular relating to the state of said portion of the road network and / or to the acoustic emission of the contact of the vehicle on the road, and in that it comprises a step of comparing (E3) said at least one piece of measured data with at least one piece of reference data, and in that it comprises an estimation (E4) of the state of the road network and / or said vehicle as a function of the difference between said at least one piece of measured data and said at least one piece of reference data.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises: - a step of association (E5), in particular in real time, of said at least one piece of data with at least one piece of information, in particular location information, in particular information provided by a position sensor, for example of the GPS type, to obtain at least one piece of geolocated data, or in particular information on the speed of the vehicle; and / or - a dating step (E5) of said at least one piece of data; and / or - a storage step (E5) of said at least one item of data; and / or - a step of transmission to a server and / or processing and / or formatting of said at least one piece of data (E6).

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it further comprises a step (E8) of determining at least one indicator of a state of the roadway along said portion from said at least one data item, F at least one indicator being in particular a roughness indicator, for example a class or a level of roughness.

4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the at least one sensor (2) is intended to carry out an active control of the acoustic emission of the contact of the vehicle (1) on the road, in particular a active control of rolling noise, inside and / or outside the vehicle.

5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the at least one vehicle (1) is provided with at least one accelerometer (3 A VD, 3 AVG, 3 A RD, 3 A RG), in particular piezoelectric, intended to measure a vibration signal, and possibly at least one microphone (5d, 5g) intended to measure an acoustic signal.

6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the at least one sensor (2) comprises a fixed sensor arranged near a wheel (7) of the vehicle (1).

7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the at least one sensor (2) comprises a portable connected object.

8. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a step of constructing a database from a storage of at least one acquired data item, in particular in an electronic memory (16), in particular representative of a map of the state of a road network.

9. System (10) for estimating the state of a road network and / or a vehicle (1), in particular a motor vehicle, the system comprising hardware and / or software elements (16, 18) implementing the method according to one of claims 1 to 8, in particular hardware and / or software elements (16, 18) designed to implement the method according to one of the preceding claims, and / or the system comprising means for implementing the method according to one of the preceding claims.

10. Vehicle (1), in particular motor vehicle, comprising a system according to claim 9.

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