Acoustic Road Cavity Detection via Differential Wheel Sound

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods are inefficient in detecting road surface cavities before potholes form, requiring manual inspections that are time-consuming and disruptive to traffic.

Innovation Solution

A system using microphones placed near the front and rear wheels of a vehicle to acquire sound data, detecting cavities by analyzing differences in sound patterns caused by varying axle loads, allowing for automated detection of road surface conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual inspection methods are used to detect road surface cavities, then detection capability is achieved, but time consumption and traffic disruption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection capabilityVSAvoidtime consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection with an automated acoustic detection system. Microphones capture sound waves generated by vehicle tires interacting with the road surface, and signal processing algorithms automatically analyze these sounds to detect cavities. This substitution eliminates the need for manual hammer-tapping inspections, significantly reducing time consumption and traffic disruption while maintaining or improving detection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If manual inspection methods are used to detect road surface cavities, then detection capability is achieved, but traffic disruption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection capabilityVSAvoidtraffic disruption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual road closure inspections with automated acoustic monitoring that operates during normal traffic flow. The microphones and processing system detect cavities by analyzing tire-road interaction sounds without requiring traffic interruption, thereby eliminating the harmful effect of traffic disruption while preserving detection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The road surface itself generates the detection signal through natural tire-road interaction sounds during normal vehicle operation. The system utilizes these self-generated acoustic signals to detect cavities, eliminating the need for external inspection activities that would disrupt traffic. The road surface essentially inspects itself through the sounds produced by passing vehicles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If automated acoustic detection is implemented, then detection efficiency increases, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex manual inspection procedures with a relatively simple automated acoustic system consisting of microphones, signal processors, and analysis algorithms. The system leverages naturally occurring tire-road sounds rather than requiring complex active sensing mechanisms, thereby achieving high detection efficiency with moderate system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses sound waves as an intermediary to detect road surface cavities. Instead of directly measuring physical properties of the road surface, the system captures acoustic signals generated by tire-road interaction and uses these intermediate sound patterns to infer the presence of cavities. This intermediary approach simplifies the detection system compared to direct mechanical or electromagnetic sensing methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables efficient and traffic-minimal detection of road surface cavities, reducing the likelihood of pothole formation and associated costs by identifying weakened road surfaces before they deteriorate further.

Implementation Method 1

acquiring first sound data collected by a first microphone and second sound data collected by a second microphone

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSound wave detection: Sound

Data Source

PatentUS11503393B2Storage medium, road surface condition estimation method, and information processing apparatus

Publication Date: 2022.11.15 FUJITSU LTD

AI summary

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program that causes a computer to execute a process, the process includes acquiring first sound data collected by a first microphone and second sound data collected by a second microphone during traveling of a vehicle in which the first microphone is provided in vicinity of a front wheel and the second microphone is provided in vicinity of a rear wheel; and detecting a cavity under a road surface where the vehicle has traveled based on a difference between the acquired first sound data and the acquired second sound data.