Adaptive Road Treatment Control for Narrowing Routes and Obstacles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing industrial vehicles for road surface treatment lack the ability to automatically adjust spreading and snowploughing parameters in response to changing morphological, environmental, and traffic conditions, leading to potential damage and inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

An adaptive control system utilizing GPS, IMU, and remote sensors to detect road conditions and obstacles, automatically adjusting spreading and snowploughing parameters in real-time to ensure optimal operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If predetermined spreading and snowploughing parameters are used, then the vehicle operates with simple control, but the parameters become non-optimal when route conditions change

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to changing route conditionsVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors route conditions using sensors (GPS, cameras, LIDAR) and feeds this information back to the control unit, which automatically adjusts spreading and snowploughing parameters in real-time, enabling adaptation without manual intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The vehicle's control system autonomously manages parameter adjustments based on sensor data, performing self-service by automatically detecting obstacles and modifying operational parameters without requiring external operator input

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If manual adjustment of parameters is required, then the control system remains simple, but operator errors may cause damage to obstacles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of parameter adjustmentVSAvoidease of manual operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Real-time feedback from sensors detects obstacles and route changes, automatically triggering parameter adjustments that eliminate reliance on operator judgment and prevent human error-induced damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical adjustment system is replaced with an automated electronic control system that uses sensors and algorithms to determine optimal parameters, substituting human decision-making with machine-based automation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If the vehicle spreads products over wide areas, then treatment coverage is maximized, but damage to parked cars and obstacles increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment coverage efficiencyVSAvoiddamage to parked cars

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different spreading parameters to different spatial zones, reducing or eliminating product application in areas with parked cars or obstacles while maintaining full coverage in clear areas, creating locally optimized treatment patterns

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The spreading width and product distribution are dynamically adjusted in real-time based on detected obstacles and route conditions, allowing the system to transition between wide-area coverage and localized application as needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12416125B2Method and system for adaptive control of an industrial vehicle during a road surface treatment operation

Publication Date: 2025.09.16 GILETTA

AI summary

A method for controlling an industrial vehicle comprising the steps of: detecting a physical feature that determines a local narrowing or a widening of said road route; calculating treatment parameters of the road surface adapted to be used in the presence of said physical feature; calculating an estimated time for reaching said physical feature; calculating a time interval value required for a complete implementation of the second treatment parameters; and starting the implementation of the second treatment parameters at a time that is equal to the estimated time excluding the time interval of complete implementation.