Automated Vehicle Pollution Source Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pollution detection methods rely on manual instrumentation and fixed equipment, which are inadequate for tracking pollution sources that spread over large areas and vary in concentration due to unpredictable wind or water patterns, making it difficult to identify and locate the origin of pollution.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing automated vehicles equipped with position sensors and pollution detection sensors that measure concentration gradients, guiding them towards the pollution source using a back-end system with a processor that aggregates data and controls movement based on numerical models, enabling real-time tracking and identification of pollution sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If pollution detection equipment is disposed in fixed positions over a wide geographic area, then the coverage area for detecting pollution is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from static fixed-position pollution detectors to dynamic mobile platforms (drones, ground vehicles, water vehicles) that can move autonomously through the environment. This allows a single or small number of detection systems to cover large geographic areas by relocating their measurement positions, thereby maintaining wide coverage while reducing the number of fixed equipment installations needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces automated vehicle platforms as intermediaries between the pollution detection sensors and the environment. These vehicles carry the detection equipment and navigate to various locations, acting as mobile intermediaries that enable coverage of wide areas without requiring fixed infrastructure at every measurement point.
2Ease of operation
If manual instrumentation is used for pollution detection, then the ease of operation is improved, but the productivity and speed of pollution source identification deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service through automated vehicles that autonomously navigate, locate pollution sources using gradient-based algorithms, and return to base stations for data transmission and recharging. The system performs pollution detection and source localization without continuous human intervention, with vehicles independently making navigation decisions based on real-time pollution concentration measurements and gradient calculations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where pollution concentration measurements taken by the vehicles are fed back to gradient calculation algorithms, which then determine the direction and magnitude of movement toward the pollution source. This closed-loop feedback system enables automated vehicles to continuously adjust their trajectories based on real-time measurements, improving both productivity and automation while maintaining ease of operation through centralized monitoring.
3Speed
If pollution concentration gradients are measured in real-time, then the speed of pollution source identification is improved, but the use of energy and computational resources increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by calculating pollution concentration gradients only in the directions relevant to source localization, rather than performing exhaustive three-dimensional gradient calculations at all points. The system focuses computational resources on determining the directional gradient components needed for navigation, reducing overall computational load while maintaining real-time source identification capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A pollution source detection system, includes an automated vehicle including a position sensor that detects a geographic position of the automated vehicle and at least one pollution detection sensor that measures a concentration of pollution at the automated vehicle. The pollution source detection system includes a back-end system. The back-end system includes a network interface that receives the geographic position and the concentration of the pollution from the automated vehicle. The back-end system includes a database that stores the geographic position and the concentration of the pollution received via the network interface. The back-end system includes a processor that measures a gradient of the concentration of the pollution and controls a movement of the automated vehicle based on the gradient to guide the automated vehicle toward a source of the pollution.