Autonomous Vehicle Sheltering for Hail Storm Damage Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Severe hail storms and other weather events cause extensive damage to motor vehicles, particularly to skyward-facing metal surfaces, leading to costly repairs and insurance claims, as existing solutions do not effectively mitigate damage in a timely manner.
Innovation Solution
A self-driving motor vehicle system equipped with a self-driving system, analysis unit, LIDAR unit, cameras, and microphones that navigates to potential sheltered locations, evaluates the adequacy of shelter, and directs itself to more protective areas if necessary, using weather alerts and databases to prioritize and rank shelter options.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the motor vehicle owner drives to a protective structure upon receiving a weather alert, then the vehicle can be sheltered from hail damage, but the owner may not be able to reach the vehicle in time before the storm arrives
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically detecting severe weather conditions through sensors and proactively navigating the vehicle to a protective structure before the hail storm causes damage, eliminating the need for human reaction time
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables the vehicle to serve itself by autonomously detecting weather threats, selecting appropriate shelters, and executing the sheltering maneuver without human intervention, allowing the vehicle to protect itself in real-time
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the vehicle remains in an open area during hail storm, then the vehicle is exposed to extensive hail damage, but moving to a protective structure requires complex navigation and decision-making
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a multi-functional approach where the same sensor suite and processing unit used for general autonomous navigation are also employed for weather detection and shelter selection, avoiding the need for separate dedicated systems
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors weather conditions through sensors and adjusts the vehicle's navigation in real-time based on the detected severity of the storm and the proximity to protective structures, creating a closed-loop control system
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
The system significantly reduces damage to motor vehicles by proactively seeking shelter during severe weather events, minimizing repair costs and inconvenience to owners, and potentially lowering insurance premiums by avoiding extensive hail damage.
Implementation Method 1
The self-driving motor vehicle includes a LIDAR unit for detecting objects and surfaces around the vehicle
Implementation Method 2
at least one of an upwards-facing camera mounted in the LIDAR unit and a recording microphone
Implementation Method 3
a recording microphone configured to record sounds from around the self-driving motor vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for mitigating damage caused by hail storms to self-driving motor-vehicles. When a self-driving motor vehicle determines or learns that a hail storm or other severe weather event may be approaching, it may seek cover under a protective structure or some other location where it might not be as exposed to the severe weather event. Depending upon the availability of suitable shelters, the self-driving motor vehicle might, for example, obtain a list of such possible shelters and apply certain factors to develop a priority list as to which shelters to seek. The self-driving motor vehicle may then drive itself to the location and remain there at least for the duration of the hail storm or other event. In some cases, the self-driving motor vehicle may evaluate the adequacy of the protective structure or other location, and may decide to seek a better protective structure or location.