Concrete Curb Surrogate for Automated Vehicle Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle testing methods lack effective surrogates that accurately mimic roadside objects, such as concrete curbs, to safely and realistically simulate road departure scenarios for vehicles equipped with road departure mitigation systems.
Innovation Solution
A concrete curb surrogate is designed with a core made of lightweight, sturdy materials and a multi-layer skin that replicates the visual, radar, and infrared characteristics of a real concrete curb, allowing it to be used in vehicle testing without causing damage to the test vehicle or the surrogate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a real concrete curb is used for vehicle testing, then the testing realism is improved, but the risk of vehicle damage and testing safety deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a surrogate curb that copies the essential sensor characteristics of a real concrete curb. The surrogate includes a skin with multiple layers (conductive layer, dielectric layer, and outer layer) designed to replicate the radar, LIDAR, and camera response of actual concrete curbs, allowing vehicles to be tested against realistic obstacles without the danger of real concrete impacts
Solution Approach 2:
The surrogate curb acts as an intermediary between the test vehicle and the actual concrete curb. It provides a safe intermediate testing platform that mimics the optical and electromagnetic properties of real curbs while being physically safe for vehicle collisions, eliminating the need to use real concrete curbs for safety-critical testing
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a lightweight surrogate material is used for the curb body, then the safety and ease of handling is improved, but the accuracy of mimicking concrete characteristics deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials to achieve both safety and sensor accuracy. The surrogate consists of a lightweight core (foam or fabric) covered by a multi-layer skin comprising conductive material, dielectric material, and outer coating. This composite structure provides the safety benefits of lightweight materials while the layered skin restores the electromagnetic and optical characteristics of real concrete for accurate sensor testing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different materials with specific properties to different regions of the surrogate. The skin layers are specifically engineered to match concrete's electromagnetic and optical properties in the regions visible to sensors, while the core uses lightweight materials for safety. This local differentiation allows the surrogate to be safe overall while accurately mimicking concrete characteristics where needed for sensor interaction
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 surrogate effectively mimics the appearance and sensor characteristics of a concrete curb, enabling safe and realistic testing of vehicles' road departure mitigation systems, reducing damage risks, and facilitating the development of advanced safety features.
Implementation Method 1
The skin can be configured to exhibit substantially the same characteristics as the concrete curb relative to one or more vehicle sensors (e.g., camera(s), radar sensor(s), and/or LIDAR sensor(s))
Implementation Method 2
The skin can include a conductive material... relative to one or more vehicle sensors (e.g., camera(s), radar sensor(s), and/or LIDAR sensor(s))
Implementation Method 3
The skin can include a conductive material... relative to one or more vehicle sensors (e.g., camera(s), radar sensor(s), and/or LIDAR sensor(s))
Data Source
AI summary
Surrogates for roadside objects, such as concrete curbs, can be used for vehicle testing. A surrogate for a concrete curb can substantially be similar in size and/or shape as the concrete curb that the surrogate is mimicking. The surrogate can be configured to exhibit substantially the same characteristics as their actual counterpart concrete curb when sensed by one or more vehicle sensors (e.g., cameras, radar sensors, and/or LIDAR sensors). Such surrogates can be used to test automated vehicles, one or more vehicle sensors, a vehicle sensor system, and/or one or more vehicle system (e.g., a road departure mitigation system). The surrogates can be configured to withstand being impacted by a test vehicle without being damaged and without damaging the test vehicle.