GPS Roadway Mark Locator and Replicator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current roadway marking technologies are manually intensive, posing safety risks to workers and are inefficient in accurately and uniformly applying markings, especially on repaved surfaces, and lack the ability to easily sample geographical coordinates of existing marks using GPS or GPS-based pseudolite arrays.
Innovation Solution
A GPS-based system that automatically samples the geographical position of pre-existing roadway marks, determines a continuous mark path, and replicates the marks on repaved roadways using a vehicle-mounted imager and computer system, allowing for accurate and uniform marking deposition while reducing manual labor and enhancing safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual methods are used to determine roadway center and apply markings, then workers can directly position and apply marks, but worker safety is compromised and manual labor intensity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical positioning and marking operations with an automated GPS-based system. The system uses GPS receivers to automatically determine roadway center coordinates, calculates mark paths through computer processing, and guides paint vehicles along the determined paths, eliminating the need for workers to manually position and apply markings on active roadways.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by allowing the GPS-based apparatus to automatically perform functions previously requiring human operators. The system autonomously determines roadway geometry, calculates marking paths, and guides the painting process without continuous human intervention, reducing manual labor while maintaining operational capability.
2Measurement precision
If manual measurement and marking methods are used, then equipment complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and marking uniformity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual measurement tools with GPS-based electronic positioning systems and computer-based calculation systems. The GPS receivers provide precise coordinate data, and computer algorithms automatically calculate mark paths, achieving high measurement precision and marking uniformity through electronic and computational means rather than manual mechanical methods.
3Productivity
If GPS-based automated marking systems are implemented, then productivity and precision improve, but difficulty in detecting and measuring existing marks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses GPS receivers and computer-based image processing to automatically detect and sample the geographical coordinates of existing roadway marks. The system captures images of existing marks, processes them through computer algorithms to determine their positions, and uses this data to calculate new mark paths, replacing difficult manual detection with automated electronic measurement.
Data Source
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AI summary
Apparatus, systems, and methods for locating, inspecting, placing marks on a roadway, and analyzing roadway marks at a remote location. The apparatus may include a GPS-based machine vision locator for sampling discrete geographical location data of a pre-existing roadway mark evident on the roadway. A computer may determine a continuous smooth geographical location function fitted to the sampled geographical location data. And a marker may be responsive to the GPS- based locator and geographical location function for replicating automatically the pre-existing roadway mark onto the roadway. The roadway marks may be located and inspected, and the data collected may be filtered and compressed such that the data can be analyzed at a remote location.