Ground-Penetrating Radar Speed Sensing Beneath Disturbed Road Surfaces
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining vehicle speed over ground are not reliable and accurate, particularly in environments where global positioning systems fail or road surfaces have disturbances like water, snow, or moving objects.
Innovation Solution
A ground-penetrating radar transceiver with a main transmission lobe directed towards the road surface is used to detect a target point below the surface, determining speed over ground based on Doppler frequency, employing a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar and narrow beam configuration to suppress clutter and enhance accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ground-penetrating radar is used to detect targets below road surface, then reliability of speed measurement is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the road surface as an intermediary medium to access subsurface targets. By transmitting radar signals through the road surface to subsurface objects and analyzing the returned signals, the system achieves reliable speed measurement without directly observing the moving road surface, thus avoiding surface disturbance issues while using the surface as a transmission medium.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical/optical surface-based detection methods with electromagnetic wave-based ground-penetrating radar. This substitution allows penetration through the road surface to detect subsurface targets, eliminating sensitivity to surface conditions like water, snow, or debris while maintaining measurement reliability.
2Measurement precision
If radar detects road surface targets, then speed over ground can be determined, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to road surface disturbances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the measurement target from the problematic road surface environment by detecting subsurface objects instead. By focusing radar detection on stationary subsurface targets rather than the disturbed road surface, the system eliminates the harmful effects of surface water, snow, and moving debris on measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from surface-level detection to subsurface detection by transmitting radar waves through the road surface. This dimensional change from detecting objects on the surface to detecting objects below the surface removes the measurement from the harmful surface environment while maintaining the ability to determine vehicle speed over ground.
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
This method provides a stable and reliable estimate of vehicle speed over ground, unaffected by road surface disturbances, allowing for precise vehicle control and improved motion management.
Implementation Method 1
detecting a Doppler frequency associated with a target point at a distance below the road surface, and determining the speed over ground vx of the heavy-duty vehicle based on the detected Doppler frequency
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~3B
Figure 4~5B
AI summary
A method for determining speed over ground () of a heavy-duty vehicle (100), the method comprising configuring a ground-penetrating radar transceiver (160) with a main transmission lobe (170),detecting a Doppler frequency associated with a target point at a distance (d) below a road surface (101), and determining the speed over ground () of the heavy-duty vehicle (100) based on the detected Doppler frequency.