Ground-Embedded Sensor System for Fuel Lane Occupancy Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Professional truck drivers face challenges in determining the occupancy time of fuel lanes at travel centers, making it difficult to decide which lane to wait for, as trucks cannot easily back up and change lanes, leading to inefficiencies in fueling operations.
Innovation Solution
A speed of service system incorporating sensors within the ground layer of fuel lanes, communicatively coupled with radios and visual displays, provides real-time information on lane occupancy and time, allowing drivers to make informed decisions and enabling data collection for central management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If no occupancy timing system is installed, then the system remains simple and inexpensive, but drivers cannot determine fuel lane occupancy time leading to inefficient waiting and line management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces sensors embedded in the ground layer as intermediary devices that detect vehicle presence and trigger timing functions. These sensors act as mediators between the physical occupancy state and the information display system, enabling automatic tracking without requiring complex manual intervention or sophisticated infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by allowing the fuel lane infrastructure itself to automatically track and display occupancy information. The sensors and timers work autonomously to provide real-time status updates to drivers, eliminating the need for manual monitoring or complex centralized control systems
2Ease of operation
If visual display of occupancy time is implemented, then drivers can make informed lane selection decisions, but additional infrastructure components are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the information display function into discrete visual indicators positioned at each fuel lane. Each lane has its own timer and visual display component, allowing drivers to independently assess occupancy status of each lane without requiring a complex centralized display system. This segmentation simplifies both the infrastructure requirements and the driver decision-making process
3Measurement precision
If sensors are embedded in the ground layer, then occupancy detection is automatic and accurate, but installation and maintenance become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sensor functionality with the existing ground layer infrastructure. By embedding sensors directly into the pavement structure, the system utilizes the existing road surface as part of the detection mechanism, reducing the need for separate mounting structures and simplifying integration with the fuel lane infrastructure
Data Source
AI summary
A speed of service system includes a ground layer, a sensor positioned within the ground layer, a radio communicatively coupled to the sensor, a sign controller receiving a signal from the wired radio, and a visual display displaying information obtained by the sensor.