Infrared Road Marking Patterns Hidden From Human Drivers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current road marking technologies are inadequate for supporting fully autonomous vehicles, as they are often visible to human drivers and can cause clutter, and existing automated systems struggle to distinguish between different markings, leading to potential errors and safety issues.
Innovation Solution
Developing a method to paint driving assistance markings that are visible in the infrared spectrum but imperceptible in the visible light spectrum, using specific paint materials that reflect infrared light differently than the road surface, allowing automated vehicular systems to detect these markings while avoiding human perception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If road markings are made visible in the visible light spectrum to assist human drivers, then human drivers can perceive and understand road information, but automated vehicular systems struggle to distinguish between different markings leading to potential errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensional change by transitioning from visible light spectrum to infrared spectrum for road markings. The markings are designed to be invisible or low-contrast in the visible spectrum but high-contrast in the infrared spectrum, allowing automated systems with infrared sensors to clearly distinguish markings while human drivers remain unaffected by visual clutter.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the spectral parameter of road markings from visible light to infrared radiation. By using materials with specific infrared reflectivity properties, the markings achieve high detectability for automated systems in the infrared spectrum while maintaining low visibility in the human-visible spectrum, thus resolving the contradiction between human perception and machine detection reliability.
2Reliability
If road markings are made visible in the infrared spectrum for automated vehicle detection, then automated vehicular systems can reliably detect and distinguish markings, but human drivers may perceive clutter and distraction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by operating in a different spectral dimension (infrared) that is imperceptible to human eyes. The markings are designed with specific infrared reflectivity characteristics that make them highly detectable by automated systems equipped with infrared sensors, while remaining invisible or minimally visible to human drivers, thus eliminating visual clutter and distraction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating markings with differentiated infrared reflectivity properties in specific locations and patterns. Different road marking types (e.g., lane dividers, edge markings, crosswalks) can have distinct infrared signatures, allowing automated systems to reliably distinguish between different marking types without creating visual clutter for human drivers who cannot perceive these infrared differences.
3Ease of operation
If traditional visible light road markings are used, then human drivers can see and interpret road information, but automated systems experience difficulty in accurate detection and interpretation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions the operational dimension from visible light to infrared spectrum for road markings. This dimensional change allows automated systems with infrared sensors to achieve high measurement precision in detecting and interpreting markings, while the markings remain imperceptible or low-contrast in the visible spectrum, thus not compromising human driver operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of marking visibility from the visible light spectrum to the infrared spectrum. By using materials with tailored infrared optical properties, the markings achieve high contrast and detectability for automated systems in the infrared range, while maintaining low visibility in the human-visible range, thereby resolving the contradiction between human ease of operation and machine detection accuracy.
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 solution enhances the detection and reliability of road markings for autonomous vehicles, reduces clutter for human drivers, and prevents erroneous interpretations of distracting objects, thereby improving safety and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
using specific paint materials that reflect infrared light differently than the road surface, allowing automated vehicular systems to detect these markings
Implementation Method 2
paint materials characterized by: (1) Reflecting light in a visible light spectral range deviating less than a first value from the visible light spectral range reflected by a surface of the one or more elements
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are methods and system for detecting road marking expressed using alternating infrared reflective tiles comprising high infrared reflective tiles and low infrared red reflective tiles painted on a road surface using paint material(s) characterized by: (1) reflecting light in visible light spectral range deviating less than a first value from the light reflected by the road surface and (2) reflecting light in an infrared spectral range deviating more than a second value from the light reflected by the road surface. Infrared image(s) and visible light image(s) of the road surface which are registered to each other may be analyzed to compute an infrared reflective value and a luminance value for each pixel respectively. A ratio may be computed between the infrared reflective value of and the luminance value of corresponding pixels to identify high and low infrared reflective tiles in pixels having a ratio exceeding a third value.