Infrared Road Markings for Reliable Automated Vehicle Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automated vehicular systems face challenges in distinguishing and interpreting road markings, especially when these markings are visible in the visible light spectrum, leading to clutter and potential errors, while existing systems are limited in their ability to differentiate between extensive markings and distracting objects.
Innovation Solution
The development of infrared reflective paint materials that reflect light in a manner invisible in the visible light spectrum but visible in the infrared spectrum, allowing for the creation of driving assistance markings that are imperceptible to human drivers but detectable by automated systems equipped with infrared sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If road markings are made visible in the visible light spectrum to assist human drivers, then human drivers can better understand the driving environment, but automated vehicular systems face challenges in distinguishing these markings from distracting objects, leading to clutter and potential errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by transitioning road markings from the visible light spectrum to the infrared spectrum. The markings reflect infrared light while appearing invisible in visible light, allowing automated systems with infrared sensors to detect them clearly without human drivers perceiving clutter. This spectral dimension shift resolves the contradiction by making markings simultaneously invisible to humans and clearly visible to automated systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by giving different spectral reflection properties to different aspects of the same road marking. The markings are designed to reflect infrared light specifically while having minimal reflection in the visible spectrum. This localized spectral property differentiation allows the same marking to serve dual purposes: invisible to human drivers (reducing clutter) and highly detectable by automated infrared-equipped systems (improving reliability).
2Reliability
If infrared reflective paint materials are used to create markings invisible in visible light, then automated systems can detect markings without clutter, but the markings become invisible to human drivers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by operating in a different spectral dimension. Instead of making markings visible in the traditional visible light spectrum, the system uses infrared-reflective materials that operate in the infrared spectrum. Automated vehicles equipped with infrared sensors can detect these markings with high reliability, while human drivers who perceive only visible light see no clutter. The dimensionality change to infrared spectrum simultaneously achieves both goals.
3Loss of information
If extensive road markings are applied to provide comprehensive driving information, then automated systems have more data for decision-making, but the ability to differentiate between markings and distracting objects decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change to resolve the information differentiation problem. By encoding all driving information in infrared-reflective markings that are invisible in visible light, the system provides comprehensive driving information to automated vehicles without any visible clutter. The infrared spectrum serves as a clean information channel where automated systems can precisely differentiate markings from other objects without the confusion caused by visible light reflections from distracting objects.
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 accuracy and reliability of automated vehicular systems by reducing visual clutter and preventing erroneous detections, while maintaining invisibility to human drivers, thus improving road safety and system performance.
Implementation Method 1
using one or more 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. (2) Reflecting light in an infrared spectral range deviating more than a second value from the infrared spectral range reflected by the surface of the one or more elements
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are methods and systems for painting driving markings invisible in visible light spectrum, comprising generating driving assistance markings expressing driving information relating to one or more road segments, computing instructions for painting the driving assistance markings on one or more elements of the road segment(s) using one or more paint material(s) 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 element(s) and (2) reflecting light in an infrared spectral range deviating more than a second value from the infrared spectral range reflected by the surface of the element(s), and outputting the painting instructions for applying the one or more paint materials on the element(s) according to the instructions such that the driving assistance markings are visible in the infrared spectrum and significantly invisible in the visible spectrum.