Cooperative Guidance Using Intelligent Road Paint Localization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current traffic management systems lack effective solutions to enhance traffic safety and efficiency, particularly in urban environments where autonomous vehicles and pedestrians interact, with limited advancements in road design and technology to support safe navigation and location determination.
Innovation Solution
The integration of crystalline rare earth phosphors into intelligent paints and coatings on roadways and surfaces, which absorb and convert light to electromagnetic energy, enabling vehicles and pedestrians to determine their location and operational characteristics through sensors, and providing real-time data for improved situational awareness and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If intelligent paints with crystalline rare earth phosphors are integrated into roadways, then location determination precision and situational awareness are improved, but system complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intelligent paints containing crystalline rare earth phosphors as an intermediary layer on roadways. These phosphors absorb light and convert it to electromagnetic energy that sensors can detect, serving as a mediator between the roadway infrastructure and the vehicle's location determination system. This resolves the contradiction by providing precise location data without requiring complex internal vehicle modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical or electronic location determination systems with an optical-electromagnetic field-based system. Instead of relying on complex mechanical sensors or GPS infrastructure, the system uses light absorption and electromagnetic conversion properties of rare earth phosphors to determine location, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining high precision.
2Reliability
If sensors and intelligent paints are integrated into the roadway-vehicle system, then traffic safety and operational control are improved, but manufacturing cost and implementation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The intelligent paints serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide location determination, enhance situational awareness, and support operational control. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems, thereby lowering overall manufacturing costs and implementation complexity while improving traffic safety through comprehensive monitoring and control capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the unique optical and electromagnetic parameters of crystalline rare earth phosphors, which can be tuned by changing their chemical composition and crystal structure. This allows optimization of their performance for specific traffic safety applications while maintaining cost-effectiveness through selective use of different phosphor types based on required performance levels.
3Use of energy by moving object
If crystalline rare earth phosphors are used in intelligent paints, then light conversion efficiency and detection accuracy are improved, but material cost and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies intelligent paints with crystalline rare earth phosphors selectively at specific locations on roadways where location determination and detection are most critical, such as intersections, pedestrian crossings, and curve sections. This localized application optimizes light conversion efficiency where needed while reducing material costs by avoiding unnecessary coverage in areas with lower detection requirements.
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 traffic safety and efficiency by providing precise location determination and operational control for vehicles and pedestrians, even in challenging environments, and supports autonomous vehicle navigation and pedestrian guidance, improving safety and mobility.
Implementation Method 1
The materials and systems of the invention incorporate crystalline rare earth phosphors that absorb light while converting to (or from) visible or infrared wavelengths
Data Source
AI summary
A cooperative vehicle-highway communication system allows vehicles and pedestrians to determine their location by sensing selected coatings on roadways, sidewalks, and other paved surfaces in both indoor and outdoor environments. The systems recognize intelligent materials under sensors to determine geo-location. The intelligent materials are incorporated into paints on the roadway surface to mark key locations. Additionally, vehicles recognize highway paint/markings and signs with intelligent paint that provide specialized message content to support driver information and control applications. The intelligent paint materials include a coating that absorbs light while converting the absorbed light to electromagnetic energy. This electromagnetic energy is read by sensors to recognize the materials. The sensors transform the electromagnetic energy into processing signals to determine operating characteristics of the vehicle, including position and motion characteristics, and to provide operation actions of the vehicle. For mobility impaired pedestrians, the precisely defined geo-locations.