Laser Line Pothole Detection for Low-Visibility Road Deformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) do not adequately account for all driving scenarios and may fail to detect certain roadway obstacles that impact vehicle handling or ride quality, such as potholes, especially in low-visibility conditions.
Innovation Solution
A system using a laser line projector to illuminate the roadway, a camera to capture distorted light beam images, and a vehicle controller to generate one- and two-dimensional deformation matrices, determining severity through binarization and machine learning, with an augmented reality head-up display to notify occupants of roadway conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current ADAS systems use standard sensors (cameras, radar, LiDAR) to detect objects, then they can identify vehicles, pedestrians, and traffic signs, but they fail to detect certain roadway obstacles like potholes that impact vehicle handling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the detection task into two parts: standard ADAS sensors handle vehicles, pedestrians, and traffic signs, while the specialized laser line projector handles roadway surface deformations. This segmentation allows each subsystem to optimize for its specific detection target, improving overall reliability without requiring a single system to be universally adaptable to all scenarios
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary measurement system (laser line projector and camera) that bridges the gap between standard ADAS sensors and roadway surface analysis. This intermediary captures optical deformations caused by potholes and other surface irregularities, enabling detection of obstacles that traditional sensors miss while maintaining compatibility with existing ADAS architecture
2Measurement precision
If the system projects a light beam onto the roadway surface and captures images to detect deformations, then it can identify potholes and classify their severity, but it requires additional illumination and imaging equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the laser line projector and camera system multi-functional by using it both for roadway deformation detection and for providing illumination in low-visibility conditions. The same optical components serve dual purposes: measuring surface geometry through light beam distortion and illuminating the roadway for general visibility, thereby improving measurement precision without proportionally increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own illuminated light beam as the measurement target, eliminating the need for separate passive markers or reflectors on the roadway. The projected light beam itself serves as the reference for detecting deformations, allowing the system to be self-contained and reducing the number of external components required
3Measurement precision
If the system processes multiple images to generate deformation matrices and determine severity, then it can accurately classify roadway conditions, but it requires computational resources and processing time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary binarization of images to create binary masks that isolate the light beam from the background before generating deformation matrices. This preliminary processing step simplifies subsequent calculations by reducing the data to essential deformation information, enabling accurate severity classification while minimizing the computational time required for full image processing
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
Enhances occupant awareness of roadway deformations by accurately identifying and classifying their severity, improving vehicle handling and ride quality through real-time notification.
Implementation Method 1
an illumination device configured to project a light beam onto a roadway surface
Implementation Method 2
a camera configured to capture an image of the light beam on the roadway surface
Data Source
AI summary
A system for determining a condition of a roadway a vehicle is traveling on includes an illumination device, a camera, a display, and a vehicle controller in electrical communication with the illumination device, the camera, and the display. The vehicle controller is programmed to project the light beam onto the roadway surface using the illumination device. The vehicle controller is further programmed to capture a plurality of images of the light beam on the roadway surface using the camera as the vehicle is in motion. The vehicle controller is further programmed to determine a severity of a deformation in the roadway surface based at least in part on the plurality of images of the light beam on the roadway surface. The vehicle controller is further programmed to notify the occupant of the vehicle using the display based on the severity of the deformation in the roadway surface.