Raised Pavement Marker Removal System with Sensor-Guided Grinding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for removing raised pavement markers from roadways are inefficient, lack precision, and pose safety risks due to the need for precise placement and potential damage to roadways or adjacent structures, with debris requiring separate handling for safety and recyclability.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle system equipped with a grinder unit and sensing technology, including dual cameras or cameras-plus-active units, for precise alignment and removal of markers, followed by debris collection and warning systems to enhance safety and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a grinder of greater width is used to remove markers, then the removal speed and productivity increase, but the likelihood of damaging the road itself or adjacent structures increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the removal task by using multiple narrow grinder heads instead of one wide grinder. Each grinder head is responsible for removing markers in a specific lane or section, allowing the system to achieve high productivity through parallel processing while maintaining the narrow width needed to avoid damage to the road or adjacent structures
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a single-wide-grinder approach to a multi-head configuration that operates in parallel along the roadway. By adding the dimension of parallel processing with multiple grinder heads spaced apart, the system achieves both high productivity and precise control over the removal zone, preventing damage to adjacent structures
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a grinder of narrow width is used to remove markers, then the damage to roadways or structures is minimized, but the precision required for placement increases and removal speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the removal operation into multiple segments, each handled by a narrow grinder head. This segmentation allows each head to operate with high precision in its designated area while the collective system achieves high productivity through parallel operation of multiple heads
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensing units that detect the position of raised pavement markers and provide feedback to the control system. This feedback enables automatic adjustment of the grinder heads' positions and depths, ensuring precise placement and operation that minimizes damage while maintaining high removal speed through automated control
3Device complexity
If manual removal methods are used, then equipment complexity is reduced, but the efficiency and safety of the removal process deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensing units that automatically detect marker positions and provide feedback to the control system. This self-service capability allows the grinder heads to automatically adjust their positions and operation parameters, eliminating the need for constant manual intervention while maintaining high efficiency and safety
Solution Approach 2:
The control system receives position information from sensing units and automatically adjusts the grinder heads' lateral positions and operating parameters. This closed-loop feedback control enables the system to operate with high efficiency and precision while minimizing the need for manual operation, effectively trading controlled complexity for significant gains in productivity and safety
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
The system enables faster, more precise, and safer removal of raised pavement markers, ensuring accurate alignment and collection of debris, while minimizing damage to roadways and structures, and providing visual warnings to other road users.
Implementation Method 1
A sensing unit senses the relative lateral positions of the grinder unit and the upcoming raised pavement markers to be removed
Implementation Method 2
a grinder unit alongside the forward portion of the vehicle grinds away the raised pavement markers
Implementation Method 3
the debris from the removed raised pavement markers is swept from the roadway into a sweeper-hopper unit
Data Source
AI summary
A raised pavement markers removal vehicle system and method for the removal of raised pavement markers from a roadway. As the vehicle is driven along a roadway, a grinder unit alongside the forward portion of the vehicle grinds away the raised pavement markers to be removed. A sensing unit senses the relative lateral positions of the grinder unit and the upcoming raised pavement markers to be removed. A controller receives position information from the sensing unit and sends appropriate commands to an alignment adjuster to match the lateral position of the grinder unit to the lateral position of the upcoming pavement markers to be removed. After removal by grinding, the debris from the removed raised pavement markers is swept from the roadway into a sweeper-hopper unit for transport to a suitable unloading place. A warning board mounted at the rear of the sweeper-hopper unit provides a visual warning to other users of the road.