Rear Windshield Moisture Sensor for Aquaplaning Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for detecting wetness on roadways to prevent aquaplaning are unreliable and costly, with delays in detection and warnings due to reliance on front windshield sensors, communication systems, and high technical expenditure in camera-based systems.

Innovation Solution

A sensor unit at the rear of a vehicle detects moisture values, combined with a position-detection unit to determine wetness on the roadway, providing real-time aquaplaning risk assessment and warnings with reduced technical expenditure by using a rain sensor on the rear windshield and wiper system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a camera-based system is used to detect spray trails at the rear, then detection capability is improved, but technical expenditure and system complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewetness detection capabilityVSAvoidtechnical expenditure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex camera-based optical detection systems with a simple moisture sensor that directly measures moisture content on the rear windshield. This substitution of measurement principle dramatically reduces system complexity and technical expenditure while maintaining detection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs inexpensive moisture sensors instead of expensive camera systems. These simple sensors provide sufficient detection capability at a fraction of the cost of complex optical systems, making the solution economically viable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Device complexity

If rain sensors on the front windshield are used to estimate roadway wetness, then detection simplicity is improved, but detection reliability deteriorates due to uncertainty from stationary precipitation and vehicles ahead

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection system simplicityVSAvoidwetness detection reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of detecting moisture at the front of the vehicle and inferring road conditions, the patent inverts the approach by placing sensors at the rear of the vehicle. The rear windshield directly encounters spray from the vehicle's own tires, providing direct measurement of actual road wetness conditions without the uncertainties of front-mounted sensors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The vehicle's own motion generates spray that deposits on the rear windshield, which then serves as the measurement target for the moisture sensor. The system uses the vehicle's own operational characteristics (tire spray generation) to create the detection target, eliminating the need for external references or assumptions about road conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Loss of information

If communication systems with other vehicles are used to warn of aquaplaning hazards, then hazard awareness is improved, but warning delay increases due to communication latency and dependency on other vehicles detecting the hazard first

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehazard warning availabilityVSAvoidwarning delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables each vehicle to independently detect and assess road wetness conditions for itself, eliminating the need to wait for other vehicles to detect and communicate hazards. The rear-mounted sensor provides immediate, real-time detection of actual road conditions, allowing proactive warning and response without communication delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 approach increases the reliability and reduces uncertainty in detecting aquaplaning hazards, enabling early prediction and warning of potential risks with low technical costs, enhancing safety for vehicle occupants.

Implementation Method 1

a moisture-detection unit (12) arranged at a rear region of the motor vehicle (10) and designed to detect a moisture value

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conductivity: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS9542842B2Device and method for detecting wetness on a roadway

Publication Date: 2017.01.10 DR ING H C F PORSCHE AG

AI summary

A detection device is provided for a motor vehicle (10) for detecting wetness (18) on a roadway (20). The detection device has a moisture-detection unit (12) and an evaluation unit (40) designed to determine wetness (18) on the roadway (20) on the basis of a moisture value (42) detected by the moisture-detection unit (12). The moisture-detection unit (12) is embodied as a sensor unit and is arranged at a rear region of the motor vehicle (10).