Road Condition Estimation Using Vehicle Acoustic Spectra

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional road condition inspection methods are costly due to the need for expert visual inspections or specialized equipment.

Innovation Solution

A road condition estimation device that receives sensor information from vehicles, including positional and spectral data from acoustic signals, to classify and estimate road conditions, reducing the need for on-site expert inspections and specialized equipment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional visual inspection by experts or specialized measuring equipment is used, then measurement precision of road condition is improved, but inspection cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveroad condition measurement precisionVSAvoidinspection cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical inspection systems (expert visual inspection and specialized measuring equipment) with an acoustic-based detection system. Microphones capture sound signals from vehicles traveling on roads, and spectral analysis of these sounds provides road condition information, eliminating the need for expensive mechanical inspection equipment and expert labor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system utilizes vehicles already in service on the roads to collect road condition data. Instead of deploying dedicated inspection equipment, the patent leverages the natural operation of regular vehicles, whose acoustic signals during normal travel provide information about road surface conditions, thereby eliminating the need for separate inspection operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If expert visual inspection is used, then reliability of road condition assessment is improved, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveroad condition assessment reliabilityVSAvoidinspection time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables continuous road condition monitoring as vehicles continuously travel on roads. Unlike periodic expert inspections, the acoustic detection system operates continuously whenever vehicles are in motion, providing ongoing data about road conditions without interruption or downtime for inspection operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces time-consuming manual expert inspection with automated acoustic signal processing. Spectral analysis of sound signals is performed automatically by the system, eliminating the time required for experts to visually assess road conditions while maintaining assessment reliability through objective acoustic measurements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Enables low-cost estimation of road conditions by using vehicle-mounted sensors to collect and analyze acoustic data, allowing for continuous monitoring and reducing inspection costs compared to traditional methods.

Implementation Method 1

spectral information obtained by converting an acoustic signal generated when the automobile travels at the position into information in a frequency domain

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFourier transform:

Data Source

PatentUS11840240B2Road condition estimation apparatus, method and program

Publication Date: 2023.12.12 NIPPON TELEGRAPH & TELEPHONE CORP

AI summary

A road condition estimation device 2 includes: a reception unit 21 that receives pieces of sensor information from automobiles respectively, each piece of sensor information including positional information that is information regarding a position at which an automobile travels, and spectral information obtained by converting an acoustic signal generated when the automobile travels at the position into information in a frequency domain; a first classification unit 22 that classifies the pieces of spectral information respectively for roads on which the automobiles travel, based on pieces of positional information included in the pieces of sensor information thus received; and an estimation unit 23 that estimates a condition of a road for each of the pieces of spectral information classified by the first classification unit.