Non-Invasive Road Load Meter Using Image Displacement Analysis

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional load measuring devices for vehicles require embedding sensors in roads, leading to high labor and cost for installation and removal.

Innovation Solution

A load meter system that uses a detector to analyze captured images of vehicles and roads to calculate load based on displacement, with a storage unit storing displacement-load relations, allowing for non-invasive measurement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a load sensor is embedded in the road to measure vehicle load, then measurement reliability is improved, but installation cost and labor increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement reliabilityVSAvoidinstallation cost and labor

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical load sensor embedded in the road with an optical imaging system. The detector captures images of the road surface, and image processing algorithms analyze displacement patterns to calculate vehicle load. This substitution eliminates the need for physical sensor installation while maintaining measurement capability through optical field analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a visual copy of the road surface displacement through imaging. Instead of directly measuring physical force with sensors, the system captures an optical copy (image) of the road surface deformation caused by vehicle load, then processes this copy to extract load information. This approach avoids direct physical intervention in the road structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If a load sensor is embedded in the road to measure vehicle load, then measurement precision is improved, but removal cost and labor increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload measurement precisionVSAvoidremoval cost and labor

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical load sensor embedded in the road with an optical imaging system. The detector captures images of the road surface, and image processing algorithms analyze displacement patterns to calculate vehicle load. This substitution eliminates the need for physical sensor installation while maintaining measurement capability through optical field analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a visual copy of the road surface displacement through imaging. Instead of directly measuring physical force with sensors, the system captures an optical copy (image) of the road surface deformation caused by vehicle load, then processes this copy to extract load information. This approach avoids direct physical intervention in the road structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If conventional load sensors are used in the road, then load measurement is achieved, but maintenance cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload measurement capabilityVSAvoidmaintenance cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical load sensor embedded in the road with an optical imaging system. The detector captures images of the road surface, and image processing algorithms analyze displacement patterns to calculate vehicle load. This substitution eliminates the need for physical sensor installation while maintaining measurement capability through optical field analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the road surface itself as the measurement medium. The road surface deformation caused by vehicle load is directly captured and analyzed, eliminating the need for separate sensor maintenance. The road surface performs the measurement function naturally through its physical response to load, reducing maintenance requirements for measurement components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11536602B2Load meter and load measurement method

Publication Date: 2022.12.27 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

A load meter includes a detector, a storage unit, and a load calculator. The detector detects, by using a captured image obtained by capturing a road and a vehicle present on the road, a displacement amount in the captured image, the displacement amount corresponding to displacement caused on the road by application of a load of the vehicle. The storage unit stores information indicating a relation between the load and the displacement amount. The load calculator calculates the load based on the displacement amount and the information.