Road Segment Rating via Distributed Sensor Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drivers often rely on inaccurate or delayed weather forecasts for safe driving, and existing vehicle sensors are better suited for current conditions rather than evaluating road segment conditions, leading to a need for direct information from sensors embedded in the road.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses sensors distributed along road segments to evaluate and rate conditions, adjusting data collection based on weather and road conditions, such as temperature and moisture, to provide accurate information for safe driving.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensors are distributed along the entire road segment, then measurement precision of road conditions is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by determining the number of sensors to distribute based on specific road segment characteristics such as curvature, grade, traffic volume, and historical accident data. High-risk segments receive more sensors while low-risk segments receive fewer sensors, optimizing measurement precision where needed without uniformly increasing complexity across all road segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the number of sensors based on evaluated road segment parameters and conditions. The rating module assigns ratings to road segments based on multiple parameters, and this rating directly determines sensor distribution density, allowing the system to adapt measurement precision to actual road conditions and risk levels.
2Reliability
If data from all sensors is continuously received and processed, then reliability of road condition information is improved, but use of energy and data processing load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial action by selectively receiving and processing sensor data based on road segment ratings and current conditions. When road conditions are favorable or the road segment rating is low, the system receives data from fewer sensors or at reduced frequency. When conditions deteriorate or ratings indicate high risk, the system increases data collection intensity, thus maintaining reliability only when necessary while reducing energy consumption during normal conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic data collection and processing at variable intervals based on road segment ratings and environmental conditions. Rather than continuous monitoring, sensors transmit data at scheduled intervals that are adjusted according to the assessed risk level, reducing overall data processing load while maintaining adequate monitoring coverage for safety-critical situations.
3Ease of operation
If weather forecasts are used for safe driving, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision of actual road conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of road-embedded sensors and a rating module that acts as a mediator between actual road conditions and drivers. Instead of relying on drivers to interpret weather forecasts, the system directly measures road conditions through sensors and translates them into simplified rating information that is easily communicated to drivers, thereby maintaining ease of operation while achieving high measurement precision through direct physical measurement.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, computer-readable media, systems and apparatuses for rating a road segment based on data received from one or more sensors distributed along the road segment. In some arrangements, a number of sensors along a road segment may be determined based on characteristics or features of the road segment. In at least some arrangements, the data received and/or processed from road segment sensors may be controlled based on current road segment conditions. For instance, in fair weather data from fewer than all sensors along a road segment may be received and/or processed because the likelihood of a dangerous condition is reduced. However, when current conditions indicate the potential for hazardous conditions (e.g., temperature near or below freezing, presence of moisture, untreated road segment, etc.) data from all sensors may be received and/or processed to ensure the most accurate information for an entire length of the road segment is obtained.