Road Surface Detection Using Vehicle Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for estimating road surface conditions in vehicles require additional components not typically found in vehicles, such as smartphone applications and external sensors, which are not always available or reliable for detecting short-term irregularities like potholes and speed bumps.
Innovation Solution
The system utilizes existing vehicle sensors, such as wheel speed and vertical movement sensors, to detect time-dependent oscillations and vertical movements, combining these signals to determine road surface conditions without the need for additional sensors, and communicates this information to other vehicles or infrastructure through a network for improved traffic safety and vehicle comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If smartphone-based applications with GPS and external sensors are used to detect road surface conditions, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle's existing sensors (wheel speed sensors, vertical movement sensors) are utilized to detect road surface conditions, allowing the vehicle to monitor its own operating environment without requiring external monitoring devices. This self-service approach eliminates the need for smartphone applications and external sensor installations.
Solution Approach 2:
Existing vehicle sensors originally designed for other purposes (wheel speed measurement, chassis movement detection) are repurposed to detect road surface conditions. This multi-functionality allows the same sensor to serve multiple functions: vehicle control and road condition monitoring, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
2Measurement precision
If additional sensors are installed to detect short-term irregularities, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle uses its own existing sensors to detect road irregularities, eliminating the need for additional sensor installations and maintaining operational simplicity. The system leverages already-installed components for dual purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection of short-term road irregularities is merged with the vehicle's existing sensor measurement functions. By combining the detection capability with already-installed sensors, the system avoids additional installation complexity while maintaining detection precision.
3Reliability
If external sensors and smartphone applications are used, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle's existing sensor system serves dual purposes: original vehicle control functions and road condition monitoring. This self-service approach ensures reliable data collection using proven, already-installed components rather than adding untested external sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using physical external sensors, the system uses data from existing vehicle sensors that already measure relevant physical quantities (wheel speed, vertical movement). This copying approach extracts road condition information from existing measurement data without requiring duplicate sensing hardware.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
The present invention relates to providing information on road surface conditions, in particular road roughness, under a driving vehicle having a first wheel, by determining a first sensor signal indicative of time dependent vibrations at the first wheel, using a first sensor; determining a second sensor signal indicative of a movement the vehicle chassis, using a second sensor; and determine road surface conditions under the driving vehicle based on the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal.