Road Surface Evaluation Using Weather-Corrected Roughness
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing road surface evaluation methods based on acceleration sensors are inadequate for accurately assessing road surface profiles, especially under varying weather conditions such as rain, snow, or strong winds, as they fail to account for weather-induced changes in road surface conditions.
Innovation Solution
A road surface evaluation apparatus that acquires driving information, map information, and weather information, and uses these inputs to derive and correct road surface roughness values. The apparatus includes a unit to estimate weather conditions at the vehicle's travel location and correct the roughness values accordingly, ensuring a more accurate evaluation of road surface profiles independent of weather conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If road surface profile is detected based on acceleration measured by acceleration sensor, then measurement can be performed, but measurement precision deteriorates under varying weather conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces weather information as an intermediary factor that mediates between the acceleration sensor measurements and the final road surface profile evaluation. By acquiring weather information and using it to correct the roughness values, the system accounts for the influence of weather conditions without directly measuring the road surface, thereby improving measurement precision while recognizing the harmful effect of weather variations.
2Measurement precision
If simple acceleration-based detection is used, then device complexity is low, but evaluation accuracy deteriorates due to weather dependency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the evaluation system universal by integrating multiple information sources (acceleration data, weather information, and road surface roughness values) into a single comprehensive evaluation framework. The correction unit universally applies weather-based corrections to roughness values derived from acceleration measurements, enabling accurate road surface evaluation across various weather conditions without requiring separate measurement systems for each condition.
3Measurement precision
If weather information is incorporated into the evaluation, then evaluation accuracy improves, but information processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where weather information is continuously acquired and used to correct the road surface roughness values. The correction unit processes weather data and adjusts the evaluation results accordingly, creating a feedback loop that improves measurement precision by accounting for weather conditions. This feedback approach manages information processing complexity by systematically integrating additional data rather than handling it ad hoc.
Data Source
AI summary
A road surface evaluation apparatus includes a microprocessor configured to perform: acquiring driving information of a vehicle which is traveling including acceleration information, speed information, and position information of the vehicle, acquiring map information including information on a road on which the vehicle travels, acquiring weather information including information relating to weather; deriving a road surface roughness value representing roughness of a road surface on which the vehicle travels based on the driving information of the vehicle estimating the weather in a section where the vehicle has traveled based on the weather information to correct the road surface roughness value based on the estimation result; and outputting the road surface roughness value in association with the information on the road.