Road Surface Monitoring via Cell-Based Probability Aggregation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for monitoring road surface conditions, such as friction and potholes, fail to effectively aggregate data from multiple vehicles, leading to inaccurate or misleading results due to the temporal validity of friction data and the dynamic nature of road defects like potholes.
Innovation Solution
A system that maps the road surface into cells, collects data from sensors on multiple vehicles, and calculates probabilities for road surface parameters like friction, roughness, potholes, and obstacles using a central processing arrangement, which can be cloud-based, and updates these probabilities over time using specific models adapted to the expected development of road conditions, incorporating data from various sources including weather data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If mean values are calculated to aggregate road quality data from multiple vehicles, then data merging is simplified, but accuracy deteriorates due to temporal validity issues and dynamic road conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the aggregation approach from calculating simple mean values to computing probability distributions. Instead of merging friction coefficients directly, the system calculates the probability that road parameters fall within certain ranges, accounting for temporal validity and dynamic changes in road conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces time-dependent probability updates that reflect the dynamic nature of road conditions. Road quality probabilities are continuously updated based on new sensor data from vehicles, allowing the system to adapt to changing conditions rather than relying on static mean values
2Productivity
If friction data is used without time validation, then data processing is faster, but reliability deteriorates due to temporal validity expiration
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary time validation checks on friction data before aggregation. Each friction measurement is timestamped and its validity is assessed against predefined time thresholds, ensuring only current and reliable data contributes to the probability calculations
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the validity status of friction data continuously influences the aggregation process. As data ages, its weight in probability calculations decreases, and the system actively seeks newer measurements to maintain accuracy
Data Source
AI summary
A system for monitoring the condition of a road surface travelled by a plurality of vehicles, each including at least one sensor, is provided. The system includes a central processing arrangement arranged to: map at least a part of the road surface with a number of cells; receive road surface data for the cells, which road surface data is based on measurements made by the sensors as the plurality of vehicles travel on the road surface; and calculate a probability for at least one road surface parameter for each cell travelled by the plurality of vehicles based at least on road surface data received from the plurality of vehicles.