Vehicle Road Surface Recognition Using Sound and Driving Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing road surface recognition systems face challenges in accurately identifying road surfaces, especially in conditions without rapid acceleration or deceleration, and require additional sensors, increasing production costs.

Innovation Solution

A road surface recognition apparatus that utilizes sound data from a sound detector and driving data from a driving information detector to recognize road surfaces, employing feature vectors and classifiers, including support vector machines and deep neural networks, to classify road surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If road surface recognition is based on dynamic data (wheel speed, engine torque, vehicle speed) and slip phenomenon, then the system can determine high friction or low friction road surfaces, but it fails to recognize road surfaces when driving without rapid acceleration or deceleration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveroad surface recognition accuracyVSAvoidapplicability across different driving conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines sound data from microphones with driving data (wheel speed, engine torque, vehicle speed) to create a comprehensive road surface recognition system. The sound data provides additional information about road surface characteristics that complements the dynamic data, enabling accurate recognition across various driving conditions including steady-state cruising where slip phenomenon is absent.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces sound data as an intermediary element that mediates between the vehicle's dynamic state and road surface characteristics. By analyzing sounds generated during vehicle operation (engine noise, tire-road interaction sounds), the system can infer road surface type without relying solely on slip phenomenon, thus improving adaptability to different driving conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If road directional ultrasonic sensors are installed to recognize road surfaces, then road surface recognition capability is improved, but production cost increases due to additional sensors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveroad surface recognition capabilityVSAvoidproduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes existing sensors (microphones for noise cancellation, wheel speed sensors, engine torque sensors) serve multiple functions. These sensors originally designed for other purposes (noise cancellation, vehicle dynamics control) are now also used for road surface recognition, eliminating the need for dedicated road surface sensors and reducing production costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses data already being collected by the vehicle's existing sensor network for multiple purposes. The microphones, wheel speed sensors, and engine torque sensors continuously collect data for their primary functions, and this same data is simultaneously processed for road surface recognition, making the system self-sufficient without requiring additional hardware investment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If multiple sensors are added to improve road surface recognition accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveroad surface identification accuracyVSAvoidsensor quantity and system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges road surface recognition functionality with the vehicle's existing sensor system and control algorithms. By integrating sound data processing into the noise cancellation system and combining it with driving data processing, the patent achieves enhanced measurement precision without adding physical sensors or significantly increasing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system effectively recognizes road surfaces based on sound and driving data, improving the accuracy of road surface identification and reducing production costs by eliminating the need for additional sensors.

Implementation Method 1

obtain sound data for a sound generated on a road surface using a sound detector provided on a rear right side of a vehicle body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic detection: Sound

Data Source

PatentUS12214775B2Road surface recognition apparatus, vehicle having the same, and method of controlling vehicle

Publication Date: 2025.02.04 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A vehicle having a road surface recognition apparatus, may perform obtaining, by a controller, sound data for a sound detected by a sound detector while driving; obtaining, by the controller, driving data for driving information detected by a driving information detector; recognizing, by the controller, a type of road surface based on the obtained sound data and the obtained driving data; and controlling, by the controller, a traction control system based on information related to the recognized type of the road surface.