Roadway Boundary Block Curved Geometry for Vehicle Docking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current curbstone configurations require high driving ability to achieve precise docking of vehicles to stops, which can be challenging due to the need for driver concentration on both vehicle movement and passenger safety, leading to potential docking precision issues.

Innovation Solution

A roadway boundary block with a specially designed configuration, featuring an inclined upper portion and a curved side portion, which generates a lateral force to guide the vehicle closer to the stop, reducing the need for high driving ability and improving docking precision.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a conventional curbstone with curved inclined portions is used, then interference with tire side wall is suppressed, but precision docking to stop is still insufficient without high driving ability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference with tire side wallVSAvoidprecision docking to stop
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies curvature to the upper portion of the curbstone, creating a smoothly rounded surface that guides the tire naturally toward the optimal stopping position. This curved geometry works in conjunction with the inclined portions to provide both protection against side wall interference and precise docking guidance, eliminating the need for high driving ability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Reliability

If driver concentration is focused on vehicle movement and passenger safety, then safety is maintained, but precision docking is impeded due to deteriorated concentration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver safety attentionVSAvoidprecision docking
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The curbstone is designed to perform the docking guidance function automatically through its geometric features (curved inclined portions and rounded upper portion). The structure itself provides the guidance without requiring additional driver attention or active control, allowing the driver to focus on safety while the curbstone handles precision docking autonomously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If high driving ability is required to achieve precision docking, then docking accuracy is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecision dockingVSAvoidease of stopping to curbstone
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The curbstone's curved inclined portions and rounded upper portion are pre-configured to provide natural guidance to the optimal stopping position. This preliminary geometric arrangement creates self-guiding forces that automatically steer the vehicle into the correct position, eliminating the need for high driving ability or complex manual adjustments during the docking maneuver.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3546651B1Roadway boundary block and road structure
Publication Date: 2022.03.23 BRIDGESTONE CORP
  • EP3546651B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3546651B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3546651B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

To provide a roadway boundary block and a road structure capable of improving precision docking to a stop easily without depending on high driving ability of a driver. A roadway boundary block 100 includes an upper portion 120 arranged to be continued to a roadway 10. An incline of the upper portion 120 against a horizontal direction is larger than an incline of the roadway 10 against the horizontal direction in a road width direction. A width of the upper portion 120 along the road width direction is larger than a tire ground contact width of a bus 50 travelling on the roadway 10 and smaller than a tread of the bus 50.