Roadway Ice Detection Using Reference Surface and Infrared Evaluation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to provide early and reliable warnings for the formation of black ice or frost on road surfaces, as they only determine the current state and do not account for localized conditions, making it difficult to anticipate and prevent accidents due to the formation of smoothness before it occurs.
Innovation Solution
A device and method that utilize a reference area with a roughened, hydrophilic surface, made from materials like stainless steel or open-pore metal foam, which forms ice or frost earlier than the road surface, allowing for the detection of impending smoothness through infrared radiation evaluation and generation of a warning signal via traffic signs, navigation systems, or mobile devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a reference area with hydrophilic material is used to enable early ice detection, then the warning time is extended, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reference area with hydrophilic material is installed in advance on the road surface to create favorable conditions for early ice formation. This preliminary setup allows the system to detect ice conditions before they affect the main road surface, extending warning time without requiring complex real-time environmental monitoring equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The reference area acts as an intermediary element between the environment and the detection system. It mediates the ice formation process by providing a controlled surface that promotes early condensation and freezing, making the ice condition detectable before it occurs on the actual road surface.
2Measurement precision
If infrared radiation evaluation is used to detect ice on reference area, then the measurement precision is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical contact-based ice detection methods are replaced with infrared radiation evaluation. The system uses optical sensors to detect thermal radiation patterns characteristic of ice formation on the reference area, providing precise non-contact measurement that eliminates the need for physical sensors touching the road surface.
3Reliability
If a roughened hydrophilic surface is used for the reference area, then the reliability of early ice detection is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The reference area is created with locally differentiated surface properties - a roughened hydrophilic texture specifically in the measurement zone. This local quality change promotes water condensation and adhesion, ensuring reliable ice formation detection. The rest of the road surface maintains its normal properties, so only the reference area requires special surface treatment.
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
Enables timely and universal warning of road users about impending smoothness before it forms on the road, reducing the risk of accidents by using a contactless remote measurement system that integrates with existing infrastructure, ensuring safety through early detection and prevention.
Implementation Method 1
Slow, in particular so -called litigation, or the formation of an ice cream layer or the growing of ice crystals on a hypothermic surface, is created due to the phase transition from a water vapor condensed from the damp air to the solid
Implementation Method 2
Different morphological landscape structures and different soil and plant distribution can cause a air circulation close to the ground to the road or road, on which mature formation or ice formation takes place on the surface infiltrated by the nightly temperatures
Implementation Method 3
This reflection measurement of the road surface known to the specialist has proven itself, but only determines the current state
Implementation Method 4
from the road or neighboring the road, reflected radiation is evaluated, which runs out of at least one in or on the road or the neighboring area
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a method and a device for generating a signal which indicates the imminent formation of ice on a roadway (2) before the ice forms on the roadway, wherein radiation reflected by the roadway or by a point adjacent to the roadway is evaluated, said radiation emanating from at least one reference surface (11) which is situated in or on the roadway or the adjacent point and is formed by a material different from the roadway covering material. The reference surface is selected from a material on which the ice forms earlier than on the roadway covering material. The signal (13) is emitted when the evaluation indicates that ice has formed on the reference surface (11).