Rumble-Strip Steering Guidance When Lane Markings Disappear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automated vehicle systems struggle to maintain lane centering when lane markings are obscured by snow, wear, or new construction, as cameras may fail to detect these markings, leading to navigation challenges.
Innovation Solution
A rumble-strip following system that uses vibration detectors and a controller to steer the vehicle based on vibrations from the road, allowing the vehicle to follow rumble strips when lane markings are undetectable, utilizing accelerometers, a steering device, and a digital map to guide the vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lane markings are used for automated steering, then the vehicle can maintain lane position, but the system fails when lane markings are obscured by snow, wear, or new construction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces rumble strips as an intermediary physical feature on the roadway that serves as an alternative reference for lane position. When camera-based lane marking detection fails due to obscuration, the vibration sensor detects rumble strip vibrations, providing a mediator signal that enables continued automated steering functionality despite the failure of the primary detection method.
2Measurement precision
If camera-based lane marking detection is used, then the system can identify lane positions, but it cannot detect markings when covered by snow or worn away
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between two detection methods: camera-based lane marking detection and vibration-based rumble strip detection. The controller monitors the reliability of camera detection and automatically transitions to using vibration sensor data when lane markings become undetectable, ensuring continuous and reliable lane position measurement regardless of environmental conditions.
3Ease of operation
If the vehicle relies solely on visible lane markings, then steering is straightforward, but navigation is impossible when markings are not visible
Solution Approach 1:
The automated steering system is designed with multi-functionality to operate under diverse conditions. It can function using either camera-based lane marking detection or vibration-based rumble strip detection, making the system universal and adaptable to various roadway conditions including snow coverage, wear, and new construction where traditional visual markers may be unavailable.
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 the vehicle to maintain safe navigation by using rumble strip vibrations to center itself on the road, even when lane markings are obscured, ensuring continuous operation and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a vibration-detector configured to detect a vibration experienced by the host-vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A rumble-strip following system for automated vehicle steering includes a vibration-detector, a steering-device, and a controller-circuit. The vibration-detector is configured to detect vibration experienced by a host-vehicle traveling a roadway. The steering-device is configured to steer the host-vehicle. The controller-circuit is in communication with the vibration-detector and the steering-device. The controller-circuit is configured to determine that the vibration is indicative of a tire of the host-vehicle contacting a rumble-strip arranged parallel to a heading of the roadway, and operate the steering-device so the tire follows the rumble-strip.