Smart Tactile Warning Panels With Subsurface Tech Enclosures

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tactile warning panels are costly to deploy and lack additional functionality beyond basic hazard detection, limiting their widespread installation and utilization in urban environments.

Innovation Solution

A tactile warning panel apparatus (TWPA) integrating subsurface enclosures to enable the secure and unobtrusive placement of smart city technologies, including batteries, electronic equipment, and connectivity features, enhancing urban mobility and safety for visually impaired individuals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional tactile warning panels are deployed, then hazard detection function is provided, but deployment cost is high and additional functionality is lacking

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidstructure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The tactile warning panel is transformed into a multi-functional platform by integrating subsurface enclosures that can house various smart city technologies including batteries, electronic equipment, and connectivity features. The same panel structure serves both as a safety warning device and as a platform for deploying additional urban technologies, eliminating the need for separate infrastructure installations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements nesting by placing subsurface enclosures containing electronic components directly beneath the tactile warning panel surface. The enclosures are embedded in the ground substrate, with only necessary interfaces (antennas, vents, access points) extending through or alongside the panel, creating a compact nested structure that maximizes functionality within limited urban space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Adaptability or versatility

If subsurface enclosures are integrated for smart city technologies, then additional functionality is enabled, but manufacturing and installation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesmart city technology integrationVSAvoidinstallation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into distinct modular components: the tactile warning panel surface layer, the subsurface enclosure units, and the electronic technology components. Each module can be manufactured independently and then assembled during installation, reducing overall complexity and enabling parallel production processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The subsurface enclosures are pre-prepared and configured with electronic components before final installation. This preliminary assembly allows for quality control and testing to occur before deployment, and simplifies the installation process by reducing on-site assembly requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250332056A1Tactile warning panel apparatus with smart technology

Publication Date: 2025.10.30 BRANDBUMPS

AI summary

Multipurpose tactile warning panels for use in pedestrian walkways, and in particular tactile warning panels that are designed and built with multifunction/multipurpose capabilities that serve the visually impaired and enable the deployment of smart city technology by integrating tactile warning systems and subsurface enclosures that can withstand pressures of five (5) tons up to and exceeding sixty (60) tons and incorporate small cells, beacons, sensors, Fog Computing, electric energy generation, rechargeable power supplies, wireless M2M communication and a plethora of other smart city technologies.