Smartphone Overhead Obstacle Detection System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for preventing collisions with overhead obstacles, such as bridges and overpasses, are either too expensive, difficult to use, or ineffective for large vehicles, posing a risk of damage and injury due to the lack of reliable and user-friendly detection systems.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that uses sensors to determine the height of overhead obstacles and compare it to the vehicle's height, providing an audible warning to the driver if the obstacle is too low for safe passage, with the option for automatic collision avoidance through communication with the vehicle's control system or mobile app.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If commercially available collision avoidance systems are installed, then driver safety is improved, but the system cost becomes prohibitively expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a smartphone application that can serve multiple functions including overhead obstacle detection, route planning, and collision avoidance guidance, making the system versatile and reducing the need for dedicated expensive hardware for each function
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a smartphone as an intermediary device that bridges the gap between simple sensors and complex collision avoidance systems, using the phone's processing power and display capabilities to provide sophisticated safety functions without requiring expensive dedicated hardware
2Measurement precision
If sophisticated detection systems are installed, then detection accuracy is improved, but the system becomes difficult to use
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically performs obstacle detection, height comparison, and route evaluation without requiring driver intervention, presenting only simple visual guidance on the smartphone screen that is easy to understand and follow
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides real-time visual feedback through the smartphone display showing obstacle detection results, clearance measurements, and recommended actions, making the complex detection process transparent and easy to interpret for the driver
3Reliability
If complex overhead obstacle detection systems are deployed, then collision prevention is improved, but the installation and maintenance becomes prohibitively difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (obstacle detection, measurement, data processing, user interface) into a single integrated smartphone application, eliminating the need for separate complex hardware components and simplifying installation and maintenance
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces complex mechanical detection hardware with software-based solutions running on the smartphone, using the device's existing sensors and processing capabilities to perform overhead obstacle detection and analysis functions
Data Source
AI summary
A device may determine a geographical location and direction of a vehicle traveling on a highway, street or road, the vehicle having a known height. A device may determine the presence of a nearby overhead hazard toward which the vehicle is traveling. A device may retrieve from a database a height of the nearby overhead hazard. A device may compare height of the nearby overhead hazard to the known height of the vehicle. A device may provide an audible warning to the driver that the overhead hazard is too low for the vehicle to safely pass.