Underwater Road Scanning Structure for Flood Vehicle Obstacle Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Emergency vehicles face safety risks while driving through deep water during floods due to obscured obstacles under the water surface, which are not visible to the driver.
Innovation Solution
A detection device with a mounting structure on the vehicle, featuring a scanning element such as a rotatable star wheel or scanning ball that contacts the road topography to detect obstacles and water depth, equipped with a damper to reduce detection pulses and improve maneuverability, and a catching element to engage elevations, along with a display structure to inform the driver and a sensor system for electronic data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a detection device with scanning elements is added to the vehicle, then the safety and detection capability is improved, but the device complexity and structural burden is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The detection device is divided into multiple independent scanning elements (star wheels, scanning balls) that can be selectively deployed. Each scanning element operates independently on separate support structures, allowing the system to detect obstacles without requiring a single complex integrated system.
Solution Approach 2:
Support structures act as intermediaries between the vehicle and the scanning elements. These support structures extend forward from the vehicle and provide a platform for the scanning elements, isolating the vehicle's main structure from the complexity of the detection mechanism while enabling effective obstacle detection.
2Length of stationary object
If scanning elements are extended forward on support structures, then the detection range is improved, but the structural stability and maneuverability is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The support structures are designed to be flexible and adaptable rather than rigid and fixed. They can dynamically adjust to the vehicle's movements and external forces, maintaining structural stability while extending the detection range forward. The scanning elements themselves are designed to be freely rotatable and adaptable to various road surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The system balances the forward extension of support structures with appropriate counterbalancing design considerations. The scanning elements are positioned and configured to minimize destabilizing forces while maximizing detection capability, ensuring the vehicle maintains maneuverability despite the extended detection architecture.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple scanning elements are used to cover wider area, then the detection coverage is improved, but the device complexity and cost is increased
Solution Approach 1:
Each scanning element is designed as a multi-functional unit that can perform multiple detection tasks. The star wheels and scanning balls can detect various types of obstacles (depressions, elevations, loose stones) and can adapt to different road surfaces, eliminating the need for multiple specialized sensors for different detection purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple scanning elements are combined on a coordinated system of support structures, sharing common control and data processing resources. The scanning elements work together as an integrated system rather than independent units, reducing overall complexity while maintaining wide detection coverage through their coordinated operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a capture apparatus (102) for arrangement on a motor vehicle (101), preferably for arrangement on a front of the motor vehicle (101), having at least one holding structure (103) for mounting on the motor vehicle (101). The capture apparatus (102) is distinguished, in particular, by the fact that the at least one holding structure (103) has at least one capture element (401, 501, 601) for capturing a road topography (106, 107, 108) under a water surface (304) in front of the motor vehicle (101) in the direction of travel (105) in order to capture obstacles (107, 108) and/or a water depth (301).