Vehicle-Based Magnetic Marker State Estimation for Road Inspection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional magnetic marker systems require regular inspection and maintenance to prevent and address issues with magnetic markers and sensors, leading to increased management costs.

Innovation Solution

A magnetic marker system that includes vehicles equipped with magnetic detecting parts capable of outputting detection information, which is used by a server apparatus to estimate the state of magnetic markers and sensors, facilitating efficient inspection and maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If regular inspection and maintenance work is performed on magnetic markers and sensors, then system reliability is improved, but management cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem reliabilityVSAvoidmanagement cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-diagnosis and self-monitoring by having vehicles automatically detect magnetic markers and report their status. The magnetic markers and sensors monitor themselves through vehicle-based detection, eliminating the need for manual inspection and reducing management costs while maintaining system reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback by having vehicles detect magnetic marker status and relay information to a server. This real-time feedback mechanism allows for proactive identification of deteriorating markers without requiring regular manual inspections, thus reducing management costs while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If manual inspection methods are used to check magnetic markers, then detection capability is maintained, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection capabilityVSAvoidinspection efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual mechanical inspection with automated magnetic detection using vehicle-mounted sensors. Vehicles naturally traveling on roads detect magnetic markers through their sensing systems, substituting human inspection work with automated electronic detection, thereby dramatically improving inspection productivity while maintaining detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The magnetic markers serve multiple functions: they provide positioning information for vehicle navigation and simultaneously enable self-inspection when detected by vehicles. This multi-functionality allows the same infrastructure to perform both its primary navigation role and self-monitoring, eliminating the need for separate inspection operations and improving overall productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

The system allows for efficient estimation and management of magnetic marker and sensor states, reducing maintenance costs and improving management efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a magnetic marker disposed in a traveling road so as to be detectable by a magnetic detecting part attached to a vehicle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field detection: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentEP3904996B1Magnetic marker system
Publication Date: 2023.05.03 AICHI STEEL CORP
  • EP3904996B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3904996B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3904996B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In a magnetic marker system (1) including a magnetic marker (10) disposed in a travel environment so as to be detectable by a magnetic sensor attached to a vehicle (5) and a server apparatus (11) which acquires detection information of the magnetic marker (10) from each vehicle (5), the detection information uploaded from a vehicle (5) side to the server apparatus (11) includes marker information, which is identification information of a corresponding magnetic marker (10), and the server apparatus (11) estimates the state of the magnetic marker (10) based on the detection information from each vehicle (5).