Vehicle Precipitation Testing With Velocity-Adjusted Spray Angles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle drive testing apparatuses fail to recreate rainfall or snowfall conditions that accurately simulate the speed and angle of rain or snow hitting a windshield based on the vehicle's velocity, affecting sensor detection and recognition.
Innovation Solution
A test-subject-testing system that includes a spray unit to spray water droplets or snowflakes, adjustable in speed, position, and angle based on vehicle velocity, with a changing unit to move the spray unit in vertical and horizontal directions, and a blower unit to simulate air resistance, recreating precipitation conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a precipitation facility is used to recreate rainfall state, then rainfall condition can be simulated, but the speed and angle of rain hitting the windshield cannot be changed according to vehicle velocity
Solution Approach 1:
The spray unit is made movable and adjustable, allowing its position and spray angle to be dynamically changed according to vehicle velocity. The spray unit can be positioned at different locations and angled to simulate rain hitting the windshield at various speeds, transforming a static precipitation facility into a dynamic simulation system that adapts to different test conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes physical parameters of the spray unit including its position coordinates, spray angle relative to the windshield, and spray speed. By adjusting these parameters based on vehicle velocity data, the system accurately recreates different rainfall conditions corresponding to various driving speeds, from stationary light rain to high-speed heavy rain scenarios.
2Reliability
If spray unit position and angle are adjusted according to vehicle velocity, then accurate rainfall simulation is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where vehicle velocity information is continuously monitored and used to automatically adjust spray unit position and angle. This closed-loop control eliminates the need for complex manual coordination between multiple spray units, as the system self-regulates based on real-time velocity data, simplifying the overall control architecture while maintaining high simulation accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The spray unit is designed to perform multiple functions: it can simulate different rainfall intensities, angles, and speeds by adjusting a single unit's position and parameters rather than requiring multiple fixed spray units. This multi-functional design reduces device complexity by consolidating what would otherwise require several separate spray facilities into one versatile adjustable unit.
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 precise simulation of rainfall or snowfall conditions according to vehicle velocity, enhancing sensor detection and recognition by adjusting spray parameters to mimic real-world scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
a spray unit that sprays water droplets from surroundings of the test subject toward the test subject
Implementation Method 2
a blower unit that blows the water droplets sprayed from the spray unit
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention is a test-subject-testing system that tests a test subject that is a vehicle or a part thereof while recreating rainfall or snowfall by spraying water droplets according to vehicle velocity of the test subject, the test-subject-testing system includes: a test device on which the test subject is placed or to which the test subject is connected; and a spray unit that sprays water droplets from surroundings of the test subject toward the test subject; and a changing unit that changes spray speed, a position, or an angle of the spray unit according to vehicle velocity of the test subject.