Vehicle Sensor Data Aggregation for Environmental Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
The vast amount of sensor data collected by modern vehicles is primarily used locally for navigation and safety features, with limited potential for broader environmental and geological monitoring, and there is a need to aggregate this data for differential measurements and hazard detection across multiple vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A network of vehicles equipped with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that collect and analyze sensor data, including thermal imagers, LIDAR, radar, and air quality sensors, to identify hazards and transmit information to a database server for emergency service notification and hyper-localized reporting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vehicle sensor data is used only for local navigation and safety features, then vehicle operation reliability is improved, but the potential for environmental and geological monitoring remains unrealized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling vehicle sensors to serve dual purposes: maintaining their primary function for navigation and safety while simultaneously collecting data for environmental and geological monitoring. The existing sensor network is repurposed to detect both vehicle hazards and environmental conditions such as weather patterns, geological features, and atmospheric composition, thereby realizing the unrealized potential without compromising vehicle operation reliability
2Device complexity
If sensor data is collected only locally in each vehicle, then data processing complexity is reduced, but the ability to perform differential measurements and aggregate environmental data is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges data from multiple vehicle sensors into a centralized system that performs aggregate environmental monitoring. By combining measurements from numerous vehicles across different locations, the system enables differential measurements and comprehensive environmental assessment that would be impossible for individual vehicles operating in isolation, thereby improving measurement precision while distributing processing complexity across the network
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 the conversion of vehicles into 'rolling laboratories' for environmental monitoring, allowing for real-time hazard detection and alerting of emergency services, while also providing hyper-localized weather and environmental data aggregation.
Implementation Method 1
A network of vehicles equipped with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that collect and analyze sensor data, including thermal imagers, LIDAR, radar, and air quality sensors
Implementation Method 2
A network of vehicles equipped with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that collect and analyze sensor data, including thermal imagers, LIDAR, radar, and air quality sensors
Implementation Method 3
A network of vehicles equipped with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that collect and analyze sensor data, including thermal imagers, LIDAR, radar, and air quality sensors
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for monitoring environmental and geological conditions based upon information is collected by a wide array of sensors already included in modern motor vehicles. Also included is a system for monitoring environmental and geological conditions by aggregating data collected by an array of vehicles.