Vehicle-Mounted Sensor Fusion for Pavement Condition Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pavement assessment systems rely on expensive and resource-intensive equipment, limiting data capture to a single point in time and requiring advanced processing, which hinders continuous monitoring of road conditions.
Innovation Solution
A sensor platform equipped with RADAR, accelerometer/IMU, camera, and GPS units collects data while vehicles drive, processing it to determine a pavement condition index (PCI) using sensor fusion algorithms, enabling continuous monitoring with lower computational demands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If expensive equipment such as multibeam RADAR is used to capture high resolution images, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensor types (single-transceiver RADAR, accelerometers, cameras, GPS) into an integrated sensor platform. This merging allows the system to achieve comprehensive pavement condition measurement through sensor fusion, resolving the contradiction by combining simpler individual sensors to match the measurement capability of complex expensive equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces sensor fusion algorithms as an intermediary processing layer that combines data from multiple simpler sensors. This intermediary approach enables the system to achieve high measurement precision without requiring expensive multibeam RADAR equipment, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity.
2Measurement precision
If expensive equipment is used, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to limited data capture
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor platform is designed to be mounted on regular vehicles that drivers already use for their daily routes. This universal approach allows the same measurement system to be deployed across multiple vehicles and routes without requiring specialized equipment or training, improving ease of operation while maintaining measurement precision through multi-sensor fusion.
3Measurement precision
If advanced data processing algorithms are used, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies sensor fusion algorithms that process data from multiple sensors but do not require exhaustive computational analysis. By selectively fusing key sensor data (RADAR, accelerometers, cameras) rather than processing all possible sensor outputs, the system achieves sufficient measurement precision for pavement condition indexing while minimizing energy consumption compared to more comprehensive processing approaches.
4Measurement precision
If more powerful computing resources are deployed, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the computing workload by performing initial data processing and fusion on the vehicle-mounted platform using modest computational resources, then transmitting only processed results or key findings to central servers. This segmentation allows deployment on regular vehicles without requiring powerful onboard computing resources, improving ease of manufacture and deployment while maintaining measurement precision.
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
This system allows for frequent, low-density data collection across a road network, providing continuous assessment of pavement conditions without the high costs and resource constraints of traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
The RADAR unit comprises one or more single-transceiver RADAR sensors. The accelerometer/IMU unit comprises one or more accelerometer/IMU sensors.
Implementation Method 2
The system may further include a polarizing filter for polarizing RADAR pulses emitted by the RADAR units in a direction either perpendicular or parallel to a surface of the pavement beneath the vehicle.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method includes a sensor platform, processors, and memory storing sensor data collected by the sensor platform. The senor platform may include one or more sensor units and may be mounted to a vehicle. The sensor platform may collect sensor data while the vehicle is driven on pavement. The sensor data may be processed to determine a pavement condition index (PCI) value based on the processed sensor data. The PCI value represents a condition of the pavement and may be used to assess the condition of the pavement relative to a PCI value determined previously by the system using the same or a different sensor platform.