Vehicle Sensor Mapping for Location-Specific Air and Noise Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Individuals face challenges in accessing granular, location-specific air quality and noise level data, particularly near their current location or intended destination, which hinders informed decision-making regarding travel or time spent in polluted areas.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle network and cloud-based computing methodologies that utilize a distributed population of host vehicles equipped with sensor suites to collect air quality and noise level data, which is then analyzed by a remote processing station and disseminated to users through various receiving devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If discrete measurements are collected by fixed or airborne monitoring stations, then air quality data can be quantified at large geographic areas, but granular, location-specific data for individual users is not readily accessible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the air quality monitoring function across a distributed network of host vehicles rather than using centralized fixed stations. Each vehicle acts as an independent sensing node, dividing the monitoring task into many small, location-specific measurements that collectively provide granular spatial coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
Host vehicles autonomously perform air quality sensing and data transmission without requiring dedicated monitoring infrastructure. The vehicles' existing sensors and communication systems are utilized to self-generate and share air quality data, eliminating the need for separate fixed monitoring stations.
2Loss of information
If a distributed network of host vehicles is used to collect air quality data, then granular location-specific data becomes accessible, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes host vehicles universally functional by using their existing sensors, processors, and communication systems for air quality monitoring in addition to their primary transportation function. This multi-functionality avoids adding dedicated monitoring equipment to each vehicle, reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
A remote processing station serves as an intermediary that centralizes data aggregation, analysis, and distribution. This mediator handles the complexity of processing data from multiple vehicles, relieving individual vehicles of complex data management tasks while still enabling granular location-specific data access.
3Reliability
If sensors are continuously activated in host vehicles, then up-to-date air quality data can be collected, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Air quality sensors in host vehicles are activated periodically or under specific conditions rather than continuously. The system collects data at intervals when the vehicle is stationary or in designated monitoring zones, maintaining data freshness while significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-identifies monitoring zones and conditions under which data collection should occur. Sensors are activated in advance when entering these predefined zones, ensuring data is collected at appropriate times without requiring continuous monitoring, thus balancing data freshness with energy efficiency.
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
Provides users with detailed, time-specific, and location-specific pollution and noise level data, enabling informed decisions to avoid polluted areas and reducing exposure to adverse health effects.
Implementation Method 1
The sensor suite includes an acoustic sensor and/or an air quality sensor respectively configured for collecting a pollution data sample at a current location of the host vehicle
Implementation Method 2
The sensor suite includes an acoustic sensor and/or an air quality sensor respectively configured for collecting a pollution data sample at a current location of the host vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A host vehicle for use with a remote processing station (RPS) configured to generate a pollution report from a global set of pollution data includes a vehicle body, a vehicle telematics unit (VTU), a sensor suite, and an electronic control unit (ECU). The sensor suite includes acoustic and/or an air quality sensors respectively configured for collecting pollution data samples. The pollution data samples include ambient noise and/or air quality levels as part of the global set of pollution data. The ECU selectively transmits the pollution data sample(s) to the RPS in response to predetermined conditions, via the, receives the pollution report descriptive of noise and/or air quality levels at a current location or destination of the host vehicle, and executes a control action of the host vehicle or another receiving device in response to the pollution report.