Vehicle Sensor System for Terrain Difficulty Rating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Off-road drivers face significant risks due to subjective assessment methods for determining terrain difficulty, which can lead to underestimation and increased risks of vehicle stuck or overturning, especially with inexperienced drivers navigating varied and challenging terrains.
Innovation Solution
A method using vehicle sensor data to determine terrain difficulty by analyzing characteristics such as rolling resistance, surface friction, and terrain roughness, and sharing this data between vehicles or storing it for route planning, utilizing existing vehicle sensors and processing units without requiring specialist hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If visual inspection or driver perception is used to assess terrain difficulty, then the assessment method is simple and quick, but the accuracy and objectivity of the difficulty rating deteriorates leading to underestimation of risks
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle's existing sensors and control systems are utilized to automatically assess terrain difficulty without requiring additional specialized assessment equipment. The system serves itself by using data already being collected during normal vehicle operation (wheel slip, suspension movement, engine load) to generate difficulty ratings, eliminating the need for separate assessment devices while improving accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces subjective human visual inspection and perception with an automated electronic system that processes sensor data through algorithms. This substitution of mechanical/manual assessment methods with electronic data processing significantly improves measurement precision while the complexity is managed through software rather than additional hardware
2Reliability
If existing vehicle sensors are used for terrain assessment, then the device complexity is minimized, but the reliability of terrain difficulty rating may be insufficient for challenging off-road conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing vehicle sensors serve multiple functions: their primary functions for vehicle control and safety, plus an additional function for terrain difficulty assessment. For example, wheel speed sensors used for ABS also provide data for detecting wheel slip on difficult terrain, and suspension sensors used for ride comfort also indicate terrain roughness. This multi-functionality increases reliability without adding dedicated assessment sensors
Solution Approach 2:
The terrain assessment system is merged with the vehicle's existing sensor network and control systems. Rather than creating a separate assessment system, the patent combines terrain analysis functions with existing vehicle management systems, allowing shared use of sensors, processors, and communication infrastructure, thereby improving reliability while minimizing additional complexity
3Reliability
If subjective assessment methods are used by inexperienced drivers, then the operation is simple, but the safety risk increases due to underestimation of terrain difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors vehicle performance parameters (wheel slip, suspension compression, engine load) and provides real-time feedback on terrain difficulty. This objective feedback loop allows inexperienced drivers to receive accurate information about actual terrain conditions rather than relying on their subjective perception, significantly improving safety while the system operates automatically without requiring complex driver actions
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary assessment of terrain difficulty before the driver encounters challenging sections, using sensor data to predict upcoming difficult terrain. This advance warning allows inexperienced drivers to prepare appropriately without requiring them to make complex real-time assessments, improving safety while maintaining operational simplicity
Data Source
AI summary
A method for determining a difficulty rating associated with the terrain comprised in an off-road route using a vehicle, and a system for carrying out the method are disclosed. The difficulty rating being indicative of the difficulty a vehicle experiences in traversing the terrain. The method is carried out using a vehicle comprising on or more sensors. The method comprises: receiving a request to determine the terrain difficulty; obtaining vehicle sensor data sampled over a preceding period of time whilst the vehicle was traversing the off-road route; analysing the sampled sensor data and determining one or more characteristics associated with the sampled sensor data; predicting the type of terrain traversed by the vehicle on the basis of one or more of the determined one or more characteristics; and calculating the difficulty rating using the one or more determined characteristics and the predicted terrain type.