Vehicle Wind Sensing With Motion-Compensated Stationary Wind Calculation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Large vehicles face instability and control issues due to high winds, which are often unnoticed until it's too late, as conventional wind speed measurement systems include vehicle motion components, making them unreliable for safety and stability.
Innovation Solution
A method using vehicle-based wind velocity detection devices, such as lidar and ultrasonic sensors, combined with vehicle velocity detection, calculates stationary wind velocity by vector subtraction, allowing for accurate wind speed and direction measurement independent of vehicle motion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional wind speed measurement systems are used in moving vehicles, then vehicle-based wind velocity can be obtained, but the measurement includes vehicle motion components making it unreliable for assessing actual wind conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the vehicle motion component from the measured wind velocity data through vector subtraction. The system separates the vehicle-based wind velocity into two components: the actual stationary wind velocity and the vehicle motion component, then subtracts the latter to obtain accurate stationary wind velocity measurements independent of vehicle movement.
2Loss of information
If wind speed measurement equipment is installed on large vehicles, then wind velocity data can be collected, but the vehicle's large surface area acts as a sail causing instability and control issues in high winds
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring stationary wind velocity and providing real-time alerts when wind conditions exceed safety thresholds. This allows the vehicle operator to take preventive actions before wind conditions become dangerous, rather than reacting after instability occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables preliminary action by detecting and alerting drivers to high wind conditions before they cause dangerous situations. The system provides advance warning allowing the driver to adjust driving behavior, reduce speed, or take other preventive measures to maintain vehicle stability.
3Productivity
If vehicle-based wind velocity measurements are used for safety assessments, then real-time wind data is available, but the measurements are contaminated by vehicle motion making them unsafe for decision-making
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the harmful vehicle motion component from the wind velocity measurement through mathematical vector subtraction. By calculating the difference between vehicle-based wind velocity and vehicle velocity, the system isolates the true stationary wind velocity, eliminating the harmful interference while maintaining real-time data availability.
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 safer vehicle operation by providing accurate stationary wind speed and direction data, enhancing stability and control, especially in high winds, and facilitating real-time data sharing for weather prediction and vehicle performance optimization.
Implementation Method 1
Lidar (also LIDAR, or LiDAR; sometimes LADAR) is an acronym of 'light detection and ranging' or 'laser imaging, detection, and ranging'. It is a method for determining ranges by targeting an object or a surface with a laser and measuring the time for the reflected light to return to the receiver.
Implementation Method 2
Ultrasonic transducers and ultrasonic sensors are devices that generate or sense ultrasound energy. They can be divided into three broad categories: transmitters, receivers and transceivers. Transmitters convert electrical signals into ultrasound, receivers convert ultrasound into electrical signals, and transceivers can both transmit and receive ultrasound. Ultrasound can be used for measuring wind speed and direction (anemometer).
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle and/or fleet of vehicles that are equipped with: (i) a wind velocity detection device (for example, an ultrasonic wind velocity detection device); and (ii) a vehicle velocity detection device (for example, lidar or a speedometer and compass). Computer hardware performs two dimensional, or three dimensional, vector calculations in order to net out a stationary wind velocity from the measurements made at each vehicle. The computer hardware and software for performing the vector calculations and outputting stationary wind speed may be located in the vehicle or remotely from it (for example, at the headquarters of a weather prediction company).