Wheel-Mounted Ingress Detection for Adaptive Vehicle Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to effectively detect and respond to accumulating substances like water, snow, or sand around parked vehicles, leading to potential damage or getting stuck, due to limitations in sensor placement, type discrimination, and adaptive response mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
The system employs sensors positioned at the wheels to detect the height and type of substances, transmitting data to an onboard processor which determines appropriate protective actions, such as adjusting ride height, closing vents, or alerting the driver, based on the substance and its accumulation rate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensors are positioned on the vehicle body to detect ambient water level, then the vehicle can detect high water levels, but the sensors are positioned too high to provide early warning of flooding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from detecting water level at a single high point on the vehicle body to measuring water depth at multiple points near the wheel wells. This dimensional change from a single elevated measurement point to multiple low-level measurement points enables both early detection and continuous monitoring of water accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the water detection function into multiple sensor units positioned at different locations near the wheels. Each sensor independently measures water depth at its specific location, and the system integrates these segmented measurements to determine overall water accumulation levels and trends.
2Loss of time
If sensors detect water at the wheel, then early warning can be provided, but the sensor cannot discern the type of substance accumulating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs optical sensors that detect changes in light properties (analogous to color changes) to identify substance type. Different substances (water, snow, sand, mud) have distinct optical characteristics that the sensor can differentiate, enabling substance identification without requiring physical contact or complex analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces potential mechanical or chemical substance identification methods with optical detection. The optical sensor non-contactly identifies substance type by analyzing light interaction properties, eliminating the need for mechanical sampling or chemical analysis while providing rapid substance classification.
3Productivity
If multiple sensors are positioned at different heights on the wheel, then substance accumulation rate can be calculated, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs each sensor unit to perform multiple functions: detecting presence of substance, measuring water depth, identifying substance type through optical properties, and calculating accumulation rate when positioned in arrays. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized sensors for each measurement type, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity.
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 solution enables early detection and adaptive response to various substances, reducing the risk of vehicle damage and getting stuck, while also considering the specific characteristics of the accumulating material.
Implementation Method 1
The sensors may detect electrical conductivity and/or temperature of the buildup
Implementation Method 2
The sensors may detect electrical conductivity and/or temperature of the buildup
Implementation Method 3
using the suspension system of the vehicle the ride height of the vehicle is raised
Data Source
AI summary
Two or more sensors positioned at a wheel of a stopped vehicle may detect an unwanted substance, and transmit signals, based on which a height level of the substance is determined. The system may also determine a type of the substance, such as water, snow, sand or mud, based on electrical resistance of the substance detected by the sensors. Cameras or other imaging equipment, including LIDAR, may also be used to determine the substance height and/or composition. Accordingly, actions to protect the vehicle may be taken, such as raising or lowering the ride height of the vehicle body using an adjustable suspension of the vehicle. Other protective actions may include closing vents, seals, valves and battery isolation units, and transmitting messages to a vehicle driver and/or to emergency personnel.