Wheel Substance Detection for Adaptive Vehicle Ride Height

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle protection systems fail to accurately detect and respond to accumulating substances such as water, snow, sand, or mud around parked vehicles, often leading to damage or getting stuck, due to impractical wheel sensors and insufficient early warning from ambient water level sensors.

Innovation Solution

Positioning sensors at vehicle wheels to detect substance height and composition, using electrical conductivity and temperature measurements, and transmitting data to an onboard processor for precise vehicle ride height adjustments and protective actions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sensors are positioned on a wheel to detect water during wading, then the vehicle can detect water presence, but the sensor location becomes unknown due to constant wheel spinning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater detection reliabilityVSAvoidsensor location precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical wheel-mounted sensors with magnetic field-based sensors that detect water through the wheel structure. This substitution eliminates the problem of sensor location uncertainty during wheel rotation, as the magnetic field detection can identify water presence regardless of the wheel's rotational position.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If water level sensors are positioned high on the vehicle body, then the vehicle can detect ambient water level, but early warning of flooding is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflood detection capabilityVSAvoidearly warning time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the detection system into multiple sensor positions: low-position sensors near the ground for early warning of accumulating substances, and high-position sensors on the vehicle body for detecting ambient water levels. This segmentation allows the system to provide both early warning and comprehensive flood detection capabilities simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the vehicle body is raised in response to water detection during wading, then flood damage is avoided, but the vehicle body cannot be lowered below normal ride height

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflood damage protectionVSAvoidride height adjustment range

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic ride height control system that can both raise and lower the vehicle body based on real-time sensor feedback. The system dynamically adjusts ride height in multiple directions (up and down) rather than only raising the vehicle, providing versatile adaptation to different environmental conditions such as water flooding, snow accumulation, or muddy terrain.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Device complexity

If sensors detect only binary water level signals, then the system is simple, but granular information about substance type is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor system complexityVSAvoidsubstance type information

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs sensors that detect multiple parameters simultaneously (electrical conductivity, temperature, and water level) rather than just binary presence/absence signals. By monitoring changes in these parameters, the system can differentiate between various substances (water, snow, mud, sand) and determine their properties, providing granular information while maintaining relatively simple sensor hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 effective protection of vehicles by accurately determining substance type and height, allowing for tailored ride height adjustments and system responses to prevent damage or getting stuck, enhancing vehicle safety and reliability.

Implementation Method 1

The sensors may detect electrical conductivity and/or temperature of the buildup

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conductivity: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

The sensors may detect electrical conductivity and/or temperature of the buildup

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTemperature:

Data Source

PatentUS12594808B2Ingress prediction and detection with intelligent vehicle response and wheel apparatus

Publication Date: 2026.04.07 ADEIA GUIDES INC

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.