Windshield Stone Impact Response via Integral Pressure Sensor
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Damage to a vehicle's windshield, such as cracking from stone impacts, can compromise its structural integrity and the performance of autonomous vehicle control systems, as well as obstruct the forward view of occupants.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous vehicle is equipped with an integral windshield impact sensor, typically a pressure sensor like piezoelectric sensors, that detects stone impacts and triggers evasive maneuvers and windshield fluid dispensing to prevent damage, while also identifying and responding to potential stone sources like large trucks through vehicle-to-vehicle communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vehicle relies on traditional windshield damage detection methods, then the structural integrity and safety of the vehicle may be compromised due to delayed detection, but adding advanced sensor systems increases device complexity and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure sensor system is integrated into the existing windshield structure, serving multiple functions: detecting stone impacts, measuring pressure distribution, and providing data for both autonomous vehicle responses and occupant awareness. This multi-functionality approach improves reliability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables the vehicle to autonomously detect windshield impacts and execute evasive maneuvers without human intervention. The autonomous vehicle computer automatically processes sensor data, identifies stone impact events, and triggers protective actions, reducing the need for complex manual monitoring systems while improving reliability.
2Reliability
If the vehicle executes evasive maneuvers upon detecting stone impacts, then windshield damage prevention is improved, but vehicle control stability and predictability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by executing evasive maneuvers before significant windshield damage can occur. When stone impacts are detected, the autonomous vehicle computer triggers avoidance maneuvers that prevent or minimize damage progression, addressing the problem before it escalates to critical failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the autonomous vehicle computer continuously monitors pressure sensor data, analyzes impact patterns, and adjusts vehicle control responses accordingly. This closed-loop feedback ensures that evasive maneuvers are triggered only when necessary and appropriate, maintaining overall vehicle control stability while preventing windshield damage.
3Measurement precision
If the system uses multiple sensors to accurately identify stone impacts, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical impact detection mechanisms with electronic pressure sensors that integrate directly into the windshield structure. This substitution maintains high measurement precision for stone impact detection while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to traditional mechanical sensor systems.
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
The system effectively prevents windshield damage from becoming structurally compromising by initiating evasive maneuvers and applying windshield fluid, thereby maintaining vehicle safety and integrity.
Implementation Method 1
An autonomous vehicle is equipped with an integral windshield impact sensor, typically a pressure sensor like piezoelectric sensors, that detects stone impacts
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a windshield having an integral pressure sensor. A signal from the pressure sensor is used to identify an impact against the windshield as a stone impact. Responsive to identifying the stone impact, identifying any large truck located within a predetermined radius of the vehicle. Responsive to identifying a large truck, the vehicle is directed to make an evasive maneuver to avoid stones dropped or thrown by the large truck.