Wireless Vehicular Sensor Network Vehicle Counting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless vehicular sensor networks face challenges in accurately counting vehicles due to the difficulty and unreliability of running wires for open loop sensors in rugged roadway environments, where magnetic sensors are often used but can be damaged by heavy vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A method for counting vehicles using a wireless vehicular sensor network that involves receiving reports from sensor nodes, with a processor generating traffic counts based on magnetic sensor data, including techniques such as identifying rising and falling edges or waveform variance, and using access points and finite state machines to process these reports.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If open loop magnetic sensors are embedded in roadways, then vehicle detection capability is improved, but installation complexity and reliability deteriorate due to wire running difficulties and sensor damage from heavy vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces wired magnetic sensors with wireless sensor nodes that communicate via radio frequency. This eliminates the mechanical wire connections that are vulnerable to damage from heavy vehicles, while maintaining the magnetic sensing capability through embedded magnetic sensor elements in each wireless node. The wireless communication protocol substitutes for the physical wire infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the magnetic sensing function from the wired sensor system and integrates it into self-contained wireless sensor nodes. Each node contains its own magnetic sensor, processing unit, and wireless transceiver, allowing it to operate independently without physical wire connections to external power and communication infrastructure.
2Measurement precision
If open loop magnetic sensors are used, then vehicle detection is enabled, but installation cost and complexity increase due to wire running requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wire running and connection process with wireless radio frequency communication. Sensor nodes can be deployed by simply placing them on or near the roadway surface, eliminating the need for trenching, conduit installation, and wire connection procedures that characterize traditional wired sensor deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless sensor nodes are self-contained units that provide their own power (via battery or energy harvesting), processing, and communication capabilities. They autonomously detect vehicles, process the magnetic signal changes, and transmit data without requiring external infrastructure, making deployment significantly simpler than wired systems.
3Productivity
If wired magnetic sensor systems are deployed, then traffic monitoring capability is achieved, but maintenance difficulty and cost increase due to sensor damage in rugged environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the vulnerable wired connections and embedded sensors with wireless sensor nodes that communicate through the air. When a node becomes damaged or depleted, it can be easily replaced by removing the old node and installing a new one without dealing with wire disconnection, conduit access, or complex electrical connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless sensor nodes are designed as relatively low-cost, replaceable units. Rather than investing in a permanent, difficult-to-repair wired infrastructure, the system uses multiple inexpensive wireless nodes that can be quickly swapped out when they fail or their battery is depleted, reducing overall maintenance complexity and cost.
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 provides a reliable and efficient method for counting vehicles, reducing damage from heavy traffic and improving accuracy in traffic monitoring, parking, and toll booth applications.
Implementation Method 1
a first magnetic sensor 2-1 and a second magnetic sensor 2-2, spaced at a distance between first and second sensors 108-1,2 sufficiently small, that the first vehicle 6-1 is observed by both magnetic sensors
Data Source
AI summary
Method and apparatus receiving reports from at least two wireless vehicular sensor nodes and stepping through a process of comparing filtered queues to determine the first and the second waveform in time, leading to counting the vehicles passing the magnetic sensors of the wireless vehicular sensor nodes.