Method and System for Monitoring Road Surface Conditions

• US 20090160675A1
• Filed: 12/17/2008
• Published: 06/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Yassin, Amr F., Zakaria, Mohamed, Secchi, Marco, Pichetti, Luigi, Secomandi, Antonio, Piccinini, Sandro
• Granted Patent: US 8,451,140 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/905
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0104 Measuring and analyzing of parameters relative to traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/127 to a central station ; Indicators in a central station

Abstract

Monitoring road surface conditions using a mobile computer unit carried by a vehicle operating on a road network and adapted to detect information about the road surface conditions. The detection may be done by means of bump sensors which may also provide information on the size and the depth of the bump according to a detected shock with respect to the vehicle speed. Such information may then be transmitted to a central controller server. The central server may use the collected information for several purposes, such as help in planning maintenance of the road network; forwarded to users and vehicles for journey planning purposes; and to deviate traffic in case of extreme surface damage.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a road surface of a road network, the method comprising:

associating a mobile computer unit with a vehicle operating on said road network;

monitoring the road surface using said mobile computer unit during said vehicle operation;

determining a position of the vehicle in response to detecting a bump on the road surface; and

receiving information of the detected bump and the determined position of the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing the received information;

determining a relevance of the detected bump for said road network; and

determining a recovery action in response to said relevance of the detected bump for said road network.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the recovery action includes planning road maintenance according to the stored information.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the recovery action includes a server transmitting to a plurality of vehicles the stored information.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile computer unit includes a shock sensor for detecting the bump on the road surface during said vehicle operation, the mobile computer unit collecting additional information about intensity of the detected bump, and a server receiving said additional information.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile computer unit collects information about the vehicle speed at a moment of detection of the bump.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the vehicle includes at least one equipment adapted to react to the transmitted information, the at least one equipment adjusting its setting in order to minimize an effect of the bump on vehicle users.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the at least one equipment includes one of an active suspension controller, a speed controller, and seat belt tension controller.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving information of the detected bump and the determined position of the vehicle is performed each time a bump is detected.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the information on the detected bump and the determined position of the vehicle is collected and stored within the mobile computer unit and is transmitted to a server at a later moment.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the information on the detected bump and the determined position of the vehicle is received by means of predetermined fixed receivers that communicate with the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the information on the detected bump and the determined position of the vehicle is received by means of radio communication with the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the information on the detected bump and the determined position of the vehicle is received by means of a mobile telephone network.

14. A computer program product comprising computer readable code stored in a computer readable media, said computer readable code including computer instructions which when executed by a computer perform a method of monitoring a road surface of a road network, the method comprising:

associating a mobile computer unit with a vehicle operating on said road network;

monitoring the road surface using said mobile computer unit during said vehicle operation;

determining a position of the vehicle in response to detecting a bump on the road surface; and

receiving information of the detected bump and the determined position of the vehicle.

15. A system for monitoring a road surface of a road network, the system comprising:

a mobile computer unit;

associating means for associating the mobile computer unit with a vehicle operating on said road network;

a monitor for monitoring the road surface using said mobile computer unit during said vehicle operation;

a position location system for determining a position of the vehicle in response to detecting a bump on the road surface; and

a server for receiving information of the detected bump and the determined position of the vehicle.

16. A mobile computer unit adapted to be carried by a vehicle operating on a road network and adapted to be used in a system for monitoring a road network surface, the mobile computer unit comprising:

a shock sensor for detecting bumps on the road surface during operation of the vehicle;

a positioning system for determining a position of the vehicle at a moment of bump detection; and

communication means for receiving information on the detected bump and the determined position of the vehicle.