In-Pavement Wireless Vibration Sensor Nodes, Networks and Systems

• US 20120173171A1
• Filed: 04/22/2011
• Published: 07/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensys Networks Inc. (Tagmaster AB)
• Original Assignee: Sensys Networks Inc. (Tagmaster AB)
• Inventors: Kavaler, Robert, Varaiya, Pravin, Bajwa, Ravneet, Rajagopal, Ram
• Granted Patent: US 8,990,032 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/56
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 11/06 by electric means
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/015 with provision for distinguishing between two or more types of vehicles, e.g. between motor-cars and cycles

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are disclosed that may be configured to respond to vibrations in a pavement induced by the travel of a vehicle on the pavement. The apparatus may include vibration sensor nodes embedded in the pavement and systems using the response of the sensor nodes to generate vehicle parameters, weight estimates, pavement deflection estimates and vehicle classifications. From these and other data, traffic ticket, tariff and insurance messages about the vehicle may be generated. Processors and processor-units are disclosed. Delivery mechanisms to configure the processor units and entities controlling and/or benefiting from the deliveries are disclosed.

Claims

1. An apparatus configured to respond to vibrations in a pavement induced by the travel of a vehicle, comprising at least one of

a vibration sensor module including at least one vibration sensor configured to respond to said vibrations in said pavement to create at least one vibration reading;

a wireless vibration sensor including said vibration sensor and a radio transmitter configured to send a vibration report based upon said vibration reading;

a wireless vibration sensor node configured to be embedded in said pavement and including said vibration sensor and said radio; and

an embedded wireless vibration sensor node embedded in said pavement and including said vibration sensor and said radio transmitter.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one of

a first processor configured to respond to said vibration readings to generate said vibration report;

a second processor configured to respond to said vibration report to generate at least one vehicle parameter of said vehicle;

a third processor configured to respond to said vehicle parameter of said vehicle to generate a vehicle classification of said vehicle;

a fourth processor configured to respond to said vibration report to generate a weight estimate of said vehicle and/or a deflection estimate of said vehicle deflecting said pavement;

a fifth processor configured to respond to said vehicle classification, a vehicle identification, a vehicle movement estimate and at least one of said weight estimate and said deflection estimate to generate a vehicle travel record for said vehicle; and

a sixth processor configured to respond to said vehicle travel record to generate at least one of a traffic ticket message, a tariff message and an insurance message, each for said vehicle.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising

an access point configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one of said embedded wireless vibration sensor node to receive said vibration report.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said embedded wireless vibration sensor node includes said first processor.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said access point includes at least one of said second processor, said third processor, said fourth processor, said fifth processor and/or said sixth processor.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one of said first processor, said second processor, said third processor, said fourth processor, said fifth processor and/or said sixth processor includes at least one instance of a processor-unit;

wherein said processor-unit includes at least one of a finite state machine, a computer accessibly coupled to memory containing a program system, an inferential engine and a neural network.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said program system include at least one of the program steps of

first-generating said vibration report in response to said vibration readings;

second-generating said vehicle parameter of said vehicle in response to said vibration readings and/or said vibration report;

third-generating said vehicle classification of said vehicle in response to said vehicle parameter;

fourth-generating said weight estimate and/or said deflection estimate in response to said vibration readings and/or said vibration report;

fifth-generating said vehicle travel record for said vehicle in response to said vehicle classification, said weight estimate, said deflection estimate, said vehicle identification and/or said vehicle movement estimate; and

sixth-generating said at least one of said traffic ticket message, said tariff message and/or said insurance message, each for said vehicle in response to said vehicle travel record.

8. The apparatus of claim 7,

wherein at least one of the program steps of first-generating said vibration report and/or second-generating and/or fourth generating further comprises at least one of the program steps of

up-filtering at least two of said vibration readings to generate at least one frequency-doubled vibration reading;

noise-reducing said vibration readings and/or said frequency-doubled reading to generate at least two quiet-vibration readings; and

peak-estimating said vibration readings and/or said frequency-doubled reading and/or said quiet-vibration readings to generate at least one peak estimate;

wherein the program step of second-generating said vehicle parameter of said vehicle further comprises the program step of

axle-detecting to generate a number-of-axles and an axle-position vector for said vehicle;

wherein the program step of third-generating said vehicle classification of said vehicle in response to said vehicle parameter of said vehicle further comprises the program step of

classifying said vehicle based upon said number-of-axles and said axle-position vector;

wherein the program step of fourth-generating said weight estimate of said vehicle in response to said vibration report further comprises the program steps of

modeling a deflection of said vehicle;

determining said weight estimate based upon said deflection of said vehicle on said pavement; and

recognizing a dynamical weight component in said weight estimate to reveal a static weight estimate.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising at least one of a computer readable memory, a disk drive, and a server, each configured to deliver said program system and/or an installation package to said processor-unit, with said installation package configured to instruct said processor-unit to install at least part of said program system into at least one of said first processor through said sixth processor.

10. A method comprising at least one of the steps of:

intializing at least one of said apparatus of claim 9;

operating at least one of said apparatus; and

using at least one of said apparatus to create at least one of said vibration report, said vehicle parameter, said vehicle classification, said vehicle travel record, said traffic ticket message, said tariff message and/or said insurance message, each for said vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of initializing further comprises at least one of the steps of:

providing at least one of said vibration sensor, said vibration sensor module and/or said wireless vibration sensor node to implement said embedded wireless vibration sensor node embedded in said pavement;

calibrating said embedded wireless vibration sensor node for use with said access point of claim 3 to deliver said vibration report to said access point;

configuring at least one of said first processor, said second processor, said third processor, said fourth processor, said fifth processor and/or said sixth processor; and

delivering said installation package and/or said program system to said processor-unit.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of operating further comprises at least one of the steps of:

first-generating said vibration report in response to said vibration readings;

second-generating said vehicle parameter of said vehicle in response to said vibration report;

third-generating said vehicle classification of said vehicle and/or a deflection estimate in response to said vehicle parameter of said vehicle;

fourth-generating said weight estimate of said vehicle in response to said vibration report;

fifth-generating said vehicle travel record for said vehicle in response to said vehicle classification, said weight estimate, said vehicle identification and said vehicle movement estimate for said vehicle; and

sixth-generating said at least one of said traffic ticket message, said tariff message and/or said insurance message, each for said vehicle in response to said vehicle travel record.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of using further comprises at least one of the steps of:

fifth-generating said vehicle travel record for said vehicle in response to said vehicle classification, said weight estimate, said vehicle identification and said vehicle movement estimate for said vehicle; and

sixth-generating said at least one of said traffic ticket message, said tariff message and/or said insurance message, each for said vehicle in response to said vehicle travel record.

14. At least one of said weight estimate, said deflection estimate, said vibration report, said vehicle parameter, said vehicle classification, said vehicle travel record, said traffic ticket message, said tariff message and/or said insurance message, each for said vehicle, and/or said installation package and/or said program system as a product of the process of claim 12.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pavement includes a filler and a bonding agent.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said filler includes at least one of sand, gravel, and pumice;

and

wherein said bonding agent includes at least one of an asphalt and a cement.