Roadway-Infrastructure-Maintenance System Using Automated Vehicles

• US 20170351263A1
• Filed: 06/02/2016
• Published: 12/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Motional AD, LLC (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lambermont, Serge, Lee, Jong Ho, Bhatia, Gaurav, De Vos, Glen W.
• Application Number:
  US15/171,129
• Publication Number:
  US 20170351263A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/408 Radar; Laser, e.g. lidar
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/00 Input parameters relating to infrastructure
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/53 Road markings, e.g. lane marker or crosswalk
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/20 Static objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/4029 Pedestrians
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/60 Traffic rules, e.g. speed limits or right of way
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/45 External transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2756/10 Involving external transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/04 Traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/00253 Taxi operations
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0246 using a video camera in combination with image processing means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0248 in combination with a laser lasers per se H01S
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0257 using a radar radar systems designed for anti-collision purposes between land vehicles or between land vehicle and fixed obstacles G01S13/931
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0274 using mapping information stored in a memory device navigation using map-matching G01C21/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/582 of traffic signs
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/588 Recognition of the road, e.g. of lane markings; Recognition of the vehicle driving pattern in relation to the road
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A roadway-infrastructure-maintenance system using automated-vehicles to maintain a roadway includes an image-device and a controller. The imaging-device is suitable to mount on a host-vehicle. The imaging-device is used to detect an infrastructure-feature proximate to a roadway traveled by the host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the imaging-device. The controller is configured to determine a need-for-maintenance of the infrastructure-feature. The system may include a digital-map that indicates an expected-presence of the infrastructure-feature, and the need-for-maintenance may be indicated when the infrastructure-feature is not-detected as expected. The system may also include a transmitter in communication with the controller. The transmitter may be used to communicate the need-for-maintenance to a maintenance-organization.

Claims

1. A roadway-infrastructure-maintenance system using automated-vehicles to maintain a roadway, said system comprising:

an imaging-device suitable to mount on a host-vehicle, said imaging-device used to detect an infrastructure-feature proximate to a roadway traveled by the host-vehicle; and

a controller in communication with the imaging-device, said controller configured to determine a need-for-maintenance of the infrastructure-feature.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the system includes a digital-map that indicates an expected-presence of the infrastructure-feature, and the need-for-maintenance is indicated when the infrastructure-feature is not-detected as expected.

3. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the system includes a transmitter in communication with the controller, said transmitter used to communicate the need-for-maintenance to a maintenance-organization.

4. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the imaging-device includes one of a camera, a radar-unit, and a lidar-unit.

5. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the infrastructure-feature includes one of a lane-marking, a traffic-signal, a roadway-sign, and a street-light.

6. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the host-vehicle is characterized as an automated-taxi.