Road surface condition monitoring system using sensors disposed under the road

• US 6,441,748 B1
• Filed: 04/02/2001
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Yokogawa Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Yokogawa Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Masaki, Ichiro, Takagi, Masahito
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US09/824,507
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 340/901, 340/905, 340/580, 340/903, 340/581, 340/962, 324/688, 324/689, 324/693, 324/671, 324/633, 324/634, 324/635, 731/702.6
• US Class Current: 340/901
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096758 where no selection takes place on the transmitted or the received information
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element

Abstract

A road surface monitoring system for monitoring the condition of a road surface wherein at least one sensor unit is interchangeably provided in a sealed container disposed below the road surface and a power source is provided to power the sensor unit, and a communications device is provided to obtain measurement and/or monitoring data from the at least one sensor unit and to provide control signals to the at least one sensor unit, whereby an inexpensive and readily maintainable system is provided.

Claims

1. A system of monitoring conditions of a road surface, said system comprising:

a sealed container disposed under said road surface and having a structure comprising a top, a bottom, a plurality of sides, and a plurality of parallel slots disposed between said top and bottom and between at least two of said sides;

a plurality of sealed sensor units each sensor unit detecting a different road condition interchangeably fitted within said plurality of parallel slots in said sealed continer;

means for supplying power to said plurality of sealed sensor units; and

means for communicating between said plurality of sealed sensor units and an external station.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of sealed sensor units comprise means for sensing wetness, means for sensing temperature, means for sensing dryness, and means for sensing depth of snow or ice.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for supply power is disposed within said container.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for supplying power is disposed outside said container.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for communicating comprises a wireless transmitter means disposed within said container.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for communicating comprises a wireless receiver means disposed within said container.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for communicating comprises a differential GPS transmitter and/or receiver.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said container comprises connector means for connecting said communicating means with an external station.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said communicating mens comprises means for transmitting measured signals from said at least one sensor means and means for receiving signals from said external station through a network.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said container contains means for providing a unique address or identification code for that particular container.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said communicating means comprises a differential GPS transmitter for transmitting a differential GPS navigational data signal to a vehicle on said road surface.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising means adjacent to said road for displaying data from said at least one sensor unit as communicated by said communicating means.

13. The system of claim 11,wherein said vehicle has therein a GPS receiver for receiving data regarding locating of a particular sensor unit and the particular road location at which that particular sensor unit is located.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor comprises a laser radar sensor, a load moisture sensor, an optical sensor, a radiometer, an ultrasonic snow depth sensor, a thermometer sensor, or a rain gauge sensor.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for communicating comprises a RTK-GPS transmitter and/or receiver.