METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CAPTURING ROAD CURVE PROPERTIES AND CALCULATING MAXIMUM SAFE ADVISORY SPEED

• US 20140172295A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Rieker Incorporated
• Original Assignee: The Rieker Incorporated
• Inventors: DENIGAN, Edward P., Caruso, Joseph P., Gosnell, Charles E., Tambe, Abhay A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,592,833 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/468
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0075 Automatic parameter input, automatic initialising or calibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/125 Lateral acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/10 Historical data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18145 Cornering
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/072 Curvature of the road

Abstract

This invention relates generally to the field of Highway signage and more specifically to a device for automatically capturing road curve properties and a process for automating calculating the maximum safe Advisory Speed of Roads. This invention is a new device that automates the accurate measurement of road curve/Railway radius and super elevation. This information is assembled to automatically report the recommended curve speed, or Curve Advisor Speed (CAS) for a particular curve. The device is assembled into a single, compact, low power and transportable case which can be driven at normal road speeds in a car.

Claims

1. A device for use in a vehicle travelling on a road having a curve, said device comprising:

a digital inclinometer or accelerometer configured to provide a measured side friction data experienced by the vehicle;

a GPS receiver configured to provide a time, a longitude data for the vehicle and a latitude data for the vehicle; and

a processor configured to determine a recommended speed for the curve based on the measured side friction data, time, longitude data and latitude data.

2. The device of claim 1, said processor further configured to determine a bank of the curve based on said side friction, and to determine a radius and location of the curve based on the longitude data and the latitude data.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said inclinometer or accelerometer further provides speed data and the measured side friction data, and wherein said processor is further configured to determine a radius of the curve based on the longitude data and the latitude data, and to determine the recommended speed based on the radius, the speed data, and the measured side friction data.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said processor correlates the determined bank of said curve with the determined radius and location of said curve.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said inclinometer or accelerometer, and GPS receiver are integrated into a single integral unit.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said inclinometer or accelerometer, GPS receiver, and processor are integrated into a single integral unit.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the recommended speed is DOT guidelines.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said digital inclinometer or accelerometer provides measured data points, and said processor receives said measured data points and generates a modeled curve based on said measured data points, said processor further determining a smooth and continuous radius and super elevation of road surface based on the modeled curve.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the modeled curve is a mathematical curve and based on a second order polynomial.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the modeled curve removes noise.

11. A device for use in a vehicle travelling on a roadway or a railway having a curve, said device comprising:

a digital inclinometer or accelerometer configured to provide a side friction data for the vehicle;

a GPS receiver configured to provide a longitude data and a latitude data for the vehicle; and

a processor configured to determine a recommended super elevation for the curve based on the side friction data, longitude data and latitude data.

12. A method for a vehicle travelling on a road having a curve, said device comprising:

providing using a digital inclinometer or accelerometer, a measured side friction data experienced by the vehicle;

providing using a GPS receiver configured, a time, a longitude data for the vehicle and a latitude data for the vehicle; and

determining using a processor, a recommended speed for the curve based on the measured side friction data, time, longitude data and latitude data.