Apparatus and system for detecting road surface condition and method for detecting road surface condition by using same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12300101-B2
Application number	US-202117920728-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 13, 2021
Priority date	May 13, 2020
Publication date	May 13, 2025
Grant date	May 13, 2025

Abstract

The present invention relates to: an apparatus and system for detecting a road surface condition, wherein the road surface condition is determined through a sound signal; and a method for detecting a road surface condition by using same. The apparatus for detecting a road surface condition according to the present invention comprises: a sensor unit which is installed on a road and measures a sound signal generated according to a moving of a moving object on the road; and a control unit which distinguishes the sound signal measured by the sensor unit into normality or abnormality and determines, in case of the abnormality, the road surface condition including at least one of rainfall (wet), frozenness (icy), slush, and snow cover (snowy) so that a quick and accurate action corresponding to the road surface condition of a specific section can be made from a distanced place.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for detecting a road surface condition, comprising:
a sensor unit installed on a road and measuring a sound signal generated according to a movement of a moving object on the road; and
a controller primarily determining the road surface condition by distinguishing the sound signal measured by the sensor unit as a normal state or an abnormal state and secondarily determining, in case of the abnormal state, the road surface condition including at least one of wet, icy, slush, and snowy conditions,
wherein the primarily determining is performed based on a difference in frequency between the normal state and the abnormal state, and the secondarily determining is performed based on a frequency range configured for each road surface condition,
wherein the sensor unit measures a road surface temperature, ambient temperature, and humidity,
wherein the controller determines the road surface condition through the sound signal, calculates a dew point through the surface temperature and humidity measured by the sensor unit, and applies the calculated dew point and the ambient temperature to determining the road surface condition, and
wherein the controller determines that the road surface is icy when the calculated dew point exceeds a predetermined value and when the ambient temperature is lower than a predetermined value.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller learns road surface conditions depending on sound signals measured by the sensor unit and determines the road surface condition through stored learning data.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller filters a background value and noise from the sound signal measured by the sensor unit and determines the road surface condition based on a frequency range configured for each road surface condition.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the controller determines the road surface condition in real time based on each moving object and finally determines the corresponding road surface condition when the road surface conditions for a predetermined number of moving objects match.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller determines a pot hole, a crash, or a skid through the sound signal measured by the sensor unit.

6. A system for detecting a road surface condition, comprising:
a road surface condition detection apparatus installed on a road and measuring a sound signal generated according to a movement of a moving object on the road; and
a management server receiving the sound signal from the road surface condition detection apparatus, primarily determining the road surface condition by distinguishing the sound signal as a normal state or an abnormal state, and secondarily determining, in case of the abnormal state, the road surface condition including at least one of wet, icy, slush, and snowy conditions,
wherein the primarily determining is performed based on a difference in frequency between the normal state and the abnormal state, and the secondarily determining is performed based on a frequency range configured for each road surface condition,
wherein the road surface condition detection apparatus measures a road surface temperature, ambient temperature, and humidity,
wherein the management server determines the road surface condition through the sound signal, calculates a dew point through the surface temperature and humidity measured by the road surface condition detection apparatus, and applies the calculated dew point and the ambient temperature to determining the road surface condition, and
wherein the management server determines that the road surface is icy when the calculated dew point exceeds a predetermined value and when the ambient temperature is lower than a predetermined value.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the road surface condition detection apparatus is provided as a plurality of road surface condition detection apparatuses installed to be spaced apart from each other at regular intervals on the road.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the management server calculates a speed of the moving object based on a predetermined distance between the road surface condition detection apparatuses and by measuring a passing time of the moving object from the sound signal measured by the road surface condition detection apparatus.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the management server determines a range of the road surface condition, based on whether road surface conditions determined from adjacent road surface condition detection apparatuses overlap with each other.

10. The system of claim 6 , wherein the management server outputs the determined road surface condition through an electronic road sign (VMS, variable message signs) or operates a snow removal device installed at a corresponding location relying on the determined road surface condition.

11. A method for detecting a road surface condition, comprising:
by a road surface condition detection apparatus installed on a road, measuring a sound signal generated according to a movement of a moving object on the road;
by the road surface condition detection apparatus, primarily determining the road surface condition by distinguishing the measured sound signal as a normal state or an abnormal state; and
by the road surface condition detection apparatus, secondarily determining, in case of the abnormal state, the road surface condition including at least one of wet, icy, slush, and snowy conditions,
wherein the primarily determining is performed based on a difference in frequency between the normal state and the abnormal state, and the secondarily determining is performed based on a frequency range configured for each road surface condition,
wherein the road surface condition detection apparatus measures a road surface temperature, ambient temperature, and humidity,
wherein the road surface condition detection apparatus determines the road surface condition through the sound signal, calculates a dew point through the surface temperature and humidity measured by a sensor unit, and applies the calculated dew point and the ambient temperature to determining the road surface condition, and
wherein the road surface condition detection apparatus determines that the road surface is icy when the calculated dew point exceeds a predetermined value and when the ambient temperature is lower than a predetermined value.

12. A method for detecting a road surface condition, comprising:
by a management server, receiving, from a road surface condition detection apparatus installed on a road, a sound signal generated according to a movement of a moving object on the road;
by the management server, primarily determining the road surface condition by distinguishing the sound signal as a normal state or an abnormal state; and
by the management server, secondarily determining, in case of the abnormal state, the road surface condition including at least one of wet, icy, slush, and snowy conditions,
wherein the primarily determining is performed based on a difference in frequency between the normal state and the abnormal state, and the secondarily determining is performed based on a frequency range configured for each road surface condition,
wherein the road surface condition detection apparatus measures a road surface temperature, ambient temperature, and humidity,
wherein the management server determines the road surface condition through the sound signal, calculates a dew point through the surface temperature and humidity measured by the road surface condition detection apparatus, and applies the calculated dew point and the ambient temperature to determining the road surface condition, and
wherein

Assignees

• Sk Planet Co Ltd

Inventors

• Jung Jong Hee
• Park Yeonghyeon

Classifications

• G08G1/052

  with provision for determining speed or overspeed {(speed measuring in general G01P)} · CPC title

• G08G1/048

  with provision for compensation of environmental or other condition, e.g. snow, vehicle stopped at detector · CPC title

• E01H10/005

  Permanently-installed devices for applying gritting or thawing materials, e.g. for spreading grit, for spraying de-icing liquids · CPC title

• G06Q50/40

  Business processes related to the transportation industry (shipping G06Q10/083) · CPC title

• G01S2201/01

  adapted for specific applications or environments · CPC title