Road water detection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018312165-A1
Application number	US-201715499255-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 27, 2017
Priority date	Apr 27, 2017
Publication date	Nov 1, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle computer includes a memory and a processor programmed to execute instructions stored in the memory. The instructions include receiving a first tire pressure measurement at a first time, receiving a second tire pressure measurement at a second time, comparing the first tire pressure measurement to the second tire pressure measurement, and determining that a road is flooded based on a difference of the first tire pressure measurement and the second tire pressure measurement.

First claim

1 . A vehicle computer comprising:
a memory; and a processor programmed to execute instructions stored in the memory, the instructions including:
receiving a first tire pressure at a first time;
receiving a second tire pressure at a second time;
comparing the first tire pressure to the second tire pressure; and
determining that a road is flooded based on a difference of the first tire pressure and the second tire pressure.

2 . The vehicle computer of claim 1 , wherein comparing the first tire pressure to the second tire pressure includes determining a rate of change of the second tire pressure relative to the first tire pressure, comparing the rate of change to a predetermined threshold, determining that the rate of change exceeds the predetermined threshold, and determining that the road is flooded as a result of determining that the rate of change exceeds the predetermined threshold.

3 . The vehicle computer of claim 1 , the instructions further comprising confirming that the road is flooded.

4 . The vehicle computer of claim 3 , wherein the first tire pressure and the second tire pressure are received from a first tire pressure sensor and wherein confirming that the road is flooded includes:
receiving a first tire pressure from a second tire pressure sensor; receiving a second tire pressure from the second tire pressure sensor after receiving the first tire pressure from the second tire pressure sensor; comparing the first tire pressure received from the second tire pressure sensor to the second tire pressure received from the second tire pressure sensor; and determining that the road is flooded based on the difference of the first and second tire pressures received from the first tire pressure sensor and further based on a difference of the first and second tire pressures received from the second tire pressure sensor.

5 . The vehicle computer of claim 3 , wherein confirming that the road is flooded includes:
receiving a first exhaust gas temperature; receiving a second exhaust gas temperature after receiving the first exhaust gas temperature; comparing the first exhaust gas temperature to the second exhaust gas temperature; and determining that a road is flooded based on a difference of the first exhaust gas temperature and the second exhaust gas temperature.

6 . The vehicle computer of claim 3 , wherein confirming that the road is flooded includes comparing images of an area around a host vehicle and determining that the road is flooded based on similarities in the images resulting from flood water hiding distinguishing road features.

7 . The vehicle computer of claim 1 , the instructions further including determining a water depth.

8 . The vehicle computer of claim 7 , wherein determining the water depth includes querying a remote server and determining the water depth from a response received from the remote server.

9 . The vehicle computer of claim 7 , wherein determining the water depth includes estimating the water depth based at least in part on the difference of the first tire pressure and the second tire pressure.

10 . The vehicle computer of claim 7 , wherein determining the water depth includes estimating the water depth based at least in part on a difference of a first exhaust gas temperature to a second exhaust gas temperature.

11 . The vehicle computer of claim 1 , the instructions further including adjusting a ground clearance of a host vehicle.

12 . The vehicle computer of claim 11 , wherein adjusting the ground clearance of the host vehicle includes commanding a suspension system controller to increase the ground clearance.

13 . The vehicle computer of claim 1 , the instructions further including determining that a host vehicle is operating in an autonomous mode.

14 . The vehicle computer of claim 13 , the instructions further including comparing a water depth to a predetermined threshold, determining that the water depth exceeds the predetermined threshold, and commanding an autonomous mode controller to seek a different route as a result of determining that the water depth exceeds the predetermined threshold.

15 . The vehicle computer of claim 1 , the instructions further including determining that a host vehicle is operating in a non-autonomous mode and commanding a user interface to present an alert representing at least one of an indication that the road is flooded, a water depth, an indication of whether the host vehicle can traverse the road, and a recommendation of a different route.

16 . A method comprising:
receiving a first tire pressure at a first time; receiving a second tire pressure at a second time; comparing the first tire pressure to the second tire pressure; and determining that a road is flooded based on a difference of the first tire pressure and the second tire pressure.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein comparing the first tire pressure to the second tire pressure includes determining a rate of change of the second tire pressure relative to the first tire pressure, comparing the rate of change to a predetermined threshold, determining that the rate of change exceeds the predetermined threshold, and determining that the road is flooded as a result of determining that the rate of change exceeds the predetermined threshold.

18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising confirming that the road is flooded based at least in part on at least one of exhaust gas temperatures and images captured by a camera.

19 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
determining a water depth, comparing a water depth to a predetermined threshold, determining that the water depth exceeds the predetermined threshold, and commanding an autonomous mode controller to seek a different route as a result of determining that the water depth exceeds the predetermined threshold.

20 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
determining that a host vehicle is operating in a non-autonomous mode; and commanding a user interface to present an alert representing at least one of an indication that the road is flooded, a water depth, an indication of whether the host vehicle can traverse the road, and a recommendation of a different route.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Dudar Aed M

Classifications

• B60G2401/142

  Visual Display Camera, e.g. LCD · CPC title

• G01C21/3697

  Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level (G01C21/3679 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60W60/0015

  specially adapted for safety · CPC title

• B60G17/0195

  characterised by the regulation being combined with other vehicle control systems {(conjoint control of vehicle sub-units including control of suspension systems B60W10/22)} · CPC title

• B60G2400/52

  in tyre · CPC title