Back to results
US 10,372,128 B2Granted
Sinkhole detection systems and methods
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsScott Vincent Myers, Ashley Elizabeth Micks, Alexandru Mihai Gurghian, Harpreetsingh Banvait, Parsa Mahmoudieh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Example sinkhole detection systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a method receives data from multiple sensors mounted to a vehicle and analyzes the received data to identify a sinkhole in a roadway ahead of the vehicle. If a sinkhole is identified, the method adjusts vehicle operations and reports the sinkhole to a shared database and/or another vehicle.
Claims18
A method comprising:
- receiving data from a plurality of sensors mounted to a vehicle;
- analyzing, using one or more processors, the received data to identify a sinkhole in a roadway ahead of the vehicle;
- and
- responsive to identification of a sinkhole in the roadway:
- adjusting vehicle operations;
- and
- reporting the sinkhole to at least one of a shared database and another vehicle;
- wherein analyzing the received data to identify a sinkhole in the roadway includes:
- receiving drive history data describing the roadway ahead of the vehicle, the drive history data including a road elevation for the roadway ahead of the vehicle;
- determining an actual elevation of a second vehicle on the roadway ahead of the vehicle;
- and
- detecting a difference between the actual elevation and the road elevation;
- in response to detecting a difference between the actual elevation and the road elevation, identifying the sinkhole in the roadway ahead of the vehicle.
10 more elements
A method comprising:
- receiving data from a plurality of sensors mounted to a first vehicle;
- analyzing, using one or more processors, the received data to identify movement of a second vehicle in a roadway ahead of the first vehicle;
- and
- responsive to identification of movement of the second vehicle:
- determining the existence of a sinkhole in the roadway ahead of the first vehicle;
- adjusting operation of the first vehicle;
- and
- reporting the sinkhole to at least one of a shared database and another vehicle;
- wherein determining the existence of the sinkhole in the roadway ahead of the first vehicle comprises:
- receiving drive history data describing the roadway ahead of the vehicle, the drive history data including a road elevation for the roadway ahead of the vehicle;
- determine an actual elevation of a second vehicle on the roadway ahead of the vehicle according to the received data from the plurality of sensors;
- and
- detecting a difference between the actual elevation and the road elevation for the roadway ahead of the vehicle;
- and
- in response to detecting the difference is detected between the actual elevation and the road surface height, determining that the sinkhole is in the roadway ahead of the vehicle.
12 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of sensors mounted to a vehicle and configured to capture sensor data;
- a plurality of vehicle control actuators configured to adjust operation of the vehicle;
- and
- a sinkhole detection system coupled to the plurality of sensors and the plurality of vehicle control actuators, the sinkhole detection system configured to receive and analyze the sensor data to identify a sinkhole in a roadway ahead of the vehicle, the sinkhole detection further configured, responsive to identification of a sinkhole in the roadway, to:
- adjust vehicle operations using the plurality of vehicle control actuators;
- and
- report the sinkhole to at least one of a shared database and another vehicle;
- wherein the sinkhole detection system is programmed to:
- receive drive history data describing the roadway ahead of the vehicle, the drive history data including a road elevation for the roadway ahead of the vehicle;
- determine an actual elevation of the roadway ahead of the vehicle according to the sensor data;
- and
- if a difference is detected between the actual elevation and the road elevation, identify the sinkhole in the roadway ahead of the vehicle.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.