Groove monitoring system for roadway markings
AssigneeEPIC Solutions, Inc.
InventorsJeffrey Arnold Wilkens, William Ricker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and method for applying roadway marking materials into a groove(s) in a roadway surface and/or forming a recessed groove(s) in a roadway surface. The systems and methods incorporate a contour sensor that provides real-time information of the marking material and/or groove. Based on the contour information, a marking material applicator can be aligned with a recessed groove in a roadway surface to ensure the marking material is applied within the confines of the groove. Alternatively, such contour information may be acquired during groove formation to ensure depth, tilt and/or bottom surface smoothness of the groove is within predetermined limits.
Claims9
An application system for applying a marking material to a roadway surface, comprising:
- an applicator configured to apply roadway marking material to a roadway surface;
- a carriage connecting the applicator to an application vehicle configured to travel over said roadway surface, the carriage moveable in a direction transverse to a direction of vehicle travel;
- a contour sensor configured to measure a profile of a groove recessed into a roadway surface;
- a controller operatively connected to the contour sensor, wherein the controller is configured to:
- identify a first physical feature of the groove from an output of the contour sensor;
- and
- generate an actuator control output to align the applicator with the first physical feature of the groove;
- and
- an actuator connected to the carriage wherein the actuator adjusts a position of the carriage in response to the actuator control output received from the controller.
A method for applying a marking material to a roadway surface, comprising:
- applying a roadway marking material to a roadway surface using a roadway marking applicator, wherein the roadway surface includes a recessed groove for receiving the marking material;
- acquiring contour information of the roadway surface and the recessed groove from a non-contact sensor;
- based on the contour information, identifying at least one physical feature of the recessed groove;
- identifying an alignment between the physical feature of the groove and the roadway marking applicator;
- and
- adjusting a position of the roadway marking applicator relative to the recessed groove allowing the roadway marking material to be applied within confines of the recessed groove.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.