System for Determining Road Slipperiness in Bad Weather Conditions

A computer-implemented method for determining road slipperiness, the method comprising:

• capturing an image of a road surface of a first road via a vehicle-mounted image sensor for a vehicle;
• transmitting the captured image to a controller;
• evaluating, using the captured image, a topographical feature of the road surface;
• estimating a level of slipperiness of the road surface based upon the evaluation of the topographical feature with a coarse surface indicating an increased level of slipperiness;
• in response to determining that the estimated level of slipperiness exceeds a predetermined threshold, re-routing the vehicle onto a different road having a lower level of estimated slipperiness;
• and
• further in response to the determining that the estimated level of slipperiness exceeds the predetermined threshold, cause the vehicle to decelerate by actuating a braking system of the vehicle.

A computer system for determining road slipperiness, the computer system comprising:

• a vehicle-mounted image sensor for a vehicle, the image sensor directed to a road surface of a first road;
• one or more processors;
• and
• one or more non-transitory memories, the one or more non-transitory memories having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
• receive an image of the road surface from the vehicle-mounted image sensor;
• evaluate, using the image, a topographical feature of the road surface;
• estimate a level of slipperiness of the road surface based upon the evaluation of the topographical feature with a coarse surface indicating an increased level of slipperiness;
• in response to determining that the estimated level of slipperiness exceeds a predetermined threshold, re-route the vehicle onto a different road having a lower level of estimated slipperiness;
• and
• further in response to the determining that the estimated level of slipperiness exceeds the predetermined threshold, cause the vehicle to decelerate by actuating a braking system of the vehicle.