Surface non-uniformity determination with radio waves
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
InventorJohn Suarez
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various embodiments that pertain to surface non-uniformity detection through use of radio waves are described. A vehicle can transmit radio waves to an area the vehicle is traveling to, such as a road in front of an automobile. The automobile can receive and process returned radio waves to determine if the road has a non-uniformity, such as a significant pothole or speed bump. If the road has the non-uniformity, then a driver of the automobile can be alerted so the driver can decide if evasive action should be taken and take such action if appropriate.
Claims21
A system, comprising:
- a transmission component configured to transmit a transmission radio wave from a vehicle toward a surface upon which the vehicle is travelling;
- a reception component configured to receive a reflected radio wave at the vehicle from the surface, the reflected radio wave is a reflection of the transmission radio wave off the surface;
- a comparison component configured to compare the reflected radio wave against the transmission radio wave to produce a comparison result;
- a determination component configured to determine if the surface has a non-uniformity through use of the comparison result;
- a threshold component configured to determine if the non-uniformity meets a threshold of significance;
- an alert component configured to cause expression of an alert to an occupant of the vehicle when the non-uniformity meets the threshold of significance;
- an adjustment component configured to adjust the threshold of significance in response to an instruction from an occupant of the vehicle;
- and
- a characteristic component configured to set a characteristic of the transmission radio wave based, at least in part, on the threshold of significance,
- where the transmission component, the reception component, the comparison component, the determination component, the threshold component, the alert component, the adjustment component, the characteristic component, or a combination thereof is implemented, at least in part, by way of non-software.
A method, performed, at least in part, by a vehicle while traveling, comprising:
- identifying a terrain type of a surface;
- setting a value of a threshold based, at least in part, on the terrain type;
- comparing a transmitted wave of a simile transmission wavelength against a reflected wave to produce a comparison conclusion;
- and
- determining if a surface has a non-uniformity through use of the comparison conclusion
- determining if the non-uniformity meets the threshold;
- and
- causing expression of an alert to an occupant of the vehicle when the non-uniformity meets the threshold,
- where the transmitted wave is transmitted from the vehicle to the surface and
- where the reflected wave is reflected from the surface to the vehicle.
A method, performed, at least in part, by a processor associated with a vehicle, comprising:
- comparing a first reflected radio wave against a second reflected radio wave to produce a comparison outcome;
- determining if a surface has a non-uniformity through use of the comparison outcome;
- determining if the non-uniformity meets a standard;
- causing expression of an alert to an occupant of the vehicle when the non-uniformity meets the standard;
- obtaining a command to change the standard;
- making an interpretation of the command;
- and
- adjusting the standard in accordance with the interpretation of the command,
- where a first transmitted radio wave of a first wavelength is transmitted from the vehicle to the surface,
- where the first reflected radio wave is the first transmitted radio wave reflected from the surface to the vehicle
- where a second transmitted radio wave of a second wavelength different from the first wavelength is transmitted from the vehicle to the surface, and
- where the second reflected radio wave is the second transmitted radio wave reflected from the surface to the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.