A passive infra-red guidance system and method for augmenting operation of a vehicle on a roadway includes at least one forward-looking infra-red imaging sensor mounted on the vehicle in operative communication with an image processor tied into the vehicle's operational system. The system identifies the presence of one or more melting agents arranged on the roadway using thermal imaging to detect a thermal contrast between the portion(s) of the roadway surface treated with the one or more melting agents and the untreated portion(s) of the roadway surface, and then determines the centerline of the travel lane in which the vehicle is travelling based on the identified melting agent(s). The system then compares the determined centerline of the travel lane with the actual position of the vehicle and identifies any adjustment needed for the vehicle's position based on the comparison.
Passive infra-red guidance system
2022-04-05
Patent
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
IPC: | B60K Anordnung oder Einbau von Antriebseinheiten oder von Kraft- bzw. Drehmomentübertragungen in Fahrzeugen , ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES / B60W CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION , Gemeinsame Steuerung oder Regelung von Fahrzeug-Unteraggregaten verschiedenen Typs oder verschiedener Funktion / G01J Messen der Intensität, der Geschwindigkeit, der spektralen Zusammensetzung, der Polarisation, der Phase oder der Pulscharakteristik von infrarotem, sichtbarem oder ultraviolettem Licht , MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRA-RED, VISIBLE OR ULTRA-VIOLET LIGHT / G05D SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES , Systeme zum Steuern oder Regeln nichtelektrischer veränderlicher Größen |