System for Determining Road Slipperiness in Bad Weather Conditions
Systems and methods are disclosed for estimating slipperiness of a road surface. This estimate may be obtained using an image sensor mounted on a vehicle. The estimated road slipperiness may be utilized when calculating a risk index for the road, or for an area including the road. If a predetermined threshold for slipperiness is exceeded, corrective actions may be taken. For instance, warnings may be generated to human drivers that are in control of driving vehicle, and autonomous vehicles may automatically adjust vehicle speed based upon road slipperiness detected.
1 . A system for determining road slipperiness, the system comprising:
a vehicle-mounted image sensor for a vehicle, the image sensor directed to a road surface of a first road;
a controller configured 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.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to transmit a command to the image sensor to cause the image sensor to capture the image.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
further in response to the determining that the estimated level of slipperiness exceeds the predetermined threshold, cause the vehicle to decelerate by reducing a throttle.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the image sensor is a laser camera.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the image sensor is configured to capture video.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
evaluate, using the image, a color feature of the road surface; and
estimate the level of slipperiness based upon the evaluation of the color feature.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the color feature comprises a color feature of snow.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
evaluate, using the image, a reflectiveness feature; and
estimate the level of slipperiness based upon the evaluation of the reflectiveness feature.
9 . 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.
10 . The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , further comprising: before capturing the image of the road surface, transmitting a command from the controller to the image sensor to cause the image sensor to capture the image.
11 . The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , further comprising:
further in response to the determining that the estimated level of slipperiness exceeds the predetermined threshold, causing the vehicle to decelerate by reducing a throttle.
12 . The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , further comprising:
evaluating, using the image, a color feature of the road surface; and
estimating the level of slipperiness based upon the evaluation of the color feature.
13 . The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , wherein the color feature comprises a color feature of snow.
14 . The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , further comprising:
evaluating, using the image, a reflectiveness feature; and
estimating the level of slipperiness based upon the evaluation of the reflectiveness feature.
15 . 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.
17 . The system of claim 15 , 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:
in response to the determining that the estimated level of slipperiness exceeds the predetermined threshold, cause the vehicle to decelerate by reducing a throttle.
18 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the image sensor is a laser camera.
19 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the image sensor is configured to capture video.
20 . The system of claim 15 , 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:
evaluate, using the image, a reflectiveness feature; and
estimate the level of slipperiness based upon the evaluation of the reflectiveness feature.