IP Library Granted Patent US 12,656,109
Granted Patent B2
US 12,656,109 · App. 18/389,014 · Granted Jun 16, 2026

Estimation apparatus for water film thickness on road surface

Inventors: Kazuma Tokuda (Kobe, JP); Naoki Morita (Kobe, JP); Yusuke Maeda (Kobe, JP)
Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
G01B21/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,656,109
App. No.
18/389,014
Granted
Jun 16, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An estimation apparatus for a water film thickness on a road surface includes a data acquisition unit and an estimation unit. The data acquisition unit sequentially acquires a data set including driving force data representing a driving force output from a driving source of a vehicle and acceleration data representing a longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle, while the vehicle is traveling. The estimation unit estimates a thickness of a water film on a road surface on which the vehicle travels, based on a relationship between a speed of the vehicle and a fluid resistance that the vehicle receives from the water film, the flow resistance being calculated based on the data set.

Claims (24)

1 . An estimation apparatus for a water film thickness on a road surface, the apparatus comprising:

a data acquisition unit that sequentially acquires a data set including driving force data representing a driving force output from a driving source of a vehicle and acceleration data representing a longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle, while the vehicle is traveling:

an estimation unit that estimates a thickness of a water film on a road surface on which the vehicle travels, based on the data set,

wherein the estimation unit estimates the thickness of the water film based on a relationship between a speed of the vehicle and a fluid resistance that the vehicle receives from the water film, the flow resistance being calculated based on the data set.

2 . The estimation apparatus for a water film thickness on a road surface according to claim 1 , wherein the estimation unit estimates the thickness of the water film based on a gradient of a regression line between a square of the speed of the vehicle and the fluid resistance.

3 . The estimation apparatus for a water film thickness on a road surface according to claim 2 , wherein the estimation unit estimates the thickness of the water film based on the data set during a time period in which the speed of the vehicle is equal to or higher than a predetermined speed or the speed of the vehicle is higher than a predetermined speed.

4 . The estimation apparatus for a water film thickness on a road surface according to claim 2 , wherein the data acquisition unit acquires wheel speed data representing a wheel speed of a wheel of the vehicle.

5 . The estimation apparatus for a water film thickness on a road surface according to claim 1 , wherein the estimation unit estimates the thickness of the water film based on the data set during a time period in which the speed of the vehicle is equal to or higher than a predetermined speed or the speed of the vehicle is higher than a predetermined speed.

6 . The estimation apparatus for a water film thickness on a road surface according to claim 5 , wherein the data acquisition unit acquires wheel speed data representing a wheel speed of a wheel of the vehicle.

7 . The estimation apparatus for a water film thickness on a road surface according to claim 1 , wherein the data acquisition unit acquires wheel speed data representing a wheel speed of a wheel of the vehicle.

8 . A water film thickness estimation method executed by one or a plurality of computers, the method comprising:

sequentially acquiring a data set including driving force data representing a driving force output from a driving source of a vehicle and acceleration data representing a longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle, while the vehicle is traveling; and

estimating a thickness of a water film on a road surface on which the vehicle travels, based on the data set,

wherein the estimating includes calculating a fluid resistance that the vehicle receives from the water film based on the data set, and estimating the thickness of the water film based on a relationship between the calculated fluid resistance and a speed of the vehicle.

9 . The water film thickness estimation method according to claim 8 , wherein the estimating includes estimating the thickness of the water film based on a gradient of a regression line between a square of the speed of the vehicle and the fluid resistance.

10 . The water film thickness estimation method according to claim 9 , wherein the estimating includes estimating the thickness of the water film based on the data set during a time period in which the speed of the vehicle is equal to or higher than a predetermined speed or the speed of the vehicle is higher than a predetermined speed.

11 . The water film thickness estimation method according to claim 9 , wherein the acquiring includes acquiring wheel speed data representing a wheel speed of a wheel of the vehicle.

12 . The water film thickness estimation method according to claim 8 , wherein the estimating includes estimating the thickness of the water film based on the data set during a time period in which the speed of the vehicle is equal to or higher than a predetermined speed or the speed of the vehicle is higher than a predetermined speed.

13 . The water film thickness estimation method according to claim 12 , wherein the acquiring includes acquiring wheel speed data representing a wheel speed of a wheel of the vehicle.

14 . The water film thickness estimation method according to claim 8 , wherein the acquiring includes acquiring wheel speed data representing a wheel speed of a wheel of the vehicle.

15 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program for estimating a water film thickness, the program causing one or a plurality of computers to execute:

sequentially acquiring a data set including driving force data representing a driving force output from a driving source of a vehicle and acceleration data representing a longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle, while the vehicle is traveling; and

estimating a thickness of a water film on a road surface on which the vehicle travels, based on the data set,

wherein the estimating includes calculating a fluid resistance that the vehicle receives from the water film based on the data set, and estimating the thickness of the water film based on a relationship between the calculated fluid resistance and a speed of the vehicle.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 14, 2023
From: TOKUDA, KAZUMA; MORITA, NAOKI; MAEDA, YUSUKE
To: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
Reel/Frame 065556/0622 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2022-190021 · Nov 29, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240175679A1 · May 30, 2024
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