PATeye awareness aids icy-road motoring

Solar Bright, the New Zealand manufacturer of PATeye, a new ice-road warning technology, has selected Montana firm Angry Minnow Marketing to represent the innovative device in the United States. PATeye is a real-time visual warning system that alerts motorists to ice-road conditions.
May 19, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
7753 Solar Bright, the New Zealand manufacturer of PATeye, a new ice-road warning technology, has selected Montana firm Angry Minnow Marketing to represent the innovative device in the United States.

PATeye is a real-time visual warning system that alerts motorists to ice-road conditions. Ideally suited for use on roads, bridges, parking facilities and sidewalks, the solar-powered device detects the formation of frost and illuminates a blue LED flashing light, which alerts motorists that road surface conditions are ripe for ice formation.

According to NHTSA data 2002-2012, icy roads cause an average 154,580 crashes per year in the United States resulting in 45,133 injuries and 580 fatalities.

“We believe that technology and the design of ‘smart devices’ can reduce statistics like these and save lives,” said Pat Martin, founder and CEO of Solar Bright. “Our belief motivates us to disrupt the intelligent transportation systems (ITS) industry and deliver affordable, life-saving products to the market.”

The PATeye uses advanced proprietary sensors to predict the presence of ice on a surface through the analysis of the formation of frost on the device itself. Custom-designed moisture, temperature and humidity sensors are at the heart of the patented technology and work “in harmony to predict when ice is likely starting to form,” Martin said.

“The future really is in the telemetry capabilities,” said Rob Haywood, global sales director of Solar Bright. “In the near future these things will actually be able to talk wirelessly,” he added, citing ongoing product development that will enable a PATeye to communicate with people, such as road maintenance operators, and infrastructure, such as dynamic message signs (DMS). Knowing the road surface data and understanding which PATeye devices are active or idle will help maintenance crews treat roads more efficiently and effectively, Haywood explained.

“I’m excited to represent such a life-saving technology,” said Michael Ross, manager of Angry Minnow Marketing.
Highway & Network Management

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Smombies! Look out!
    February 12, 2021
    Our city streets are being invaded by smartphone zombies, but help is on the way
    Read More
  • Barrier innovation putting traffic safety and flow first
    April 3, 2014
    Cutting-edge barriers offering greater safety at the same time as limiting traffic disruption are proving in demand on busy world highways, as Guy Woodford reports Small footprint; minimum disruption after impact; lower labour costs; all said to be elements contributing to the growing popularity of the Trend terminal from Trinity Highway Products. This family of end terminals offers a range of safe and efficient solutions to barrier ends with quick and easy assembly and installation. Trinity claims th
    Read More
  • Minimum noise requirement legislation is planned for electric and hybrid vehicles in the US
    January 10, 2013
    A new move by the US Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) could see hybrid and electric vehicles being required to meet minimum sound emissions standards. This would be so as to help make pedestrians more aware of the approaching vehicles and follows on from a Japanese study into the prevalence of accidents involving hybrid vehicles with pedestrians in urban areas. “Safety is our highest priority, and this proposal will help keep everyone using our nation’s
    Read More
  • Data recording
    September 3, 2012
    A sophisticated new non-intrusive radar classifier that measures traffic data is being offered by Quixote Transportation Technologies (QTT). Called the trans-Q, the device is portable and designed for non-contact measurement. Radar technology is used to detect traffic count, speed, and length. The package is said to offer an ideal alternative to data collation needs when other portable or permanent traffic sensors cannot be used because of location, safety or other regulations. The trans-Q classifier can be
    Read More

Highlighted Content