Hitachi’s new road scanning technology

Using advanced vehicle to vehicle communications, this data could be shared between cars and trucks using the same stretch of road. Multiple alerts over road surface issues could also be used to highlight the need for debris removal or road repairs to road authorities.
January 11, 2019 Read time: 2 mins

233 Hitachi Automotive Systems (Hitachi) has developed a new technology package that allows the detection of road surface problems, including holes and small debris. The system works while a vehicle is being driven and uses the firm’s in-vehicle stereo camera technology. This allows for accurate detection of small road surface issues.

The firm intends to link the package to vehicle suspension systems. This would allow vehicles to respond quickly to any surface irregularities, immediately prior to passing over them. The firm is working on a new development that would tune the vehicle’s stability in accordance to the condition of the road surface.

The firm says that its stereo cameras are also able to detect pedestrians as well as other objects and can determine distances accurately. The system is able to detect surface irregularities quickly accurately according to the firm and has been designed to ignore false readings caused by dirt or shadows in the roadway. The high performance readings made by the stereo cameras have been key to identifying shadows or dirt, aided by a sophisticated algorithm that can analyse the image information extremely rapidly, according to Hitachi.

Using advanced vehicle to vehicle communications, this data could be shared between cars and trucks using the same stretch of road. Multiple alerts over road surface issues could also be used to highlight the need for debris removal or road repairs to road authorities.

Maintenance

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • A virtual virtuous circle
    January 18, 2021
    Virtual sensors will allow a safer driving experience and reduce road maintenance costs. Tactile Mobility’s Eitan Grosbard talks to David Arminas
    Read More
  • Advances in tunneling machines coming to market
    November 19, 2015
    A diverse array of new tunnelling technologies will help boost productivity and cut project costs, while boosting quality - Mike Woof writes The worldwide market for tunnelling projects continues to be strong, with a series of major projects underway or planned for the future. These good market conditions have helped fuel research and development in new tunnelling equipment, designed to be more productive, more efficient and more reliable and able to deliver a higher quality of work. Drilling and blas
    Read More
  • Weigh in motion and ANPR techology aid highway protection
    April 10, 2012
    Weigh-in-motion technology manufacturers have been involved in a number of significant highways tolling projects across the world in recent months, while others are looking to become involved in major new initiatives. Guy Woodford reports. The continuing global economic crisis did not prevent UK-based TDC Traffic Systems from recently securing the prized US$2.84million (€2.14million) contract to supply 20 high speed weigh-in-motion (WIM) systems for overweight pre-selection and enforcement in Saudi Arabia
    Read More
  • Embedded sensors help deliver self-monitoring roads
    November 22, 2021
    As road authorities look to automate their road monitoring and maintenance, we will need more and more sensors within our highway networks
    Read More

Highlighted Content