Jaguar Land Rover is exploring a new technology that will allow a vehicle to identify potholes, broken drains and manhole covers. Furthermore, the technology will also be able to identify the location and asperity of the potholes and share the information with not only other vehicles but, also with relevant authorities.
The idea behind the technology is to allow drivers enough time to slow down and avoid danger. It could also be used to adjust suspension settings to dilute the brunt. Consequently, the 'Pothole Alert' research could not only help cut down punctures, and damage to the wheels and vehicles, but could help prevent accidents too.
Dr Mike Bell, Global Connected Car Director, Jaguar Land Rover, said, "Our MagneRide equipped Range Rover Evoque and Discovery Sport vehicles feature sophisticated sensors that allow the vehicle to profile the road surface under the wheels and identify potholes, raised manholes and broken drain covers. By monitoring the motion of the vehicle and changes in the height of the suspension, the car is able to continuously adjust the vehicle's suspension characteristics, giving passengers a more comfortable ride over uneven and damaged road surfaces."
Bell adds, "While this gives our customers a more comfortable ride, we think there is a huge opportunity to turn the information from these vehicle sensors into 'big data' and share it for the benefit of other road users. This could help prevent billions of pounds of vehicle damage and make road repairs more effective."
The next stage of the project will see the installation of new road surface sensing technology in the Range Rover Evoque research vehicle, including an advanced forward-facing stereo digital camera.
Watch a video about the Pothole Alert research here:
