GPS-based machine vision roadway mark locator, inspection apparatus, and marker

摘要

An apparatus for locating, inspecting, or placing marks on a roadway. The apparatus includes a GPS-based machine vision locator for sampling discrete geographical location data of a pre-existing roadway mark evident on the roadway. A computer may determine a continuous smooth geographical location function fitted to the sampled geographical location data. And a marker is responsive to the GPS-based locator and geographical location function for replicating automatically the pre-existing roadway mark onto the roadway. The apparatus is typically part of a moving vehicle. A related method is disclosed for locating, inspecting, and placing marks on a resurfaced roadway. A similar apparatus can be used to guide a vehicle having a snow plow along a snow-covered roadway, or a paving machine along an unpaved roadway surface.

主权项

1. An apparatus for determining a geographical location of a roadway mark from a moving vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
a GPS antenna mounted to a vehicle; a GPS receiver responsive to the GPS antenna and configured to (a) determine a first time-tagged geographical location of the GPS antenna and a second time-tagged geographical location of the GPS antenna, and (b) generate a first periodic signal having a known time of occurrence and a first frequency; a synchronization system responsive to the GPS receiver configured to generate a second periodic signal that (a) has a known time of occurrence, (b) is synchronized to the first periodic signal and (c) has a second frequency equal to an integer multiple of the first frequency; a first imager mounted to the vehicle, wherein the first imager is (a) synchronously responsive to and triggered by the second periodic signal and (b) configured to image a first roadway mark to provide a first triggered roadway mark image; and a computer (a) responsive to the GPS receiver and the first imager and (b) configured to determine a GPS location of the first roadway mark using positional interpolation based on the first time-tagged geographical location, the second time-tagged geographical location, and the first triggered roadway mark image.