US 12,084,026 B2
System for determining road slipperiness in bad weather conditions
Kristopher Keith Gaudin, Bloomington, IL (US); Roxane Lyons, Chenoa, IL (US); William J. Leise, Normal, IL (US); John A. Nepomuceno, Bloomington, IL (US); Rajiv C. Shah, Bloomington, IL (US); Edward P. Matesevac, III, Normal, IL (US); Jennifer Criswell Kellett, Lincoln, IL (US); Jeremy Myers, Normal, IL (US); Matthew S. Megyese, Bloomington, IL (US); Leo Nelson Chan, Normal, IL (US); Steven Cielocha, Bloomington, IL (US); and Jennifer L. Crawford, Normal, IL (US)
Assigned to STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY, Bloomington, IL (US)
Filed by STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY, Bloomington, IL (US)
Filed on Oct. 14, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/966,536.
Application 17/966,536 is a continuation of application No. 16/909,580, filed on Jun. 23, 2020, granted, now 11,498,537.
Application 16/909,580 is a continuation of application No. 15/482,470, filed on Apr. 7, 2017, granted, now 11,851,041.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/401,107, filed on Sep. 28, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/340,302, filed on May 23, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/321,005, filed on Apr. 11, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/321,010, filed on Apr. 11, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2023/0042735 A1, Feb. 9, 2023
Int. Cl. B60T 8/172 (2006.01); B60T 8/17 (2006.01); B60T 8/1755 (2006.01); B60W 40/06 (2012.01); B60W 50/14 (2020.01); F16H 59/66 (2006.01); G01N 19/02 (2006.01); G01W 1/10 (2006.01); G05D 1/00 (2006.01); G06T 7/41 (2017.01)
CPC B60T 8/1725 (2013.01) [B60T 8/1701 (2013.01); B60T 8/17558 (2013.01); B60W 40/06 (2013.01); B60W 50/14 (2013.01); F16H 59/66 (2013.01); G01N 19/02 (2013.01); G01W 1/10 (2013.01); G05D 1/0223 (2013.01); G05D 1/0246 (2013.01); G06T 7/41 (2017.01); B60T 2210/12 (2013.01); B60W 2555/20 (2020.02); G06T 2207/30252 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for determining road slipperiness, the system comprising:
a vehicle-mounted image sensor for a vehicle, the image sensor directed to a road surface of a first road;
a controller configured to:
receive an image of the road surface from the vehicle-mounted image sensor;
evaluate, using the image, a topographical feature of the road surface;
estimate a level of slipperiness of the road surface based upon the evaluation of the topographical feature with a coarse surface indicating an increased level of slipperiness; and
in response to determining that the estimated level of slipperiness exceeds a predetermined threshold, re-route the vehicle onto a different road having a lower level of estimated slipperiness; and
a risk index calculating system configured to calculate a risk index based upon: (i) the estimated slipperiness of the road surface, and (ii) a number of past personal injuries occurring at a particular area, medical costs associated with past vehicle collisions occurring at the particular area, or a total amount of monies paid for auto insurance claims associated with the particular area.