A new Ford patent describes a system that could use laser beams to project lane lines directly onto the road when poor weather or visibility makes existing pavement markings difficult to see.
Laser Lines Could Replace Hard-to-See Road Markings
Fog, rain, snow and other visibility problems can make lane lines nearly impossible for drivers to see. Light from oncoming vehicles can also interfere with visibility, increasing the risk of a driver leaving the road.
Rather than using LiDAR sensors to allow the vehicle to take over driving, Ford’s patented system would use lasers to assist a driver who continues to operate the vehicle manually. The vehicle would project laser beams onto the pavement, effectively creating visible replacements for lane markings that cannot be seen.
Ford says the system could determine where lane lines and road arrows should be located using several methods. One option involves detecting thermal differences, allowing the vehicle to identify faded road markings through their heat signature even when those markings are not visible.
The system could also estimate the position of missing markings based on other visible lines on the road. Another method could use the vehicle’s location together with high-detail maps, while historical traffic data from the same area could also help determine the expected position of the vehicle and lane markings.
How Ford’s Laser Guidance System Would Work
After determining where the lane lines should be, the system would project new markings that the driver could see. Lasers mounted at the front, sides and rear of the vehicle could project lane lines onto the pavement.
The lasers could also display turn-lane arrows and other symbols, including warnings that a curve is coming up ahead.
Ford’s patent also describes the possibility of using sensors that can detect information beyond what the vehicle can observe directly from the road and its surroundings. Radar, LiDAR and other sensors could contribute data to the system.
Network connections, Bluetooth and vehicle-to-vehicle communications could also provide information for determining where road markings should be displayed.
System Would Activate When Road Markings Are Difficult to See
According to the patent, the system would operate when the vehicle detects that the driver cannot adequately see the road markings. Fog and visibility sensors could monitor conditions and determine when the markings are obscured.
The system could also be switched on or off through the vehicle’s infotainment system, giving the driver control over its use.
