Road profile estimation using neural network algorithm

This paper more specifically focuses on the estimation of a road profile (i.e., along the “wheel track”). Road profile measurements have been performed to evaluate the ride quality of a newly constructed pavement, to monitor the condition of road networks in road management systems, as an input to vehicle dynamic systems, etc. The measurement may be conducted by a slow-moving apparatus directly measuring the elevation of the road or using a means that measures surface roughness at highway speeds by means of accelerometers coupled with high speed distance sensors, such as laser sensors or using a vehicle equipped with a response-type road roughness measuring system that indirectly indicate the user’s feelings of the ride quality. This paper proposes a solution to the road profile estimation using an artificial neural network (ANN) approach. The method incorporates an ANN which is trained using the data obtained from a validated vehicle model in the ADAMS software to approximate road profiles via the accelerations picked up from the vehicle. The study investigates the estimation capability of neural networks through comparison between some estimated and real road profiles in the form of actual road roughness and power spectral density.