The present invention relates to a smart road marking construction method, a smart road marking, and an autonomous driving system using the same. To this end, the smart road marking construction method according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a step (S10) of preparing a road marking composition by mixing a paint and a hardener; a step (S20) of forming a base layer 10 by applying the road marking composition to an upper surface of a road 1; a step (S30) of forming a bead layer 20 by applying glass beads 21 containing magnetic materials (M) to an upper surface of the base layer 10; and a step (S40) of allowing the resulting bead layer to be cured for a certain period of time. As a result, the lane recognition rate of autonomous vehicles by means of radar sensors can be improved, thereby addressing the limitations of conventional vision-based road markings.

The present invention relates to a smart road marking construction method, a smart road marking, and an autonomous driving system using the same. To this end, the smart road marking construction method according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a step (S10) of preparing a road marking composition by mixing a paint and a hardener; a step (S20) of forming a base layer 10 by applying the road marking composition to an upper surface of a road 1; a step (S30) of forming a bead layer 20 by applying glass beads 21 containing magnetic materials (M) to an upper surface of the base layer 10; and a step (S40) of allowing the resulting bead layer to be cured for a certain period of time. As a result, the lane recognition rate of autonomous vehicles by means of radar sensors can be improved, thereby addressing the limitations of conventional vision-based road markings.

A line marking apparatus, for use in a system that includes a source of a narrow beam of radiation which extends substantially horizontally along or parallel to a line to be marked, includes a wheeled chassis and a line marking head for dispensing line marking material. The marking head is supported on the chassis for lateral movement relative thereto, which movement is controlled by a controller that includes a detector which is movable with the marking head and is positioned and directed to detect such a beam of radiation, the marking head being movable together with the detector in response to a detected beam. Lateral movement of the marking head is thereby controlled such that the head and the detector substantially follow the line to be marked irrespective of whether the chassis deviates from the line direction.

A line marking apparatus, for use in a system that includes a source of a narrow beam of radiation which extends substantially horizontally along or parallel to a line to be marked, includes a wheeled chassis and a line marking head for dispensing line marking material. The marking head is supported on the chassis for lateral movement relative thereto, which movement is controlled by a controller that includes a detector which is movable with the marking head and is positioned and directed to detect such a beam of radiation, the marking head being movable together with the detector in response to a detected beam. Lateral movement of the marking head is thereby controlled such that the head and the detector substantially follow the line to be marked irrespective of whether the chassis deviates from the line direction.

A hot applied thermoplastic pavement composition and method of using is described wherein the composition comprises; a modified polyamide resin in the range of between 3 and 10 percent by weight, wherein the composition contains rosin-modified esters, a copolymer, 30-70 percent by weight of a glass bead intermix, a range of between 1 and 15 percent by weight of either white or yellow pigment, the balance of the composition being selected from the group consisting of; one or more plasticizers, inorganic fillers, waxes, antioxidants and light stabilizers.

A hot applied thermoplastic pavement composition and method of using is described wherein the composition comprises; a modified polyamide resin in the range of between 3 and 10 percent by weight, wherein the composition contains rosin-modified esters, a copolymer, 30-70 percent by weight of a glass bead intermix, a range of between 1 and 15 percent by weight of either white or yellow pigment, the balance of the composition being selected from the group consisting of; one or more plasticizers, inorganic fillers, waxes, antioxidants and light stabilizers.

A composition comprises a thermoplastic binder, at least one optical component, and a colour correcting component. The optical component comprises retroreflecting particles. The color correcting component comprising at least one pigment and is selected to selectively absorb a wavelength of light. The thermoplastic binder and at least one optical component has a first colour and the colour correcting component has a second colour. The first colour and second colour are a complementary colour pair.

A device is provided for automatic re-striping of horizontal road markings and which can be mounted on a vehicle. In one embodiment the device comprises a marker unit with a linear actuator, an electronic control unit electrically connected to the linear actuator, wherein the electronic control unit comprises an electronic gyroscope which can determine an angular speed of the vehicle on curved road sections, and a laser scanner mounted in front of the marker unit. In some embodiments the electronic control unit is configured to calculate and offset, based on the angular speed of the vehicle, for additional deviation of the paint guns from the coordinates of any of the previous marking lines when the vehicle moves on curved road sections.

A device is provided for automatic re-striping of horizontal road markings and which can be mounted on a vehicle. In one embodiment the device comprises a marker unit with a linear actuator, an electronic control unit electrically connected to the linear actuator, wherein the electronic control unit comprises an electronic gyroscope which can determine an angular speed of the vehicle on curved road sections, and a laser scanner mounted in front of the marker unit. In some embodiments the electronic control unit is configured to calculate and offset, based on the angular speed of the vehicle, for additional deviation of the paint guns from the coordinates of any of the previous marking lines when the vehicle moves on curved road sections.

A molten thermoplastic circulation system that is used in conjunction with thermoplastic melter kettles. The molten circulation system includes a vertical material transfer tube that is coupled to a melter kettle and includes an auger. The vertical material transfer tube is coupled to the top and bottom of a melter kettle so as to transfer molten thermoplastic between the bottom and top of the melter kettle. The vertical material transfer tube is at least partially surrounded by a heat chamber through which a heated fluid such as hot combustion gases or heated oil can flow. In use molten thermoplastic material that is heated at a higher temperature at the bottom of a melter kettle near the combustion chamber is transferred through the vertical material transfer tube to the top of the melter kettle to improve melting efficiency.