Various applications for use of mass estimations of a vehicle, including to control operation of the vehicle, sharing the mass estimation with other vehicles and/or a Network Operations Center (NOC), organizing vehicles operating in a platoon and/or partially controlling the operation of one or more vehicles operating in a platoon based on the relative mass estimations between the platooning vehicles. When vehicles are operating in a platoon, the relative mass between a lead and a following vehicle may be used to scale torque and/or brake commands generated by the lead vehicle and sent to the following vehicle.

A modular pavement slab comprises a body, a strain sensor array, and a sensor processor. The body includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and four side surfaces. The modular pavement slab is configured to be coupled to at least one other modular pavement slab via connectors along at least one of the side surfaces. The strain sensor array is retained within the body and is configured to detect a plurality of strains on the body resulting from vehicular traffic across the top surface of the body. The sensor processor is in communication with the strain sensor array. The sensor processor is configured to communicate input signals to the strain sensor array, receive output signals from the strain sensor array, and determine a plurality of time-varying strain values, each strain value indicating a strain experienced over time by a successive one of a plurality of regions of the body.

An apparatus and method for determining the total weight of a vehicle either statically or dynamically using the same weight scale. The apparatus is a weight scale for weighing vehicles that is of sufficient length that a plurality of axle sets of a vehicle can be located on the weight scale simultaneously. The apparatus senses the total weight of the vehicle as a function of time within the period of time the vehicle is on the weight scale. The apparatus obtains the vehicle weight statically if all of the axle sets of a vehicle are located on the weight scale simultaneously and the vehicle is in a stopped condition and obtains the vehicle weight dynamically if all of the axle sets of the vehicle are located on the weight scale simultaneously and the vehicle is moving on the weight scale.

A roadway segment includes a body having a length along a direction of travel, a width along a width axis, and top and bottom halves along a depth axis. The segment also includes a strain sensor array with one or more optical fiber cables embedded in the bottom half of the body. The strain sensor array includes vehicle-strain sensors configured to detect strain on the body resulting from vehicles traveling across the top surface. The segment also includes a processor that operates the plurality of vehicle-strain sensors at a resolution of not greater than one picometer (1 pm). Any segments of the optical fiber cable(s) that intersect are separated from one another depth wise by at least two-tenths of an inch (0.2 in.). Each of the sensors is separated from each other along the width axis by at least two inches (2 in.).

The technology involves operation of a self-driving truck or other cargo vehicle when it is being inspected at a weigh station. This may include determining whether a weigh station is open for inspection. Once at the weigh station, the vehicle may follow instructions of an inspection officer or autonomous inspection system. The vehicle may perform predefined actions or operations so that various vehicle systems and safety issues can be evaluated, such as the brakes, lights, tires, connections between the tractor and trailer, exposed fuel tanks, leaks, etc. A visual inspection may be performed to ensure the load is secured, vehicle and cargo documents meet certain criteria, and the carrier's safety record meets any requirements. In addition, the weigh station itself may be operated in a partly or fully autonomous mode when dealing with autonomous and manually driven vehicles.

A stress distribution measurement method is a method of measuring stress distribution generated on a structural object including two support parts and a beam part provided between the support parts. The method includes: generating first image data by performing, through a first image capturing unit, image capturing of a moving object or an identification display object attached to the structural object from the moving object; calculating, based on the first image data, a movement duration in which the moving object moves between the support parts; generating, as second image data, thermal image data by performing image capturing of the surface of the beam part through a second image capturing unit; calculating a temperature change amount based on a second image data group corresponding to the movement duration; and calculating a stress change amount based on the temperature change amount to calculate stress distribution based on the stress change amount.

A method, apparatus and device for dynamically acquiring the load of a vehicle, and a storage medium are disclosed. The method includes: acquiring deformation data of load-bearing deformation of a wheel hub of the vehicle, and acquiring the load of the vehicle according to the deformation data.

An axle-load measuring apparatus measures an axle load of a vehicle by using a captured image where a road and the vehicle on the road are imaged, and the axle-load measuring apparatus includes a displacement calculator, a correction information obtaining unit, and an axle-load calculator. The displacement calculator detects a displacement of the road by using the captured image. The displacement is caused by receiving the axle load. The correction information obtaining unit obtains correction information. An axle-load calculator calculates the axle load by using the displacement and the correction information.

A modular pavement slab comprises a body, a strain sensor array, and a sensor processor. The body includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and four side surfaces. The modular pavement slab is configured to be coupled to at least one other modular pavement slab via connectors along at least one of the side surfaces. The strain sensor array is retained within the body and is configured to detect a plurality of strains on the body resulting from vehicular traffic across the top surface of the body. The sensor processor is in communication with the strain sensor array. The sensor processor is configured to communicate input signals to the strain sensor array, receive output signals from the strain sensor array, and determine a plurality of time-varying strain values, each strain value indicating a strain experienced over time by a successive one of a plurality of regions of the body.

An overload detection processing apparatus, an overload detection system and a computer-readable recording medium storing a program capable of determining overload more accurately are provided. An overload detection processing apparatus for determining a vehicle whose loading weight exceeds a predetermined reference is provided with a processor. The processor acquires a determination value relating to magnitude of deformation of a tire from image data obtained by photographing the tire of the vehicle and determines whether or not the loading weight of the vehicle exceeds a predetermined reference based on data corresponding to the determination value and a situation relating to the tire.