A Controller Design for a Dynamic Roadway Marking System

A novel system has been developed that can link the evidence shown on a roadway to vehicle performance using an electronic paintball marking system. The field of traffic crash reconstruction uses roadway evidence to infer the dynamics of a vehicle. However, no inexpensive technique exists to verify that the evidence left on the roadway corresponds to particular levels of force or acceleration. This dynamic roadway marking system uses two markers fired simultaneously to gain vehicle orientation and location. Each time the gun is fired, a signal is sent to the same data acquisition system that is monitoring accelerometers and other vehicle parameters. Tests were conducted for severe cornering maneuvers. Results show that tire scuff marks begin appearing at nearly 0.5g of lateral acceleration on a paved, dry parking lot surface. Also, different braking and turning combinations can be tested and the data from the accelerometer traces and the paintball positions can be compared. Sensor drift can be easily measured and bias mitigation techniques can be tested. A circuit diagram and schematic show how to implement this system. Overall, this paintball marker based system provides research, verification, and educational capabilities to the crash reconstruction community and vehicle dynamics engineer.