A 94 GHz Millimeter-Wave Radar System for Remote Vehicle Height Measurement to Prevent Bridge Collisions

Area of Science:

• Electrical Engineering
• Sensor Technology
• Transportation Safety

Background:

• Over-height vehicle collisions with bridges cause significant damage and safety hazards.
• Current optical detection systems fail in adverse weather conditions like fog and rain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a velocity-independent vehicle height measurement system using millimeter-wave radar.
• To provide a reliable alternative to optical sensors for bridge clearance detection.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a 94 GHz millimeter-wave radar system.
• Exploited the ratio of Doppler shifts from vehicle roof and wheel-road scattering centers.
• Developed a closed-form height estimation model and performed laboratory validation.

Main Results:

• Achieved velocity-independent height measurement with average absolute error of 0.60 cm and relative errors below 3.3%.
• Demonstrated feasibility of millisecond integration times for highway speeds.
• Validated the system's potential for reliable operation in adverse weather.

Conclusions:

• The proposed millimeter-wave radar technique offers a robust solution for detecting over-height vehicles.
• This technology enhances transportation safety by overcoming weather-related limitations of existing systems.
• Further field validation in diverse scenarios is planned.