From urban roadworks, to lesser-travelled rural roads, potholes and broken road surfaces are a part of life for southern Africa motorists.
Recognising this common problem that all road users face globally, Jaguar Land Rover is continuing its research into innovative vehicle safety systems with a new connected-car technology that will allow a vehicle to identify the location and severity of potholes, broken drains and manhole covers. Data from this system could then also be shared in real time with other vehicles as well as with road authorities.
If a car can receive a warning from another vehicle about severe potholes or broken manholes ahead, then drivers would be able to slow down and avoid the danger – or the car could adjust suspension settings to reduce the impact and smooth the ride. This could help reduce the potential for punctures, wheel and vehicle damage as well as road accidents.
The MagneRide equipped Range Rover Evoque and Discovery Sport vehicles feature sophisticated sensors that allow the vehicle to profile the road surface under the wheels and identify potholes, raised manholes and broken drain covers. By monitoring the motion of the vehicle and changes in the height of the suspension, the car is able to continuously adjust the vehicle’s suspension characteristics, giving passengers a more comfortable ride over uneven and damaged road surfaces.
Pothole Alert joins other projects at the Jaguar Land Rover Advanced Research Centre, which is developing technologies that could be used for autonomous driving and road safety.
Other research projects from the centre include Bike Sense, a concept technology that uses lights, sound, and haptic feedback to alert drivers of approaching bicycles or motorcycles.