Investigation, Testing, and development of an RFID system for effective maintenance of the existing national transportation infrastructure

Abstract

This project seeks to investigate how RFID sensors can detect black ice remotely to reduce the number of accidents caused by this thin layer of ice when it is not visible. Black ice, sometimes called clear ice, is a thin coating of ice that is visually transparent and often hard for drivers to identify. The detection of this thin layer of ice is difficult from the naked human eye. Due to this fact many drivers have accidents when they lose control of their vehicles after they are on the black ice. Given this, our research hypothesizes that if black ice can be detected with remote RFID sensors, then a driver can be informed early enough to minimize accidents.

The research utilizes a Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) experimental approach to test the performance of RFID based sensors on simulated black ice conditions. The results were determined based on the RFID sensors read signal strength (RSSI). The results indicate that signal strength is stronger in thinner ice slivers. This research describes our initial research hypothesis, set-up, and initial finding. We expect through further findings to use and Artificial Intelligence based algorithm that calculates the ice thickness can inform the driver through cell towers early enough to avoid the black ice condition.