Research & Development Advanced Materials

Research & Development

Advanced Materials

Robotics

Electromagnetics & Electric Machines

Thermal Systems

Structures & Analysis

Embedded Software

Diagnostics & Prognostics

Friction Sensor

The objective of this work was the development of a system level approach and laboratory investigations for the real-time measurement of friction between a tire and pavement. Measurement of the coefficient of friction in real-time is important for several vehicle safety systems, such as rear-end collision warning, adaptive cruise control and monitoring roadway pavement conditions to achieve cost effective surface treatment during adverse weather.

Foster-Miller's friction sensor achieved the following technical goals: measurement of the coefficient of friction using a system level approach ,
Successful laboratory demonstration of an electro-optical sensor that measures pavement water levels and determines the presence of snow and ice,
Understanding the phenomenology of water formation on pavement surfaces and its effect on an incident laser beam, and
Development of a theory of friction and its confirmation in the laboratory and during field testing.