Application of TRIZ Method in Developing Vehicle Lane Support System Testing Infrastructure for Raining Condition

Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) is an inventive problem-solving method developed to find a solution for issues involving contradictions. The TRIZ method was applied to develop a new method of simulating raining weather conditions for vehicle lane support system (LSS) on-road testing infrastructure. The objective of the project was to develop a mechanical solution capable of dispensing a consistent amount of water to a moving vehicle to simulate raining weather conditions, while at the same time it is portable and easy to set up. Based on the requirement, the TRIZ 40 inventive principles were applied as the solution, based on the principles of “the other way around”, “segmentation”, “dynamicity” and “feedback”. The specific solution generated based on the inventive principles identified was to make both the vehicle and the rain simulating machine movable during the on-road test. This is achieved by creating a customized rain machine that can be fitted onto a moving vehicle. This simple setup enabled both vehicle-under-test (VUT) and the rain machine vehicle to move simultaneously during the test, at any test speed and type of test track desired. Furthermore, the rain machine itself is designed with the capability to dispense the water by using a control unit, hence making the testing method safer and less human effort required. Based on the literature review, there is yet no similar solution for simulating raining conditions in LSS on-road test made using the same principle developed in this project. The innovative portable rain machine developed in this project could also be applied for other Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) test protocols requiring similar raining testing conditions especially involving moving VUT.