Scientists design “smart” asphalts with magnetic materials for safer electric scooters

Scientists from the University of Granada have used magnetic materials in “smart” asphalts that modify their properties in the presence of external magnetic fields.

Camino de Ronda (Granada). Bicycle-friendly roads specially modified with a “smart” surface that provides a speed-reduction warning. Photo: University of Granada

This work—part of the wider research field of “smart cities”—would enable roads to signal to scooters when to slow down, for example, or could automatically cut off the electric motor or engine in case of danger.

This study, which is part of the wider “smart cities” research field, would enable roads to signal to scooters when to slow down, for example, or could automatically cut off the electric motor or engine in case of danger.

The researchers have also developed a prototype Personal Mobility Device (PMD) designed to interact with the smart asphalt.

The aim is to create better infrastructures for citizens—from public transport to energy savings, sustainability, and overall efficiency. These UGR researchers have produced more than five joint scientific publications in high-impact journals and have secured two patents—on mechano-mutable asphalt (PCT/ES2014/071002) and pavement safety systems (P201631096).

Now, with this current research, they have developed a further novel application that would address the major problem of widespread electric-scooter use in cities.

In large cities, the proliferation of PMDs, including electric scooters, demonstrates that existing infrastructures are not yet equipped to deal with such vehicles. The necessary regulation is still in its infancy (or non-existent), and the first fatal accidents associated with their use have already been reported.

Hence, research laboratories are working on innovative projects to deal with the challenges of “smart cities” or cities of the future.

One such project focuses on developing “encoded roads”, whereby different amounts of metallic material are aggregated beneath roads, pavements, and pedestrian crossings, among other areas of the city, so that a code can be generated to identify and link specific working instructions with PMDs (electric scooters) and their users.

These codes beneath the asphalt send real-time information to the PMD, indicating the necessary reduction in speed, in accordance with the zone the user is crossing at the time (or triggering motor/engine shutdown in some cases), for example.

The first PMD prototype, which interacts with these asphalt codes, was successfully presented at the 8th European Asphalt Technology Association (EATA) Conference in Granada (3–5 June 2019). (University of Granada)

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Antarctic ice cliffs may not contribute to ice-sheet instability as much as predicted

Antarctica's ice sheet spans close to twice the area of the contiguous United States. Its land boundary is buttressed by massive, floating ice shelves extending hundreds of miles out over the frigid waters of the Southern Ocean.

Researchers demonstrate that Sierra Nevada is home to the oldest underground water recharge system in Europe

Scientists from the University of Granada, the IGME, and the Universities of Cologne and Lisbon have demonstrated that the careo irrigation channels of Sierra Nevada constitute the oldest underground aquifer recharge system on the continent.

Study uncovers magnetic memory of European glass eels

A new study led by researchers at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science and the Institute of Marine Research in Norway found that European glass eels use their magnetic sense to "imprint" a memory of water currents in the estuary where they become juveniles.

Ancient molecules from the sea likely burst into the air from ocean waves

When waves break in the ocean, they inject tiny particles into the air, called aerosols, that carry organic molecules more than 5,000 years old.

Red seaweeds, including those in sushi, thrive despite ancestor's loss of genes

You'd think that losing 25 percent of your genes would be a big problem for survival. But not for red algae, including the seaweed used to wrap sushi.

Modern Battery Design Can Charge Electric Car in 10 Minutes

A new lithium-ion battery design makes it possible for electric vehicle drivers to charge their cars and hit the road in as little as ten minutes, according to a new study.