Patent ID: 9715369
Date: 2017-07-25
CPC Classifications: G06F,G07C,G08G

Claim:
1. A method for estimating environmental conditions, comprising: determining location information associated with a vehicle based on data from a global positioning device; determining sensor information comprising a first portion generated by a first sensor attached to a main body of the vehicle or a mechanical arm supporting an accessory of the vehicle and a second portion generated by a second sensor attached to the main body or the mechanical arm, wherein the sensor information is indicative of movement of one or more corresponding magnets attached to the accessory; and providing the location information and the sensor information to a remote device configured determine, based on the sensor information, when the accessory is engaged in plowing snow and configured to estimate environmental conditions based on the location information and the sensor information, wherein the remote device is configured to determine when the accessory is engaged in plowing by comparing the first portion to a first threshold representing a first angle indicative of the accessory being in contact with a surface and comparing the second portion to a second threshold representative of a second angle indicative of the accessory being positioned to push material to a side of the roadway.