Induskey INK426 Embedded Road Condition Sensor | IP68 Multi-Frequency In-Pavement

Multi-Frequency · IP68 · Salt-Fog Resistant precision in-pavement sensor. Detects ice, water, snow, dampness, dryness, temperature, freeze-point, salinity. Ø120×50mm, ~800g, plug-and-play.

Case Details

1. Product Overview

The Induskey INK426 is a precision in-pavement monitoring device designed for highway and major roadway applications. It integrates four specialized measuring elements: a surface temperature sensor, a multi-frequency dielectric sensor, a salinity and freeze-point sensor, and a surface water-film height sensor. Together, these elements detect a comprehensive range of road surface conditions including icing, standing water, snow accumulation, dampness, and dryness, as well as measuring surface temperature, freeze-point temperature, and salinity levels. The compact flush-mount design (Ø120 mm × 50 mm) allows direct embedding into the road surface for accurate, real-time measurements under actual traffic conditions. With IP68 highest ingress protection and salt-fog resistant construction, the INK426 withstands chemical corrosion, physical traffic impact, and high-pressure washing for reliable long-term operation in the most demanding environments.

2. System Architecture

The INK426 operates as a fully integrated multi-element in-pavement sensing unit with the following core components:

Surface Temperature Element: Precision thermistor for direct road-surface temperature measurement.
Multi-Frequency Dielectric Sensor: Detects water film, ice layers, and snow by analyzing dielectric property changes across multiple frequencies.
Salinity & Freeze-Point Element: Measures salt concentration to determine the exact freezing temperature of surface moisture.
Surface Water-Film Height Sensor: Quantifies standing water depth on the road surface.
Signal Processing Unit: Integrates all four sensor outputs for comprehensive real-time road condition assessment.
RS485 Communication Module: Reliable digital communication with configurable baud rate up to 38,400 bit/s.
IP68 Sealed Enclosure: Fully submersible housing withstands high-pressure wash and continuous immersion.
Pre-Terminated Cable: Standard 5m cable with CAGE CLAMP WAGO connector for plug-and-play installation.

3. Key Features & Competitive Advantages

A. Compact & Easy Installation

Flush-mount Ø120 mm × 50 mm design embeds directly into road surface.
Minimal road surface disruption during installation.
~800 g lightweight construction.

B. Multi-Parameter Detection

Measures temperature, water, ice, snow, dampness, dryness, freeze-point, and salinity simultaneously.
Comprehensive real-time assessment from a single embedded point.

C. IP68 Protection

Highest ingress protection rating; fully submersible.
Withstands high-pressure washing and continuous water immersion.

D. Chemical & Physical Resistance

Robust construction withstands chemical corrosion from de-icing salts and road chemicals.
Engineered to endure physical traffic impact from heavy vehicles.

E. Wide Temperature Range

Operates -30°C ~ +70°C — suitable for extreme climate zones from arctic winters to tropical summers.

F. Low Power Design

<200 mA current draw; 9–14 VDC operation — energy efficient for remote installations.

G. Flexible Baud Rate

2,400–38,400 bit/s configurable — adapts to any host system or network protocol.

H. RS485 Digital Output

Reliable digital communication with existing highway automatic weather monitoring networks.

I. Standard 5m Cable

Pre-terminated with CAGE CLAMP WAGO connector (<0.5 mm) for plug-and-play installation.
Eliminates field wiring errors and reduces installation time.

J. Real-Time Monitoring

Continuous road surface condition assessment for immediate hazard detection.
Enables proactive winter maintenance dispatch before conditions become dangerous.

K. Coastal Environment Rated

Salt-fog resistant design with proven coastal deployment record.
Corrosion-proof materials and sealing for marine and coastal areas.

4. Technical Specifications

System Parameter	Specification
Physical
Sensor Dimensions	Ø120 mm × 50 mm (Φ 120 × H 50 mm)
Weight	Approx. 800 g
Measurement Performance
Detectable States	Ice, standing water, snow, dampness, dryness, surface temperature, freeze-point, salinity
System Configuration
Power Supply	9 ~ 14 VDC
Power Consumption	<200 mA
Communication Interface	RS485
Baud Rate	2,400 ~ 38,400 bit/s
Cable Length	5 m (standard)
Connector Type	CAGE CLAMP WAGO (<0.5 mm)
Environmental
Operating Temperature	-30 °C ~ +70 °C
Operating Humidity	0 ~ 100 %RH
Atmospheric Pressure	≥650 hPa
Storage Temperature	-30 °C ~ +70 °C
Protection Class	IP68 (highest ingress protection)
Salt-Fog Resistance	Suitable for coastal areas

5. Applications

The Induskey INK426 is engineered for versatile deployment across road infrastructure and winter maintenance operations:

Highway Automatic Weather Stations: Core in-pavement road condition sensor for highway meteorological station networks.
Expressway Winter Maintenance: Real-time freeze-point and salinity data for optimized de-icing agent dosage and plowing dispatch.
Bridge and Tunnel Surface Monitoring: Critical embedded monitoring at structures prone to rapid ice formation and thermal gradients.
Coastal Road Condition Assessment: Salt-fog resistant design ideal for marine and coastal highway environments.
Airport Runway Safety Systems: Precision surface condition detection for aviation safety and landing operations.
Urban Road Ice Warning Networks: City road network embedded monitoring for traffic advisory and public safety systems.

6. Optional Cloud Platform

To maximize operational oversight, the INK426 seamlessly integrates with the optional Induskey industrial IoT Cloud Platform via host system data forwarding.

Real-Time Remote Dashboard: Operators can access in-pavement road condition data to directly read surface temperature, freeze-point, salinity, water-film height, and ice/snow/dampness/dryness states remotely.
Multi-Site Centralized Management: Enables GPS positioning of multiple embedded sensors across highway networks, bridge portfolios, or airport runway systems, facilitating data-driven intelligent winter maintenance management.
Alarm Notification: Supports programmable threshold alarms for hazardous road conditions (icing detected, freeze-point approaching, high water-film height) configured to automatically dispatch notifications to maintenance dispatch centers and traffic control via SMS and email.
Data Export & Reporting: Generates continuous historical road condition curves and operational logs for winter maintenance efficiency analysis, de-icing cost optimization, traffic safety reporting, and regulatory compliance.