1. Product Overview
The Induskey INK422 is a compact, non-contact road-surface state monitoring instrument using advanced laser remote sensing technology. By avoiding the need for embedded installation, the INK422 eliminates traffic disruption caused by traditional road-cut sensors. Mounted roadside on a pole or weather station bracket at 2–15 m distance, it requires no lane closure or road damage. Spectral measurement enables simultaneous independent quantification of road surface water, ice, and snow thickness, with early detection of micro ice crystal formation. The rugged, salt-fog-resistant housing ensures reliable long-term operation in highway, coastal, and severe weather environments. With ultra-low power consumption below 1W, the INK422 is ideal for solar-powered remote installations where grid access is unavailable.
2. System Architecture
The INK422 operates as a fully integrated compact remote sensing road condition unit with the following core components:
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Laser Emitter & Spectral Analysis Module: Directs a laser beam at the road surface and analyzes reflected spectral signals to independently quantify water film, ice layer, and snow accumulation.
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Optical Receiver: Captures reflected laser energy for spectral discrimination of water and ice content.
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Signal Processing Unit: Calculates road surface state — dry, damp, wet, snow, frost, ice, or ice-water mixture — and friction coefficient (0–1.00).
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Micro Ice Crystal Detection Algorithm: Early detection capability forincipient ice formation before visible accumulation.
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Communication Module: RS485, RS232, or GPRS wireless output for diverse network integration.
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Power Management Unit: DC 12V or AC 220V dual-input with <1W typical consumption for solar compatibility.
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IP66 Sealed Enclosure: Salt-fog and corrosion-resistant housing; 380 × 290 × 110 mm, <2.5 kg.
3. Key Features & Competitive Advantages
A. Non-Embedded Installation
B. Ultra-Low Power Consumption
C. 2–15 m Remote Sensing Range
D. Multi-Parameter Detection
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Simultaneous independent quantification of water, ice, and snow thickness.
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Spectral discrimination enables precise reporting of road surface state.
E. Wide Measurement Range
F. Friction Coefficient Output
G. Multiple Road State Detection
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Detects dry, damp, wet, snow/frost, ice, and ice-water mixture.
H. Flexible Mounting
I. Multi-Protocol Output
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RS485, RS232, or GPRS wireless for diverse network integration.
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Seamlessly integrates into existing highway automatic weather monitoring networks.
J. Rugged & Corrosion-Resistant
K. All-Weather Design
4. Technical Specifications
| System Parameter |
Specification |
| Physical |
|
| Dimensions |
380 × 290 × 110 mm |
| Weight |
<2.5 kg |
| Measurement Performance |
|
| Water Layer Thickness |
0 ~ 2.00 mm |
| Ice Layer Thickness |
0 ~ 2.00 mm |
| Snow Thickness |
0 ~ 10.00 mm |
| Road Condition States |
Dry, damp, wet, snow/frost, ice, ice-water mixture |
| Friction Coefficient |
0 ~ 1.00 (hazardous ~ dry) |
| Remote Sensing Distance |
2 ~ 15 m |
| Measurement Zone |
Ø 20 cm at 10 m |
| Acquisition Interval |
1 ~ 60 min (configurable) |
| Installation Angle |
5° ~ 60° from vertical |
| System Configuration |
|
| Operating Voltage |
DC 12 V or AC 220 V |
| Power Consumption |
<1 W |
| Communication Output |
RS485 / RS232 / GPRS |
| Environmental |
|
| Operating Temperature |
-40 ~ +70 °C |
| Operating Humidity |
<100 %RH (non-condensing) |
| Protection Class |
IP66; salt-fog and corrosion resistant |
5. Applications
The Induskey INK422 is engineered for versatile deployment across road infrastructure and winter maintenance operations:
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Highway Automatic Weather Monitoring: Core compact road condition sensor for highway meteorological station networks.
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Expressway Road Condition Surveillance: Real-time surface state monitoring for high-speed traffic corridors.
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Bridge and Tunnel Approaches: Critical slipperiness detection at structures prone to rapid ice formation.
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Coastal Road Maintenance: Salt-fog resistant design ideal for marine and coastal highway environments.
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Airport Runway Condition Monitoring: Precision friction coefficient measurement for aviation safety.
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Winter Road Maintenance Dispatch: Data-driven de-icing resource allocation with ultra-low power for remote locations.
6. Optional Cloud Platform
To maximize operational oversight, the INK422 seamlessly integrates with the optional Induskey industrial IoT Cloud Platform.
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Real-Time Remote Dashboard: Operators can wirelessly upload road condition data via GPRS to directly read surface state values, ice/snow thickness, and friction coefficient metrics remotely.
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Multi-Site Centralized Management: Enables GPS positioning of multiple compact road condition sensors across highway networks, airport perimeters, or bridge/tunnel portfolios, facilitating data-driven intelligent winter maintenance management.
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Alarm Notification: Supports programmable threshold alarms for hazardous road conditions (ice formation, low friction coefficient, snow accumulation) configured to automatically dispatch notifications to traffic control and maintenance dispatch centers via SMS and email.
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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.
