Abstract:
A vehicle measurement station utilizing one or more displacement sensors disposed on each opposite side of an inspection region of a vehicle inspection lane to acquire displacement measurement data along associated measurement axes. At least a portion of the displacement measurement data is associated with the outermost wheel assemblies on an axle of a moving vehicle passing through the inspection region, and utilized to determine one or more vehicle characteristics, such as an axle total toe condition.
Abstract:
A vehicle inspection system for acquiring measurements of at least one vehicle moving through an inspection lane is in communication with a remote data processing and storage system to aggregate data from multiple vehicles passing through the inspection lane, and optionally, from multiple inspection lanes. The remote data processing and storage system is configured with suitable software instructions to store the received vehicle inspection data, as well as vehicle service data received from vehicle service equipment, and to generate reports and/or respond to data queries using the stored vehicle inspection and vehicle service data.
Abstract:
A vehicle service system and method to determine spatial parameters of a vehicle, employing a display system under processor control, to display or project visible indicia onto surfaces in proximity to a vehicle undergoing a safety system service or inspection identifying one or more locations, relative to the determined vehicle centerline or thrust line, at which a calibration fixture, optical target, or simulated test drive imagery is visible for observation by a sensor onboard the vehicle.
Abstract:
A method for detecting the occurrence of deviations from level, straight-line rolling movement of a wheel assembly across a supporting surface during a rolling compensation procedure associated with a vehicle wheel alignment measurement or inspection system by identifying changes in measurements or calculated parameters associated with the wheel assembly which would be unchanged during an ideal level and straight-line rolling movement. Identified changes in the measurements or calculated parameters are evaluated to either warn an operator of the occurrence of a deviation, or to generate a correction factor to account for at least a portion of an effect which the deviations introduce into compensation calculations or subsequent wheel alignment measurements or service procedures.
Abstract:
A method for characterizing the surface over which a vehicle is to be rolled during a rolling compensation procedure. A set of wheel alignment angle sensors are mounted to the rearmost fixed axle of a vehicle which is then backed onto the floor surface to be characterized, and rolled in reverse over the region of the floor surface generally traversed during a rolling compensation procedure. As the vehicle is rolled in reverse, a pair of wheel alignment angle sensors temporarily positioned at selected points on the floor surface measure a distance to the wheel-mounted alignment angle sensors, which in turn, are acquiring camber angle measurements. The resulting set of measurements is stored in an accessible data storage device, characterizing the camber altering contours of a path across the floor surface.
Abstract:
A modular drive-over vehicle inspection system for measuring tire tread depth at multiple points on each individual wheel of a moving vehicle passing through an inspection lane, and which is capable of accommodating vehicles having a range of axle configurations, including three or more of any combination of single-wheel axles, super-single wheel axles, and dual-wheel axles.
Abstract:
A vehicle ADAS target or fixture is configured with an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) consisting of a combination of accelerometers and gyroscopes capable of estimating a relative position and orientation within the spatial volume of the vehicle service area by tracking changes in acceleration and rotation. A controller monitors movement of the IMU relative to an established reference location, generating output utilized by a vehicle service system to guide a technician to position and orient the vehicle ADAS target or fixture at a selected location within the vehicle service area required to conduct a vehicle ADAS service procedure.
Abstract:
A modular drive-over vehicle inspection system for measuring tire tread depth at multiple points on each individual wheel of a moving vehicle passing through an inspection lane, and which is capable of accommodating vehicles having a range of axle configurations, including three or more of any combination of single-wheel axles, super-single wheel axles, and dual-wheel axles.
Abstract:
A vehicle service system incorporating a set of imaging sensors disposed in an inspection lane through which a vehicle is driven. A processor is configured with software instructions to capture a set of images from the set of imaging sensors and to evaluate the captured images according to a set of rules to identify images in which a license plate is visible on an observed surface of the vehicle. The processor is further configured with software instruction to extract license plate information from the identified images, assign a figure of merit to the extracted information, and generate an output in response to the assigned figures of merit.
Abstract:
A vehicle inspection system configured with a processing system and at least one displacement sensor disposed on opposite sides of a vehicle inspection lane sensor region to acquire displacement measurement data associated with a moving vehicle passing through the vehicle inspection lane. The processing system is configured to receive acquired displacement measurement data to determine characteristics of the moving vehicle, such as vehicle velocity, dynamic axle alignment, dynamic wheel alignment, or dimensions. The processing system is further configured to evaluate the determined dynamic vehicle characteristics in relation to static vehicle characteristics, such as static axle alignment or static wheel alignment, through application of one or more compensation factors based on user selected parameters, default parameters, or identified vehicle features.