Intelligent automobile double-column lifting machine and positioning method thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses an intelligent automobile double-column lifting machine and a positioning method thereof. According to the technical scheme, the intelligent automobile double-column lifting machine comprises a left stand column, a right stand column, a sliding table capable of vertically moving, a telescopic and rotatable supporting arm hinged to the sliding table and a visual detection device fixedly installed on the supporting arm or the sliding table. The image acquisition module is used for acquiring images or three-dimensional data of a vehicle chassis and a tire area; and the controller is electrically connected with the visual detection device and driving mechanisms for driving the sliding table and the supporting arm to move, and is used for processing data of the visual detection device so as to identify a vehicle lifting point and generating a control instruction to drive the supporting arm to automatically move to the position below the lifting point. According to the scheme provided by the invention, the corbel can be automatically, accurately and safely positioned.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of lift technology, and in particular to an intelligent car two-post lift and its positioning method. Background Technology

[0002] Traditional two-post lifts rely entirely on the operator's experience to manually adjust the position of the four tow arms when lifting vehicles. The operator needs to bend over to observe the lifting points under the vehicle (such as side skirts, frame support points, etc.), and then manually move and adjust the height and extension length of the tow arms to align them with these points. This process has the following significant drawbacks: Low efficiency: Each adjustment requires repeated manual observation and trial, which is time-consuming and affects the overall efficiency of maintenance. Safety hazards: Relying on human judgment is prone to fatigue and errors. If the tow arms are not aligned with the vehicle's designed lifting support points, the vehicle may slip during lifting, body parts (such as the chassis and side skirts) may deform or be damaged, or even cause serious accidents. High technical requirements: Novice operators require a long training period to master the techniques of judging lifting points for different vehicle models. Although some simple devices such as laser indicators exist for auxiliary positioning, they still require the operator to manually move the tow arms near the laser points, and do not achieve true automated positioning. Therefore, there is an urgent need in the market for an intelligent lifting device that can automatically, accurately, and safely complete tow arm positioning. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of the shortcomings of the existing technology, the main objective of this invention is to provide an intelligent lifting device and its positioning method that can automatically, accurately and safely complete the positioning of the lifting arm.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: an intelligent vehicle dual-post lift, comprising left and right uprights, a vertically movable slide, and a telescopic and rotatable support arm hinged to the slide, and further comprising a vision detection device, the vision detection device being fixedly installed on the support arm or the slide, for acquiring images or three-dimensional data of the vehicle chassis and tire area; a controller, electrically connected to the vision detection device and each drive mechanism driving the slide and the support arm, for processing the data from the vision detection device to identify the vehicle lifting point, and generating control commands to drive the support arm to automatically move below the lifting point.

[0005] Preferably, the visual inspection device is a depth camera, a laser 3D scanner, or a binocular vision camera.

[0006] Preferably, each of the support arms is provided with an independent visual inspection device at its front end.

[0007] Preferably, the controller has a pre-stored database of lifting points for different vehicle models, and can automatically match or allow the operator to manually select the corresponding vehicle model based on the identified vehicle characteristics.

[0008] An automatic positioning method for an intelligent car two-post lift includes the following steps: S1: Acquire images of the vehicle's underside or 3D point cloud data; S2: Process the data to identify the spatial coordinates of the vehicle tires and the target lifting point; S3: Based on the coordinates of the target lifting point and the current position of the support arm, plan the movement path of the support arm; S4: Control the support arm to move automatically along the path, so that the end of the support arm is positioned below the target lifting point.

[0009] Compared with existing technologies, this invention has the following advantages: First, it significantly improves operational efficiency. Automated positioning replaces the tedious process of repeated manual observation and trial and error, shortening vehicle lifting preparation time, accelerating maintenance, and increasing workstation turnover. Second, it greatly enhances safety. By accurately identifying the vehicle's designed safe lifting points, it eliminates towing arm misalignment caused by human eye fatigue or lack of experience, effectively preventing accidents such as vehicle slippage, chassis deformation, or side skirt damage during lifting, ensuring the safety of personnel and vehicles, and reducing maintenance risks. Third, it lowers the technical threshold and training costs. Novice operators can complete advanced training through system guidance without long-term learning. The system offers precise positioning, reducing corporate training costs and alleviating operator physical burden. Furthermore, it boasts high intelligence and adaptability, with a vehicle model database that can be updated and expanded at any time, compatible with various models including traditional fuel vehicles and new energy vehicles, enhancing equipment versatility and future applicability. Simultaneously, its high positioning accuracy, with 3D visual inspection achieving millimeter-level precision far exceeding human judgment, ensures stable and reliable lifting processes and reduces potential damage to the vehicle chassis. Finally, the overall design responds to market demand for intelligent equipment, reducing human error through automation, optimizing the maintenance experience, and driving the automotive service industry towards high efficiency, safety, and intelligence, demonstrating broad application prospects and economic benefits. Attached Figure Description

[0010] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an intelligent car lift according to the present invention.

[0011] In the diagram: 1. Column; 2. Slide table; 3. Support arm; 4. Vision inspection device; 5. Controller. Detailed Implementation

[0012] The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0013] like Figure 1As shown, an intelligent car lift includes left and right columns 1, a vertically movable slide 2, and a telescopic and rotatable support arm 3 hinged to the slide 2. It also includes a vision detection device 4, which is fixedly installed on the support arm 3 or the slide 2, for acquiring images or three-dimensional data of the vehicle chassis and tire area; and a controller 5, electrically connected to the vision detection device 4 and the various drive mechanisms that drive the slide 2 and the support arm 3, for processing the data from the vision detection device 4 to identify the vehicle lifting point and generating control commands to drive the support arm 3 to automatically move below the lifting point.

[0014] Preferably, the visual inspection device 4 is a depth camera, a laser 3D scanner, or a binocular vision camera.

[0015] Preferably, each of the support arms 3 is provided with a visual inspection device 4 at its front end.

[0016] Preferably, the controller 5 has a pre-stored database of lifting points for different vehicle models, and can automatically match or allow the operator to manually select the corresponding vehicle model based on the identified vehicle characteristics.

[0017] An automatic positioning method for an intelligent car two-post lift includes the following steps: S1: Acquire images of the vehicle's underside or 3D point cloud data; S2: Process the data to identify the spatial coordinates of the vehicle tires and the target lifting point; S3: Based on the coordinates of the target lifting point and the current position of the support arm 3, plan the movement path of the support arm 3; S4: Control the support arm 3 to move automatically along the path, so that the end of the support arm 3 is positioned below the target lifting point.

[0018] This invention provides an intelligent automotive dual-post lift, the core of which lies in integrating machine vision, automatic control, and data-driven technologies to achieve autonomous and precise positioning of the support arm 3. The system uses a vision inspection device 4 (such as a depth camera, laser 3D scanner, or binocular vision camera) fixed to the support arm 3 or slide 2 to collect high-resolution images or 3D point cloud data of the vehicle chassis and tire area in real time. This data contains rich spatial geometric information. After receiving the data, the controller 5 uses image processing algorithms (such as edge detection and feature matching) and 3D point cloud analysis technology to identify the 3D spatial coordinates of the vehicle tire contour, chassis structure, and key lifting points (such as body skirts or beam support points). The point cloud data effectively overcomes the effects of lighting changes and local occlusion, improving recognition robustness. The controller 5 has a pre-stored lifting point database covering multiple vehicle models, which can automatically match corresponding vehicle model parameters based on identified vehicle characteristics (such as wheelbase, track width, and chassis height), or allow the operator to manually select via a human-machine interface, ensuring the accuracy and adaptability of the lifting point information. Based on the identified lifting point coordinates and the real-time position of the support arm 3, the controller 5 executes a path planning algorithm to calculate the optimal motion trajectory for the lifting of the slide 2, the extension and retraction of the support arm 3, and the rotation of each support arm 3. Taking obstacle avoidance and cooperative movement into account, the controller then drives each motor actuator (such as a servo motor or hydraulic drive) to move the four support arms 3 synchronously and smoothly to directly below the target lifting point. The entire process forms a closed-loop automation of perception-decision-execution, requiring no manual intervention. This principle integrates environmental perception, pattern recognition, and motion control, realizing intelligent operation from data acquisition to precise positioning.

[0019] Its technological advantages are significant: First, it greatly improves operational efficiency. Automated positioning replaces the tedious process of repeated manual observation and trial and error, shortening vehicle lifting preparation time, accelerating maintenance, and increasing workstation turnover. Second, it greatly enhances safety. By accurately identifying the vehicle's designed safe lifting points, it eliminates misalignment of the lifting arms caused by human fatigue or lack of experience, effectively preventing accidents such as vehicle slippage, chassis deformation, or side skirt damage during lifting, ensuring the safety of personnel and vehicles, and reducing maintenance risks. Third, it lowers the technical threshold and training costs. Novice operators can complete accurate positioning through system guidance without long-term learning. This system reduces corporate training costs and alleviates the physical burden on operators. Furthermore, it boasts high intelligence and adaptability, with a vehicle model database that can be updated and expanded at any time, compatible with various vehicle types including traditional fuel vehicles and new energy vehicles, enhancing the equipment's versatility and future applicability. Simultaneously, it offers high positioning accuracy, with 3D visual inspection achieving millimeter-level precision, far exceeding human judgment, ensuring a stable and reliable lifting process and reducing potential damage to the vehicle chassis. Finally, the overall design responds to market demand for intelligent equipment, reducing human error through automation, optimizing the maintenance experience, and driving the automotive service industry towards efficiency, safety, and intelligence, demonstrating broad application prospects and economic benefits.

[0020] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. All technical solutions falling within the scope of the present invention's concept are within the scope of protection of the present invention. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, any improvements and modifications made without departing from the principles of the present invention should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An intelligent car lift with two pillars, characterized in that: The system includes left and right uprights, a vertically movable slide, and a retractable and rotatable support arm hinged to the slide. It also includes a vision detection device, which is fixedly mounted on the support arm or slide to acquire images or three-dimensional data of the vehicle chassis and tire area. A controller, electrically connected to the vision detection device and the various drive mechanisms that drive the slide and support arm, processes the data from the vision detection device to identify the vehicle lifting point and generates control commands to drive the support arm to automatically move below the lifting point.

2. The intelligent car lift according to claim 1, characterized in that: The visual inspection device is a depth camera, a laser 3D scanner, or a binocular vision camera.

3. The intelligent car lift according to claim 1, characterized in that: Each of the aforementioned support arms is independently equipped with a vision detection device at its front end.

4. The intelligent car lift according to claim 1, characterized in that: The controller has a pre-stored database of lifting points for different vehicle models and can automatically match or allow the operator to manually select the corresponding vehicle model based on the identified vehicle characteristics.

5. An automatic positioning method applied to the intelligent vehicle two-post lift according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1: Acquire images of the vehicle's underside or 3D point cloud data; S2: Process the data to identify the spatial coordinates of the vehicle tires and the target lifting point; S3: Based on the coordinates of the target lifting point and the current position of the support arm, plan the movement path of the support arm; S4: Control the support arm to move automatically along the path, so that the end of the support arm is positioned below the target lifting point.

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