System and procedure for automatic steering wheel adjustment

Abstract

Disclosed is an automatic steering wheel adjustment system for use in a production line to assist in the wheel alignment process of a vehicle equipped with an OBD (On-Board Diagnostics) system, comprising a scanner for recognizing a vehicle identification number entered into the production line; an antenna connecting the vehicle's OBD to wireless diagnostic communication for sending and receiving data; a robot moving an image capture sensor located at its front end section to the recording position for the steering wheel in the vehicle when the vehicle is in a centered position, using position control; and a control device analyzing the image captured by the image capture sensor to calculate the current steering wheel rotation angle and initializing it by inputting the current steering wheel rotation angle into the steering angle sensor via the diagnostic communication connected to the vehicle's OBD.

Description

AREA

[0001] The present invention relates to a system and a method for automatically adjusting a steering wheel, in particular the present invention relates to a system and a method for automatically adjusting a steering wheel, which makes it possible to automatically adjust a steering angle position and centering of a steering wheel in the manufacturing process of a vehicle. BACKGROUND

[0002] The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present invention and are not intended to represent prior art.

[0003] Generally, wheel alignment is performed on the vehicle as it was originally assembled at the factory. This begins with a steering wheel leveling procedure, in which the steering angle of the steering wheel is set to a zero position to align the center of the steering wheel.

[0004] Fig. Figure 1 shows, for example, the process flow for a conventional axle measurement.

[0005] With reference to the Fig. 1. In conventional wheel alignment procedures, the steering leveling work includes the steps of entering the production line at step S1, installing a wheel straightening machine for angle measurement on a vehicle's steering wheel at step S2, manually centering and fixing the steering wheel in the zero position at step S3, and initializing the steering angle sensor in the centered state at step S4. Subsequently, with the wheel straightening machine still in place, the steps of adjusting the toe and camber angles of each wheel at step S5 and removing the wheel straightening machine to move the vehicle out at step S6 may be included.

[0006] However, since conventional wheel alignment requires a process of mounting and dismounting the wheel straightening machine on the steering wheel for each vehicle in order to measure the current steering angle of the vehicle's steering wheel, there are disadvantages that increase working time, workload and costs.

[0007] Since a worker is supposed to manually align the steering wheel to its zero position while viewing the angle display screen connected to the wheel alignment machine, and the initialization process of entering the reference (zero position) of the steering angle sensor also depends on the worker, there is also the problem that the quality of the vehicle's wheel alignment is affected by human error.

[0008] The information disclosed above in this background section serves only to improve the background understanding with regard to the invention and may therefore contain information that does not constitute prior art which might already be known to people with ordinary technical skills in this country.

[0009] From US patent 2012 / 0143373A1, an automatic steering wheel adjustment system, intended for use in a production line to support a vehicle wheel alignment process, is known; a robot configured to move an image capture sensor to a recording position for the steering wheel by means of position control when the vehicle is in a centered position; and a control device configured to: analyze a recording image from the image capture sensor to calculate a currently rotated angle of the steering wheel; and correct a steering angle sensor.

[0010] JP H10-157653A discloses an automatic steering wheel adjustment system for use in a production line to support a vehicle wheel alignment process; a scanner configured to recognize a vehicle identification number entered in the production line; a measuring device configured to move an image capture sensor to a recording position for the steering wheel by means of position control when the vehicle is in a centered position; and a control device configured to: analyze a recording image from the image capture sensor to calculate a currently rotated angle of the steering wheel; and correct a steering angle sensor. OVERVIEW

[0011] The object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for automatically adjusting a steering wheel in order to directly input a twisted angle of a steering wheel, detected by an image acquisition sensor section of a robot tip, into a steering angle sensor and to correct the steering angle sensor.

[0012] Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a system and method for automatically adjusting a steering wheel to maintain centering during chassis measurement by rotating the steering wheel by the twisted angle using the control of the MDPS.

[0013] The problem is solved by an automatic adjustment system for a steering wheel, which is provided in a production line to support an axle measurement process of a vehicle, with the features of claim 1, and an automatic adjustment method for a steering wheel with the features of claim 11.

[0014] An automatic steering wheel adjustment system, provided in a production line to assist the wheel alignment operation of a vehicle equipped with an OBD, may, according to one aspect of the present invention, include a scanner for recognizing a vehicle identification number entered into the production line; an antenna connecting the vehicle's OBD to wireless diagnostic communication for sending and receiving data; and a robot that, by means of position control, moves an image acquisition sensor located at its front end section into the recording position of the steering wheel in the vehicle when the vehicle is in a centering position.and a control device that analyzes the image captured by the image acquisition sensor to calculate the current steering wheel angle and correct the steering angle sensor by inputting the current steering wheel angle into the steering angle sensor via the diagnostic communication connected to the vehicle's OBD.

[0015] The control device can generate a correction angle of the currently twisted angle and rotate the steering wheel via an MDPS (motorized power steering) control of the vehicle and center the steering wheel to a zero position (zero degrees).

[0016] The control device can lock the MDPS during the vehicle's wheel alignment process to maintain the centered state.

[0017] The control device may include a communication unit for connecting wireless diagnostic communication with the OBD via the antenna; a robot controller that moves the image acquisition sensor into the recording position via a kinematic position control of the robot or returns it to a standby position outside the vehicle; an image processing unit for analyzing the image captured by the image acquisition sensor and calculating the current angle of rotation with respect to a horizontal line; a controller for detecting the vehicle's production entry when the vehicle identification number is received and for querying the vehicle type information and the OBD ID that matches the vehicle identification number in order to connect the diagnostic communication with the OBD; and a database for storing a program and data for the automatic adjustment of the vehicle's steering wheel.

[0018] The image processing unit can compare a second horizontal line, which is analyzed with the steering wheel pattern based on a first predetermined horizontal line in the captured image, to detect the currently rotated angle of the steering wheel.

[0019] The image processing unit can detect the currently rotated angle of the steering wheel by intersecting the second horizontal line with respect to the first horizontal line present on the dashboard or equipment group shape in the captured image.

[0020] The image processing unit can detect the currently rotated angle of the steering wheel by intersecting the second horizontal line with the first horizontal line formed in the image captured by the image sensor.

[0021] Kinematic position information can be set on the robot controller to position the image acquisition sensor horizontally at the recording position and to generate the first virtual horizontal line in the recorded image.

[0022] The control unit can re-analyze the image of the steering wheel, which was captured by the image acquisition sensor after centering the steering wheel using the MDPS, and check whether the first horizontal line as a reference and the second horizontal line of the steering wheel match or not.

[0023] The control unit can re-enter the currently rotated angle into the steering angle sensor and correct the steering angle sensor again if an inconsistency is detected in the currently rotated angle as a result of the check between the first horizontal line and the second horizontal line.

[0024] In some embodiments of the present invention, an automatic adjustment method for a steering wheel provided in a production line may include: connecting to the OBD of the vehicle entering the process line via wireless diagnostic communication to support the vehicle's wheel alignment operation; moving an image acquisition sensor attached to an end section of the robot to a recording position for the steering wheel in the vehicle by means of robot position control when the vehicle is in a centering position; analyzing the image captured by the image acquisition sensor to calculate the current rotation angle of the steering wheel from a horizontal reference line; and inputting the current rotation angle of the steering wheel via diagnostic communication into a steering angle sensor of the vehicle to correct the steering angle sensor as the current steering angle.

[0025] The connection to the vehicle's OBD can include detecting the vehicle's entry into the production line when the scanner recognizes the vehicle identification number; and querying the vehicle type information and the OBD ID associated with the vehicle identification number, and connecting wireless diagnostic communication to the OBD based on the OBD ID.

[0026] The analysis of the image captured by the image sensor can compare a second horizontal line captured in the steering wheel pattern with the first predetermined horizontal line in the image to determine the currently rotated angle of the steering wheel.

[0027] Further features may include: generating a correction angle to turn the currently twisted steering wheel angle to zero degrees after input of the currently twisted steering wheel angle and centering the steering wheel in the zero position by transmitting the steering wheel control signal including the correction angle to an MDPS (motor-driven power steering system) of the vehicle.

[0028] Steering wheel centering may involve checking whether the centering was successful or not by re-analyzing the image of the steering wheel captured by the image capture sensor after receiving the vehicle's centering completion response.

[0029] The verification of whether the centering was successful may include a determination that the centering fails if the first horizontal line does not coincide with the second horizontal line of the steering wheel by comparing the second horizontal line of the steering wheel with the first predetermined horizontal line in the recording image; furthermore, correcting the angle currently rotated between the first horizontal line and the second horizontal line relative to the steering angle sensor and reinitializing the steering angle sensor.

[0030] Furthermore, it may include maintaining the centered state through the MDPS locking of the vehicle during wheel alignment by means of a centering maintenance requirement to the vehicle after the steering wheel has been centered.

[0031] Maintaining centering may involve releasing the vehicle's MDPS lock by sending a centering release request to the vehicle when the wheel alignment process is complete.

[0032] In some embodiments of the present invention, the conventional steering wheel leveling process can be fully automated by detecting the twisted angle of the steering wheel using an image acquisition sensor located at the end section of the robot, and by directly inputting the twisted angle into the steering angle sensor and correcting the steering angle sensor, thereby reducing working time, workload and costs.

[0033] Furthermore, by directly inputting the current steering angle into the steering angle sensor, it is possible to prevent human error through manual operation and mechanical error caused by steering wheel rotation, thus improving the steering wheel's accuracy. Additionally, by supporting steering wheel measurement through rotation of the steering wheel around the zero position via the MDPS control while maintaining centering, the overall process time of the wheel alignment can be reduced by eliminating the assembly and disassembly process of the conventional wheel straightening machine.

[0034] Further areas of application will become apparent from the description contained herein. It is understood that the description and the specific examples serve only for illustration and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. DRAWING FIGURES

[0035] To ensure the invention is easily understood, various embodiments will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows the flowchart for a conventional wheel alignment process. Fig. Figure 2 schematically shows the configuration of an automatic steering wheel adjustment system in an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. Figure 3 shows an image acquisition sensor which, in an embodiment according to the present invention, was brought into the recording position by the robot. Fig. Figure 4 shows a state of a first imaginary horizontal line, which is set in the recording image in an embodiment according to the present invention. Fig. Figure 5 is a block diagram that schematically represents the configuration of a control device in an embodiment according to the present invention. Fig. Figure 6 shows the correction state of the steering wheel in the photographic image in an embodiment according to the present invention. Fig. Figure 7 is a flowchart describing the automatic steering wheel adjustment procedure in an embodiment according to the present invention.

[0036] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention in any way. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] The following description is merely exemplary and is not intended to limit the present invention, its application, or use. It is understood that corresponding reference numbers in the drawings denote similar or related parts and features.

[0038] In the following detailed description, some embodiments of the present invention are shown and described for illustrative purposes only. Those skilled in the art will recognize that some embodiments of the present invention can be modified in various ways without departing from the inventive idea or the scope of protection of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions are to be regarded as descriptive in nature and in no way limiting. The same reference numerals throughout the description denote the same elements. Unless expressly stated otherwise, in the description, the word "include" and variations such as "includes" or "containing" are to be understood as implying the inclusion of specified elements, but not the exclusion of other elements.Furthermore, the suffixes "-er", "-or", and "modul" specified in the description denote units for processing at least one function and operation and can be implemented by hardware components or software components and combinations thereof. An automatic steering wheel adjustment system and a method for this system are described in detail below with reference to drawings in several embodiments of the present invention.

[0039] Fig. Figure 2 schematically shows the configuration of an automatic steering wheel adjustment system in some embodiments of the present invention.

[0040] On the Fig. 2 With reference to, an automatic steering wheel adjustment system 100 in some embodiments of the present invention may include a scanner 110, an antenna 120, a robot 130, an image acquisition sensor 140 and a control device 150 that interact with a vehicle 10 entering an axle measurement process.

[0041] The vehicle 10 with OBD 11 is assembled via several production lines along the conveyor belt and, in some embodiments of the present invention, enters a production line for axle measurement.

[0042] The vehicle 10 may include an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 12, a steering angle sensor 13 and an MDPS (Motorized Power Steering System) 14, which work together with the OBD 11 to automatically adjust the steering wheel.

[0043] The OBD 11 communicates diagnostic information with the control unit 150 via the antenna 120 as a communication device to support wireless inspection of the vehicle.

[0044] The OBD 11 sends and receives data via the diagnostic communication connected to the control device 150 using the unique identification information (OBD-ID) and can be connected via the diagnostic communication (e.g. CAN) in the vehicle to the ECU 12, the steering angle sensor 13 and the MDPS 14.

[0045] The ECU 12 is a higher-level control unit for controlling various electronic devices installed in the vehicle 10 and can control sub-control units configured for each electronic device.

[0046] The steering angle sensor 13 can detect a change in the steering angle due to the steering wheel being turned (rotated). The steering angle sensor 13 stores the currently rotated angle of the steering wheel, which it receives from the ECU 12, as the current steering angle, which must be corrected by the currently rotated angle. This initializes the reference angle for detecting the steering angle change according to the subsequent steering wheel operation.

[0047] When the steering wheel control signal is received from the ECU 12, the MDPS 14 drives the corresponding motor to align the steering wheel to the 0-degree position / zero position and serves to maintain centering during the wheel alignment process.

[0048] The steering wheel control signal can include a correction angle for centering by rotating the steering wheel to a zero position by the currently rotated angle after the steering angle sensor 13 has been corrected.

[0049] The scanner 110 obtains the vehicle identification number (VIN) by recognizing the barcode attached to the vehicle body of the vehicle 10 entering the production line and transmitting the vehicle identification number (VIN) to the control unit 150.

[0050] Although the scanner 110 is described as a barcode scanner, it is not limited to this and can be configured as a reader to detect the RFID or the tag in which the identification information of the vehicle 10 is recorded.

[0051] The antenna 120 can be connected to the OBD 11 of the vehicle 10, which enters the production line via wireless diagnostic communication, and forwards the data sent / received between the control device 150 and the vehicle 10. The antenna 120 can consist of a short-range directional antenna and be positioned at several intervals along a conveyor belt on which the vehicle 10 moves.

[0052] The robot 130 can consist of a multi-jointed manipulator that is provided in a body centering position, and the robot 130 moves the image acquisition sensor 140 attached to the tip end into the recording position of the steering wheel by means of a predefined kinematic position control.

[0053] Fig. Figure 3 shows, for example, the image acquisition sensor which was brought into the recording position by the robot according to the present invention.

[0054] With reference to the Fig. 3. The image capture sensor 140 can include a camera and lighting, penetrate the interior of the vehicle through the driver's seat window and be fixed at a recording position facing the steering wheel.

[0055] The image capture sensor 140 analyzes the image captured at the recording position and measures the existing twisted angle of the steering wheel based on a reference angle (hereinafter defined as zero) in which the steering wheel is centered.

[0056] For example, the image capture sensor 140 can detect the currently rotated angle of the steering wheel by comparing a second horizontal line L2 formed on the steering wheel with a first horizontal line L1 that is present in the shape of the dashboard.

[0057] The first horizontal line L1 can be set to a horizontal line (e.g. bottom line) that is formed in the device group.

[0058] The image capture sensor 140 detects the steering wheel pattern, which is a symmetrical structure of left and right sides, and compares it with the first horizontal line L1 by generating a second horizontal line L2 that horizontally connects any two symmetrical points left and right.

[0059] This allows the image capture sensor to record 140, as in Fig. 3 shows the currently rotated angle at -10 degrees in the left direction of the steering wheel and delivers it to the control device 150.

[0060] Fig. Figure 4, however, shows the first virtual horizontal line in the recorded image in some embodiments of the present invention.

[0061] With reference to Fig. 4 Some embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the first horizontal line L1 formed on the dashboard and can generate a first virtual horizontal line L1 on the image captured by the image capture sensor 140.

[0062] The first horizontal line L1 of the image acquisition sensor 140 intersects at least one point on the second horizontal line L2, which is formed in the steering wheel, so that it detects the currently rotated angle (e.g. -10 degrees) of the steering wheel from the point of intersection.

[0063] The control device 150 can consist of a computer system which, in some embodiments of the present invention, controls the entire process of automatically adjusting the steering wheel.

[0064] Fig. Figure 5 shows a block diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of a control device in some embodiments of the present invention.

[0065] Referring to the Fig. 5 In some embodiments of the present invention, the control device 150 may include a communication unit 151, a robot controller 152, an image processing unit 153, a controller 154 and a database 155.

[0066] The communication unit 151 can include a wireless communication module 151-1, which connects wireless diagnostic communication with the OBD 11 of the vehicle 10 via the antenna 120, and a wired communication module 151-2, which works with other systems such as an MES (manufacturing system) via the Internet.

[0067] The robot controller 152 stores kinematic setting information for the position control of the robot 130 and controls the process of moving the image acquisition sensor 140 into the recording position in the vehicle or into a waiting position outside the vehicle.

[0068] The kinematic setting information can be adjusted so that the robot 130 can position the image acquisition sensor 140 horizontally at the recording position to generate the first virtual horizontal line L1 in the recording image.

[0069] The image processing unit 153 analyzes the image of the steering wheel, which was captured by the image acquisition sensor 140, in order to calculate the currently rotated angle.

[0070] The image processing unit 153 can detect the currently rotated angle of the steering wheel by crossing the second horizontal line L2, which was analyzed with the steering wheel pattern based on the first horizontal line L1.

[0071] The control unit 154 is a central processing unit which, in some embodiments of the present invention, controls the operation of each part by means of an algorithm for the automatic adjustment of the steering wheel.

[0072] The control unit 154 detects the entry of vehicle 10 into production when the vehicle identification number (VIN) captured by scanner 110 is received, and queries the vehicle type information in the MES (manufacturing system) based on the vehicle identification number (VIN) and the OBD ID attached to vehicle 10.

[0073] The control unit 154 identifies the specifications applicable to the vehicle based on the vehicle type information and connects the diagnostic communication with the OBD 11 of the vehicle 10 based on the OBD ID.

[0074] In this context, the connection of the diagnostic communication based on the OBD-ID means that the control unit 154 is connected to the ECU 12, the steering angle sensor 13 and the MDPS 14 in the vehicle 10 via the OBD 11.

[0075] The control unit 154 transmits the current twisted angle (e.g. -10 degrees) via diagnostic communication to the ECU 12 of the vehicle 10 when the current twisted angle of the steering wheel in the vehicle 10 is detected by the image acquisition sensor 140 and the image processing unit 153.

[0076] At this point, the ECU 12 inputs the received current twisted angle (e.g. -10 degrees) as the current steering angle of the steering angle sensor 13, which is corrected with the received current twisted angle.

[0077] This means that the control unit 154 recognizes the pattern of the steering wheel through image recognition, recognizes the currently rotated angle and initializes the steering angle sensor 13 by directly inputting the currently rotated angle into the steering angle sensor 13.

[0078] This has the advantage that, unlike conventional steering wheel leveling procedures, the worker no longer has to manually adjust the wheel straightening machine and turn the steering wheel to the zero position.

[0079] Furthermore, the conventional steering wheel leveling method has a disadvantage in which an error in centering occurs, since when the steering wheel is turned in the zero position, a mechanical play is inevitably created between a steering wheel, a universal joint column and a gear pinion, etc.

[0080] In contrast, the present disclosure has an advantage that can prevent the mechanical error, since the currently rotated angle is directly entered into the steering angle sensor 13 without turning the steering wheel.

[0081] On the other hand, after initializing the steering angle sensor 13, the control unit 154 generates a steering wheel control signal to correct the currently rotated angle to zero degrees and sends the signal via diagnostic communication to the MDPS 14 of the vehicle 10 to turn the steering wheel to the zero position.

[0082] Fig. Figure 6 shows, for example, the correction state of the steering wheel in the image taken in some embodiments of the present invention.

[0083] With reference to the Fig. 6 In some embodiments of the present invention, the control unit 154 can generate the steering wheel control signal to rotate the steering wheel by +10 degrees when the currently rotated angle is -10 degrees, in order to transmit it to the ECU 12.

[0084] The ECU 12 then drives the motor of the MDPS 14 based on the received steering wheel control signal and centers the steering wheel by rotating it +10 degrees to the zero position.

[0085] Furthermore, the controller 154 can re-analyze the image of the steering wheel captured by the image capture sensor 140 after the steering wheel control with the MDPS 14 is completed, to check whether the first horizontal line L1 and the second horizontal line L2 match or not.

[0086] As a result of the verification, the re-captured currently rotated angle can be entered again into the steering angle sensor 13, which is reinitialized by correction if the first horizontal line L1 and the second horizontal line L2 are not aligned so that the currently rotated angle is detected again.

[0087] For this purpose, the controller 154 sets the image acquisition sensor 140 in the recording position until the centering control of the steering wheel via the MDPS 14 is completed, and returns to the original ready position via the controller of the robot 130 if the centering check is successful.

[0088] On the other hand, the control unit 154 requests the steering wheel centering control from the ECU 12 and maintains the centering during the axle measurement process by braking the motor of the MDPS 14.

[0089] This allows for stable axle alignment without fixing the steering wheel using the conventional wheel straightening machine.

[0090] Database 155 stores a program and data for the automatic adjustment of the steering wheel of the control device 150 and the data generated according to the operation of the control device 150.

[0091] On the other hand, in some embodiments of the present invention, a method for automatically adjusting the steering wheel of a vehicle, based on the configuration of the automatic adjustment system 100 of a steering wheel described above, is described with reference to a flowchart in which the control device 150 and the vehicle 10 cooperate.

[0092] Fig. Figure 7 shows a flowchart outlining an automatic adjustment procedure for a steering wheel in some embodiments of the present invention.

[0093] Referring to the Fig. 7 In some embodiments of the present invention, the control device 150 recognizes the manufacturing entry of the vehicle 10 when the vehicle identification number (VIN) detected by the scanner 110 is received at step S101.

[0094] At step S102, the control device 150 queries the vehicle type information and the OBD-ID of the vehicle 10, which matches the vehicle identification number (VIN), and connects the wireless diagnostic communication to the OBD 11 located on the vehicle 10, based on the OBD-ID.

[0095] At this point, the control unit 150 can open the driver's seat window by first sending the window opening command to the vehicle's ECU when diagnostic communication is connected.

[0096] When the vehicle body is positioned in the centering position, the control device 150 moves the image acquisition sensor 140 attached to the front end section into the recording position of the steering wheel in the vehicle by means of the position control of the robot 130 at step S103.

[0097] The control device 150 photographs the steering wheel image through the image acquisition sensor 140 at step S104 and analyzes the captured image to calculate the currently rotated angle of the steering wheel from the horizontal reference line at step S105.

[0098] The control device 150 can then analyze the image captured by the image acquisition sensor 140 and detect the currently rotated angle of the steering wheel by comparing the second horizontal line L2 detected in the steering wheel pattern with the first horizontal line L1.

[0099] The control device 150 transmits the currently twisted steering angle of the steering wheel via diagnostic communication and corrects the current steering angle of the steering angle sensor 13 at step S106.

[0100] Then the steering angle sensor 13 of the vehicle 10 initializes the reference angle for detecting the steering angle change by storing the currently rotated steering angle of the steering wheel as the current steering angle at step S107.

[0101] When the initialization completion response is received from vehicle 10, the control device 150 determines that the initialization (correction) of the steering angle sensor 13 of vehicle 10 is complete.

[0102] The control device 150 generates a correction angle to rotate the currently twisted angle of the steering wheel to zero degrees at step S109 and transmits the steering wheel control signal, including this, to the vehicle 10 at step S110.

[0103] Then, based on the received steering wheel control signal, vehicle 10 drives the motor of the MDPS 14 for centering, thereby turning the steering wheel to the zero position at step S111.

[0104] When the response indicating completion of the centering is received from vehicle 10 at step S112, the control device 150 can re-analyze the image of the steering wheel captured by the image acquisition sensor 140 at step S113 to check whether the centering is successful or not.

[0105] If the second horizontal line L2 of the steering wheel does not match the first horizontal line L1 (No at step S113), the control device 150 determines that the centering has failed and returns to step S109 to regenerate the zero position correction angle in order to perform the steering wheel control operation.

[0106] On the other hand, if the second horizontal line L2 of the steering wheel matches the first horizontal line L1 (Yes at step S113), the control device 150 determines that the centering check is successful and returns the image acquisition sensor 140 to its original ready position by controlling the robot 130 at step S114.

[0107] The above process can be considered a waiting process to prepare for the wheel alignment process W / A of the vehicle; the wheel alignment process W / A is described below.

[0108] After successful verification at step S115, the control device 150 requests that the centering be maintained for vehicle 10.

[0109] Then, in step S116, the vehicle can be locked so that the steering wheel maintains its centered state through the MDPS locking mechanism.

[0110] When the MDPS locking completion response is received from vehicle 10 at step S117, the control device 150 sends a start message for the wheel alignment to the control unit (not shown) of the wheel alignment process in order to perform the toe and camber adjustment at step S118.

[0111] If a completion message regarding the axle alignment is received in step S119, the control device 150 then sends a request to release the centering to the vehicle 10 in step S120.

[0112] Then, at step S121, vehicle 10 releases the MDPS lock and responds to control device 150.

[0113] The control device 150 terminates the diagnostic communication connection with the OBD of vehicle 10 when the MDPS locking release response is received from vehicle 10 at step S122, and at step S122 saves the steering wheel adjustment and axle alignment process history of the vehicle in question in the database 155.

[0114] After that, vehicle 10 is moved to the next production step.

[0115] In some embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to reduce working time, workload and costs by fully automating the conventional steering wheel leveling process through the method of detecting the twisted angle of the steering wheel using the image acquisition sensor attached to the tip section of the robot and directly inputting the twisted angle into the steering angle sensor to be initialized.

[0116] Furthermore, it is possible to prevent human error through manual operation by directly inputting the currently rotated angle into the steering angle sensor and preventing mechanical error through rotation of the steering wheel, thereby improving the eccentric quality of the steering wheel.

[0117] Furthermore, by supporting steering wheel measurement in a state where the centering is maintained, in order to rotate the steering wheel to the zero position via the MDPS control, it is possible to shorten the process time of the entire axle measurement by eliminating the conventional assembly and disassembly of the wheel straightening machine.

[0118] Although the present invention has been described with respect to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above, and various other modifications are possible.

[0119] For example, in some embodiments of the Fig. Figure 7 of the present invention describes that the control device 150 generates a correction angle for rotating the current twisted angle detected by the image acquisition sensor 140 by 0 degrees.

[0120] However, if the waiting position and the wheel alignment position are separate, it can be assumed that the steering wheel may be turned while the vehicle is moving into the W / A position.

[0121] Therefore, some embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto, and after successful completion of the centering check, the control device 150 determines the current steering angle of the steering angle sensor 13 through diagnostic communication and can generate a correction angle in the magnitude by which the steering angle is changed.

[0122] Even if the steering wheel is turned while the vehicle is moving from the waiting position to the W / A position, centering and maintenance control by the MDPS are therefore possible by detecting the current steering angle of the steering angle sensor 13 without the image acquisition sensor 140.

[0123] It is understood that the present invention is not limited to the device and / or method described above, but can be embodied by a program for realizing functions corresponding to the configuration of the present invention and a recording medium or the like on which the program is recorded, and that the present invention can be easily implemented by those skilled in the art in the field to which the present invention belongs, based on the description of the embodiments of the present invention described above. Reference sign 100 automatic steering wheel adjustment system 110 scanners 120 antenna 130 robots 140 image capture sensor 150 Control device 151 Communication unit 152 Robot control 153 Image processing unit 154 Control 155 database 10 vehicles 11 OBD12: ECU 13 Steering angle sensor 14 MDPS

Claims

Automatic steering wheel adjustment system (100) for use in a production line to support a wheel alignment process of a vehicle (10) equipped with an on-board diagnostics (OBD) system (11), comprising: a scanner (110) configured to recognize a vehicle identification number entered in the production line; an antenna (120) configured to connect the OBD system (11) to wireless diagnostic communication for sending and receiving data; a robot (130) configured to move an image acquisition sensor (140) to a recording position for the steering wheel by means of position control when the vehicle (10) is in a centered position; and a control device (150) configured to: analyze a recording image from the image acquisition sensor (140) to calculate a currently rotated angle of the steering wheel;and Correcting a steering angle sensor (13) by inputting the currently rotated angle of the steering wheel into the steering angle sensor (13) via wireless diagnostic communication.; System (100) according to claim 1, wherein the control device (150) is configured to: generate a correction angle of the currently rotated angle; and rotate the steering wheel by means of a control (154) of a motor-driven power steering system (MDPS) (14); and center the steering wheel in a zero position. System (100) according to claim 2, wherein the control device (150) is configured to lock the MDPS control (154) during the axle measurement process of the vehicle (10) in order to maintain the centered steering wheel. System (100) according to claim 1, wherein the control device (150) comprises: a communicator (151) configured to connect wireless diagnostic communication with the OBD (11) via the antenna (120); a robot controller (152) configured to move the image acquisition sensor (140) to the recording position for the steering wheel via a kinematic position control of the robot (130) or to move the image acquisition sensor (140) to a standby position outside the vehicle (10); an image processing processor configured to: analyze the recorded image from the image acquisition sensor (140); and calculating the currently rotated angle against a horizontal line (L2, L1); a controller (154) configured to: detect the entry of the vehicle (10) into the production line when the vehicle identification number is received; verify vehicle type information and an OBD ID that matches the vehicle identification number;and connecting the wireless diagnostic communication with the OBD (11); and a database (155) which is set up to store a program and data for the automatic adjustment of the vehicle's steering wheel (10). System (100) according to claim 4, wherein the image processing processor is configured to: compare a second horizontal line (L2) with a first horizontal line (L1) in the image captured by the image capture sensor, wherein the second horizontal line is analyzed using a steering wheel pattern; and detect the currently rotated angle of the steering wheel. System (100) according to claim 5, wherein the image processing processor is configured to: detect the currently rotated angle of the steering wheel by intersecting the second horizontal line (L1) with the first horizontal line (L2) located on a dashboard or device group shape in the image captured by the image acquisition sensor (140). System (100) according to claim 5, wherein the image processing processor is configured to detect the currently rotated angle of the steering wheel by crossing the second horizontal line (L2) against the first horizontal line (L1) formed in the recording image of the image acquisition sensor (140). System (100) according to claim 7, wherein the robot controller (152) is configured to: position the image acquisition sensor (140) horizontally relative to the recording position; and set kinematic position information to generate the first virtual horizontal line in the recording image of the image acquisition sensor (140). System (100) according to claim 4, wherein the control (154) is configured to: re-analyze the image of the steering wheel captured by the image acquisition sensor (140) after centering the steering wheel using the control (154) of the MDPS (14); and determine whether the first horizontal line (L1) and the second horizontal line (L2) coincide, wherein the first horizontal line (L1) is set as the reference line. System (100) according to claim 9, wherein the control (154) is configured to input the currently rotated angle again into the steering angle sensor (13) if the determination shows that the first horizontal line (L1) and the second horizontal line (L2) do not match. An automatic steering wheel adjustment procedure for a production line to support a wheel alignment process of a vehicle (10) equipped with an on-board diagnostics (OBD) system (11), comprising: connecting to the OBD system (11) via wireless diagnostic communication when the vehicle (10) enters the production line; moving an image acquisition sensor (140) into a recording position for the steering wheel by means of a robot position control system when the vehicle (10) is in a centered position; analyzing a recording image from the image acquisition sensor (140) to calculate a current steering wheel rotation angle from a horizontal reference line (L2, L1); and inputting the current steering wheel rotation angle via wireless diagnostic communication into a steering angle sensor (13) to initialize the steering angle sensor (13) as the current steering angle. The method of claim 11, wherein connecting to the OBD (11) via wireless diagnostic communication comprises: detecting the entry of the vehicle (10) into the production line when a scanner (110) captures a vehicle identification number; verifying vehicle type information and an OBD ID that matches the vehicle identification number; and connecting the wireless diagnostic communication to the OBD (11) based on the OBD ID. The method of claim 11, wherein analyzing the image captured by the image capture sensor (140) comprises: comparing a second horizontal line (L2) with a first horizontal line (L1) in the image captured by the image capture sensor (140), wherein the second horizontal line (L2) is analyzed with a steering wheel pattern; and detecting the currently rotated angle of the steering wheel. The method of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises: generating a correction angle of the currently twisted angle in order to rotate the currently twisted angle of the steering wheel to a zero position; and centering the steering wheel to the zero position by transmitting a steering wheel control signal that transmits the correction angle of the currently twisted angle to a motor-driven power steering system (MDPS) (14) of the vehicle (10). Method according to claim 14, wherein centering the steering wheel comprises: assessing successful centering by re-analyzing the image captured by the image capture sensor (140) after receiving a completeness response from the vehicle (10) regarding centering. The method of claim 15, wherein the success assessment of the centering comprises: determining that the centering has failed if the first horizontal line (L1) does not match the second horizontal line (L2) in the recorded image when compared; and reinserting the currently rotated angle between the first horizontal line (L1) and the second horizontal line (L2) into the steering angle sensor (13) and reinitializing the steering angle sensor (13). Method according to claim 14, wherein the method further comprises: maintaining a centered state by an MDPS locking of the vehicle (10) during the axle alignment process by a centering maintenance request to the vehicle (10) after the steering wheel has been centered. Method according to claim 17, wherein maintaining the centered alignment state comprises: releasing the MDPS lock of the vehicle (10) by transmitting a centering release request to the vehicle (10) when the axle alignment process is completed.

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