ADAS Fixture Placement Using Optical Targets and Guided Projection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems lack a reliable method to guide the proper placement of specialized structures or optical targets for vehicle safety system sensor calibration and alignment, often requiring manual intervention and potential spatial conflicts between support structures.
Innovation Solution
A movable fixture with a gimbaled guidance system that projects visible indicia onto surfaces, coupled with a processing system to control the orientation of cameras and measurement systems, facilitating precise placement of vehicle service fixtures relative to the vehicle or support structure, and enabling verification of proper placement through image evaluation and distance measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual placement methods are used for specialized structures and optical targets, then operator flexibility is maintained, but placement accuracy and efficiency deteriorate due to manual errors and lack of guidance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a guidance system comprising projectors, cameras, and processing systems that act as an intermediary between the operator and the placement task. The system projects visible indicia (lines, shapes, patterns) onto the work surface to indicate precise placement locations for fixtures and targets, while cameras capture images to verify placement accuracy. This intermediary system automates the guidance and verification functions, improving placement accuracy without requiring the operator to manually measure and calculate positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical measurement and positioning methods with an optical-digital system. Instead of using physical measuring tools and manual calculation, the system uses projectors to display visual guides, cameras to capture placement data, and processing systems to evaluate accuracy. This substitution of mechanical methods with optical and digital systems improves both accuracy and efficiency while reducing manual errors.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate fixtures are used for camera mounting and specialized structure support, then functional versatility is achieved, but spatial conflicts and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the camera mounting fixture and the specialized structure support into a single integrated fixture system. The fixture includes a positionable support structure that can hold both cameras and specialized structures (such as calibration targets or alignment fixtures). This merging eliminates spatial conflicts between separate fixtures and reduces the total number of components required, while maintaining the ability to perform multiple functions through the integrated system.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated fixture is designed with universal capabilities to support multiple functions. The positionable support structure can accommodate different types of cameras and specialized structures, and can be positioned at various locations within the work area. The fixture serves both as a mounting platform for cameras and as a support for specialized calibration or alignment structures, thereby reducing the number of separate fixtures needed while maintaining functional versatility.
3Stability of the object's composition
If fixed support structures are used for camera mounting, then structural stability is ensured, but adaptability to different vehicle positions and service areas is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a positionable support structure that can be moved to different locations within the service area and adjusted to various heights and orientations. The structure includes movable components such as sliding rails, adjustable arms, and repositionable mounting points that allow the cameras and specialized structures to be positioned according to the specific requirements of different vehicles and service tasks. This dynamic positioning capability maintains structural stability during measurement while providing adaptability to different configurations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution ensures accurate and efficient placement of vehicle service fixtures, reducing manual errors and spatial conflicts, while allowing for unobstructed operation of machine-vision systems during vehicle inspection and alignment procedures.
Implementation Method 1
at least one gimbaled guidance system disposed to project visible indicia onto surfaces in proximity to the fixture or support structure for guiding relative placement of vehicle service components
Implementation Method 2
A camera crossbeam carried by the fixture or support structure locates the set of cameras in a laterally spaced arrangement, as required to view wheels on each side of a vehicle undergoing measurement, wheel alignment, or inspection
Implementation Method 3
Images acquired by the cameras are conveyed to a wheel alignment processing system configured with suitable software instructions for image evaluation, determining various spatial measurements associated with the observed surfaces, and ultimately for identifying vehicle wheel alignment angles from associated spatial measurements
Implementation Method 4
at least one gimbaled measurement system disposed to acquire data associated with surfaces in proximity to the fixture or support structure for guiding relative placement of vehicle service components
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for guiding placement of a vehicle service external fixture relative to a vehicle undergoing service or inspection. A vehicle service system support structure having at least one camera module is positioned at an initial location within a vehicle service area, and a location of the initial location within a vehicle reference frame is established from images of optical targets secured to the vehicle. The vehicle service system support structure is subsequently repositioned relative to the vehicle to a new position located outside of an external fixture placement region, while maintaining at least one of the observed optical targets within a field of view of the camera module. The new position of the vehicle service system support structure within said vehicle reference frame is determined from target images, and a placement location within the placement region for the external fixture is identified relative to the vehicle.