Autonomous Vehicle Damage Tracking in Tight Supply Lots

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for tracking vehicle damage in the supply chain are inefficient, prone to human error, and costly, with existing solutions either being too expensive or impractical for widespread implementation, particularly in tight vehicle staging lots.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing autonomous robots equipped with cameras and GPS, capable of capturing high-quality images and VIN numbers, which operate in tight vehicle spacing without modifying existing lot configurations, and a cloud-based software to consolidate and associate images with vehicle records.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If human inspectors manually examine vehicles, then damage can be identified, but human error occurs and inspection quality is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedamage detection accuracyVSAvoidinspection consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical human inspection process with an automated optical inspection system using cameras, image processing algorithms, and computer vision technology. This substitution eliminates human error and fatigue, providing consistent and reliable damage detection across all vehicles inspected.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates digital copies (images) of vehicles at multiple supply chain locations, which can be analyzed without physically handling the vehicles. These digital copies enable repeated examination and comparison to determine when and where damage occurred, eliminating the need for physical re-inspection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Extent of automation

If a drive through garage with cameras is used, then automated image capture is achieved, but the unloading process is significantly slowed down

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage capture automationVSAvoidvehicle unloading speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs image capture as vehicles are naturally positioned in the supply chain workflow, rather than requiring vehicles to stop for inspection. By capturing images during normal positioning operations, the system automates documentation without disrupting the unloading pace.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The automated imaging system captures vehicle images rapidly as vehicles move through the facility, skipping the need for vehicles to pause or slow down. The system processes multiple vehicles in sequence without interrupting the continuous flow of unloading operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

3Extent of automation

If a drive through garage infrastructure is installed, then automated inspection is enabled, but the system becomes significantly more expensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinspection automationVSAvoidinfrastructure requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses existing facility infrastructure (floor space, power, network) for multiple purposes: vehicle positioning, imaging, and data processing. By making the imaging system universal and location-independent, it eliminates the need for specialized drive-through garage structures at each facility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces expensive permanent infrastructure (drive-through garages) with portable, relocatable imaging equipment that can be deployed temporarily at different locations. This approach uses lower-cost, flexible equipment that can be moved as needed rather than building permanent structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Productivity

If human inspectors examine 200 vehicles per day, then inspection coverage is achieved, but only 2 minutes per vehicle is available resulting in poor inspection quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicles inspected per dayVSAvoiddamage detection quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces the time-constrained human inspection process with automated imaging and analysis that can process vehicles rapidly without compromising quality. The automated system captures comprehensive images and analyzes them for damage without the 2-minute time pressure that limits human inspectors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The automated system enables continuous image capture and analysis as vehicles move through the supply chain, eliminating the discrete, time-limited inspection intervals. This continuous process maintains high productivity while ensuring thorough examination of each vehicle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS20250336003A1Vehicle Supply Chain Damage Tracking System

Publication Date: 2025.10.30 FULPRUF TECH CORP

AI summary

A system for capturing VIN numbers and vehicles images to track vehicle damage through vehicle supply chains which includes a mobile software application and/or robot(s) which moves autonomously around parking lots. The mobile application can direct the user to capture VIN images and/or vehicle images from certain views and collect GPS positions of the same and the robot includes various cameras and sensors to identify vehicles and take pictures of them. All of the captured images of vehicles are sent to a central server/storage where the vehicle images can be checked for damage as compared to locations so that it can be determined who was in possession of the vehicle when damage occurred.