Convex Mirror Vehicle Undercarriage Inspection System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle inspection systems, particularly those using hydraulic lifts and mirror-on-a-stick methods, are impractical, labor-intensive, and produce suboptimal results due to their bulkiness, weight, and inefficiencies in generating composite images, leading to delays and inaccuracies in security checkpoints.
Innovation Solution
A Convex Integrated Vehicle Inspection and Security System (C-IVISS) utilizing a convex mirror and high-speed camera, which captures images at high frame rates to produce accurate, lightweight, and portable composite images, enabling efficient and rapid inspection of vehicle undersides without the need for multiple cameras or heavy mirrors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If straight mirrors are used in UVISS systems, then the scanning unit can capture images of the vehicle underside, but the unit becomes very bulky and heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces straight mirrors with convex mirrors. The convex mirror's curved surface allows a single mirror to capture a wider field of view of the vehicle underside, eliminating the need for multiple large straight mirrors. This curvature principle directly reduces the size and weight of the scanning unit while maintaining image capture capability.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple cameras are used to cover the full width of the vehicle, then the inspection coverage is improved, but the composite image generation becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of multiple cameras into a single camera system that uses a convex mirror. Instead of using multiple cameras to achieve wide coverage, the convex mirror reflects light from the entire vehicle underside into a single camera, merging the coverage function and image capture function into one component, thereby eliminating time-consuming stitching operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The convex mirror creates an optical copy or reflection of the entire vehicle underside in a single captured image. This optical copying mechanism allows the system to obtain complete coverage without physically placing multiple cameras at different positions, thus avoiding the need for multiple image captures and subsequent stitching.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple cameras offset by predetermined degree intervals are used, then the full width coverage is achieved, but the stitching process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The convex mirror's curved geometry naturally maps the wide field of view into a single captured image plane. This geometric transformation eliminates the need for complex stitching algorithms that would be required to combine multiple offset camera views. The mirror's shape performs the spatial transformation optically rather than computationally.
4Ease of operation
If hydraulic lifts are used to raise the vehicle, then the inspector can access the underside, but the system becomes expensive and requires the vehicle to be motionless
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical hydraulic lift system with an optical inspection system. Instead of mechanically raising the vehicle to provide access, the convex mirror optically brings the vehicle underside into view while the vehicle remains stationary on the ground. This substitution eliminates expensive mechanical lifting infrastructure while maintaining inspection accessibility.
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 C-IVISS system provides high-resolution, quickly generated composite images, reducing delays and improving accuracy in detecting foreign objects, making it suitable for high-speed vehicle inspections and enhancing security checkpoint efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an underside enclosure housing a single image capture device operatively associated with a convex mirror for capturing an image strips from the convex mirror of the entire underside of a vehicle passing over the underside enclosure
Data Source
AI summary
A convex integrated vehicle inspection and security system embodying a convex parabolic mirror placed at a 45-degree angle and operatively associated with an image capture device capable of capturing a series of image strips at frame rates of up to 900/second. The single image capture device collects light and images using the convex mirror such a way that the composite image of the image strips can be presented as a panoramic image, wherein the panoramic image is displayed as a rectangle where the horizontal direction represents the width of the undercarriage of the vehicle.