External Camera Vehicle Damage Detection on Transporter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies lack effective methods to detect potential damage to vehicles during transportation, as vehicles are often in a non-operative state without power to operate built-in cameras or monitoring systems.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method using external cameras placed around the vehicle on a transporter to capture images of the vehicle's body at different time instances, with these images being processed to detect changes indicative of damage, such as collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If built-in cameras or monitoring systems are used inside the vehicle, then damage detection capability is improved, but the system cannot operate when the vehicle is in non-operative state without power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an external camera system as an intermediary device mounted on the transporter to capture images of the vehicle during transport. This external system bypasses the limitation of the vehicle's built-in cameras by providing the monitoring function from outside the vehicle, ensuring operation independence from the vehicle's power state
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of placing cameras inside the vehicle (traditional approach), the patent inverts the monitoring approach by placing cameras outside the vehicle on the transporter. This inversion allows the monitoring system to function independently of the vehicle's operational state, solving the power dependency issue
2Measurement precision
If external cameras are placed around the vehicle on the transporter, then damage detection during transport is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The external camera system is designed to serve multiple functions: capturing images of the vehicle during transport, providing damage detection capability, and creating a timestamped record of the vehicle's condition. This multi-functionality justifies the added device complexity by delivering comprehensive monitoring benefits
3Measurement precision
If multiple images are captured at different time instances, then damage detection accuracy is improved, but loss of time for image processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system captures images at predetermined time instances during transport, establishing a time-based monitoring schedule before the actual transport begins. This preliminary planning of image capture intervals allows for systematic damage detection while managing processing time expectations
Solution Approach 2:
The system processes images in sequence and provides feedback by comparing the current image with previous images to detect changes indicating damage. This feedback mechanism enables efficient processing by focusing analysis on detecting changes rather than analyzing each image independently from scratch
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for detecting a potential damage caused to a vehicle when the vehicle is placed on a transporter. The method includes obtaining a first image and a second image taken at different time instances. The first image and the second image are generated by one or more cameras placed around a vehicle on a transporter, and cover a same portion of a body of the vehicle. The method further includes detecting a change between a portion of the first image corresponding to the portion of the body of the vehicle and a portion of the second image corresponding to the portion of the body of the vehicle indicative of a collision. Moreover, the method includes flagging a potential damage to the portion of the body of the vehicle based on the detected change between the first image and the second image.