Machine Vision Wheel Alignment for Service Lift Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle wheel alignment systems face inefficiencies and safety concerns when guiding vehicles onto service lifts, as existing methods provide limited and imprecise information to drivers, risking vehicle and technician safety.
Innovation Solution
The use of a light beam directed along the lift center line and machine vision systems with image sensors and processors to provide visual and positional feedback to operators, ensuring precise alignment and safe vehicle placement on the lift runways.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional methods (convex mirror or second technician) are used to guide vehicle onto lift, then the vehicle can be guided onto the lift, but the process is inefficient, inconvenient, and imprecise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical guidance methods (convex mirror, second technician) with an automated machine vision system using cameras and computer processing to guide the vehicle onto the lift, eliminating manual intervention and improving both precision and efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses cameras to capture images of the vehicle and runways, processes these images to determine vehicle position, and provides real-time feedback to the driver through the display, enabling precise alignment without manual guidance
2Ease of operation
If the lift top surface is positioned 12 to 18 inches above floor level, then the technician has easy access to the underside of the vehicle, but there is a danger to the vehicle and technician if the vehicle is not sufficiently centered on the runways
Solution Approach 1:
The machine vision system provides real-time visual feedback to the driver showing the vehicle's position relative to the runways, enabling the driver to center the vehicle precisely before the lift rises to the working height, thus preventing safety hazards
Solution Approach 2:
The system guides the vehicle onto the runways and ensures proper centering before the lift begins to rise, performing the alignment action in advance to prevent safety issues during the lifting operation
3Ease of operation
If a light beam is directed toward the vehicle along the lift center line, then a visual reference is provided to guide the operator, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The machine vision system performs multiple functions: capturing images, processing images to determine position, and providing guidance feedback, thereby reducing the need for separate dedicated guidance devices and minimizing overall system complexity
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
This solution enables safe and efficient vehicle placement on service lifts by providing clear visual and positional guidance, reducing the risk of accidents and improving the precision of the alignment process.
Implementation Method 1
a beam generator for generating a light beam and directing the light beam toward the vehicle along the lift center line between the runways
Implementation Method 2
one or more cameras view targets attached to the wheels of the vehicle. A computer in the alignment system analyzes the images of the targets to determine wheel position and alignment
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus is provided for guiding a vehicle onto a service lift having a pair of runways for receiving the wheels of the vehicle. In one embodiment, sensors attached to the runways generate sensor signals responsive to a position of the vehicle relative to the runways. The sensor signals are processed to determine and monitor the position of the vehicle relative to the runways, and a visual reference is displayed to guide an operator of the vehicle to drive the vehicle wheels onto the runways. In another embodiment, each runway includes a turntable for receiving the wheels. An actuator is connected to one runway and to its corresponding turntable, and is configured to move the turntable relative to the runway. The sensor signals are processed to determine the position of the vehicle relative to the runways, and to cause the actuator to align the turntable with the vehicle wheel.