Mobile Underbody Inspection Vehicle for Departure Obstacle Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle inspection methods struggle to reliably determine if a vehicle can depart safely without obstacles, especially in challenging environments like under elongated vehicles, and require frequent cleaning due to susceptibility to pollution.

Innovation Solution

A procedure and inspection system that utilize a mobile inspection vehicle controlled by an administrative system to record the environment around a vehicle, including the sub-area below it, using sensors and cameras, to determine if obstacles or functional impairments prevent safe departure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If sensors are installed underneath the vehicle to detect obstacles, then the detection capability is improved, but the sensors require frequent cleaning due to contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveobstacle detection capabilityVSAvoidmaintenance frequency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of placing sensors underneath the vehicle (which gets contaminated), the patent inverts the approach by placing sensors on a stationary inspection vehicle that drives underneath the parked vehicle. This reverses which object moves and which remains stationary, solving the contamination problem while maintaining detection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The inspection vehicle acts as an intermediary between the obstacle detection system and the vehicle being inspected. Rather than directly mounting sensors on the inspected vehicle (causing contamination), the inspection vehicle mediates the detection process by positioning itself underneath the parked vehicle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Area of stationary object

If two cameras are rigidly mounted to capture the entire underside of the vehicle, then the coverage area is improved, but the ability to capture all areas remains insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection coverage areaVSAvoidcomplete underside detection

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The inspection vehicle introduces dynamic movement to the detection system. Instead of rigidly mounted fixed cameras, the inspection vehicle can drive along the vehicle to be inspected, dynamically adjusting the detection coverage to capture the entire underside including areas between wheels that static cameras miss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The inspection vehicle adds a temporal dimension to the detection process. By moving along the vehicle over time, the system achieves complete coverage that cannot be obtained with static cameras at a single moment, effectively transforming a 2D coverage problem into a 3D spacetime solution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a drone is used to inspect the vehicle and fly underneath it, then the inspection flexibility is improved, but the energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinspection flexibilityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the aerial mechanical system (drone flying) with a ground-based mechanical system (inspection vehicle driving). This substitution maintains inspection flexibility and adaptability while dramatically reducing energy consumption, as ground-based movement is far more energy-efficient than aerial flight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Measurement precision

If the vehicle must be moving for underbody detection (using stationary sensor systems), then the detection capability is improved, but the application for departure check is not possible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunderbody detection capabilityVSAvoiddeparture check applicability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The inspection vehicle performs the underbody detection action before the vehicle departs. By conducting the inspection while the vehicle is still parked and stationary, the system enables departure checks to be performed preliminarily, ensuring safety before the vehicle moves.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4359260B1Method for inspecting a vehicle, and inspection system

Publication Date: 2025.04.09 ZF CV SYST GLOBAL GMBH

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AI summary

The invention relates to a method for inspecting a vehicle (1) on a site (11a, 11b) with a management system (V), wherein the management system (V) is designed to coordinate vehicles (1) on the site (11a, 11b) and to control an inspection vehicle (20), wherein the inspection vehicle (20) has a sensor system having at least one sensor, having at least the following steps: - determining whether a vehicle (1) on the site (11a, 11b) intends to depart; - generating and transmitting a control command to the inspection vehicle (20) such that the inspection vehicle (20) moves along an inspection path to the parking space (10); - capturing the surroundings (U) around the inspection vehicle (20) at the parking space (10) by means of the sensor system (25) in the inspection vehicle (20) while a capture area (27) of the sensor (26) is aimed at the area (6) underneath the vehicle (1) and/or at the vehicle (1); and - determining, on the basis of the sensor signals (S2), whether there is an obstacle (G) which hinders the departure (A) of the vehicle (1).