Modular Drive-Over Tire Tread Measurement System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drive-over tire tread depth measurement systems struggle to accommodate vehicles with a wide range of axle widths, including single-wheel, super-single, and dual-wheel axles, due to limited fields of view and misalignment issues, leading to partial or missed readings.
Innovation Solution
A modular drive-over vehicle inspection system with multiple tire tread depth measurement sensor modules on each side of the inspection lane, utilizing a common trigger mechanism and image processing to combine data from adjacent sensors, creating a synthesized field of view that encompasses a wider range of axle widths, and includes software to identify and analyze tire tread surfaces and wear patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single sensor unit with a narrow field of view is used, then measurement precision for standard vehicles is improved, but adaptability to vehicles with varying axle widths deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The inspection system is divided into multiple sensor units (first sensor unit and second sensor unit) positioned at different lateral locations. Each sensor unit independently measures tires on its side, allowing the system to accommodate vehicles with various axle widths by activating only the necessary sensors based on vehicle detection
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically activates sensor units based on detected vehicle presence and type. The controller determines which sensor units to activate based on vehicle width and axle configuration, allowing the narrow field of view of each individual sensor to be effectively utilized while achieving wide overall coverage through dynamic sensor selection
2Adaptability or versatility
If sensor units are positioned to cover wide axle widths, then adaptability to different vehicle types is improved, but measurement precision for standard vehicles deteriorates due to field of view misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than using a single sensor unit with a wide field of view, the system segments coverage into multiple sensor units, each with a narrow, precisely aligned field of view. The first sensor unit covers standard vehicle positions while the second sensor unit covers wide axle configurations, ensuring each sensor operates at optimal precision for its designated zone
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the inspection lane are assigned different sensor units with optimized fields of view. The first sensor unit's field of view is optimized for standard vehicle positions, while the second sensor unit's field of view is optimized for wide axle positions. Each sensor unit provides high-quality, precise measurements for its specific local region rather than attempting to cover all regions with reduced precision
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sensor units are deployed, then adaptability to various axle configurations is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple sensor units positioned at different lateral locations to handle different vehicle configurations. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each sensor unit while maintaining overall system versatility through selective activation based on detected vehicle type
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple sensor units are deployed that can serve multiple functions depending on activation. The same sensor units can measure tires on single-wheel axles, dual-wheel axles, and super-single axles by dynamically adjusting which sensors are active, reducing the need for entirely separate measurement systems for each vehicle type
4Ease of operation
If a fixed inspection lane configuration is used, then ease of operation is improved, but adaptability to vehicles with varying track widths deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects and activates appropriate sensor units based on real-time detection of vehicle position, width, and steering angle. This dynamic activation allows the fixed physical lane configuration to effectively adapt to varying vehicle track widths and steering positions, maintaining ease of operation while improving versatility
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 system effectively captures tire tread depth measurements across a wide range of axle configurations, ensuring complete data acquisition and identifying tire wear patterns, including differences between inner and outer tires on dual-wheel axles, thereby improving data accuracy and adaptability for various vehicle types.
Implementation Method 1
The optical sensor units function to capture data representative of reflected illumination from the tire tread surfaces of the wheels on each side of a passing vehicle
Implementation Method 2
Imaging sensors in each sensor unit acquire a sequence of images of the illuminated tread surfaces during the approach to the sensor units
Data Source
AI summary
A modular drive-over vehicle inspection system for measuring tire tread depth at multiple points on each individual wheel of a moving vehicle passing through an inspection lane, and which is capable of accommodating vehicles having a range of axle configurations, including three or more of any combination of single-wheel axles, super-single wheel axles, and dual-wheel axles.