Onboard 3D Tire Inspection for Hidden Sidewall and Tread Defects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems fail to provide frequent and accurate tire inspections for self-driving and autonomous vehicles, as human inspection is less frequent and costly, and tire damage may not be visible from a curbside view, posing safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A three-dimensional onboard stereoscopic imaging and inspection system captures and processes images of tire treads and sidewalls, detecting defects and sending alerts and maintenance requests, integrating with vehicle displays and communication systems for real-time monitoring and external reporting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If human inspection of vehicle tires is used, then labor costs are incurred and inspection frequency is reduced, but tire safety monitoring is insufficient and defects not visible from curbside view are missed
Solution Approach 1:
The tire inspection system performs self-monitoring through onboard sensors and imaging units that automatically detect tire pressure, temperature, and visual defects without requiring human intervention. The system serves itself by continuously monitoring its own tire conditions and triggering maintenance alerts autonomously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual human inspection with automated electronic systems including stereoscopic imaging units, pressure sensors, temperature sensors, and image processing algorithms. This substitution eliminates the need for physical human examination while providing continuous, comprehensive monitoring of tire conditions.
2Reliability
If frequent tire inspections are implemented, then tire safety is improved, but labor costs and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tire monitoring system operates continuously throughout vehicle operation, with sensors constantly measuring pressure and temperature, and imaging units capturing tire conditions in real-time. This continuous monitoring eliminates the need for periodic manual inspections while maintaining constant awareness of tire status.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where sensor data and image analysis results are processed by control units that compare current tire conditions against safety thresholds. When deviations are detected, the system automatically generates maintenance alerts and notifies relevant personnel, creating a closed-loop monitoring system.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If stereoscopic imaging units are installed on each tire, then comprehensive tire defect detection is achieved, but device complexity and installation requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system is segmented into independent modular units, with each tire equipped with its own stereoscopic imaging unit, pressure sensor, and temperature sensor. This segmentation allows for independent installation and operation of each tire's monitoring system, simplifying the overall implementation while providing comprehensive coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging units and sensors are designed with multi-functionality, serving multiple purposes including defect detection, wear monitoring, and condition assessment. The stereoscopic imaging system captures both visual defects and three-dimensional surface characteristics, eliminating the need for separate specialized devices.
Data Source
AI summary
An autonomous and non-autonomous vehicle tire imaging and inspection system and methods thereof installed onboard a vehicle providing frequent status for inner and outer tire sidewalls, tire tread wear and tread depth, recorded in memory, transmitted to an onboard diagnostics unit, displayed on a dashboard and optionally transmitted to a network. Autonomous and non-autonomous vehicle vehicles may require passing a safety compliance inspection before driving and receive an insurance compliance approval to operate said vehicles.