Vehicle Damage Tracking With Robotic VIN and Image Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for tracking vehicle damage in the supply chain are inefficient, prone to human error, and costly, with existing solutions either being too expensive to implement or impractical due to space constraints, leading to incorrect identification of responsible parties for vehicle damage.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing autonomous robots equipped with cameras and GPS to capture high-quality images and VIN numbers at precise angles, associating them with GPS locations, and integrating with a cloud-based software to automate the tracking process without altering vehicle spacing or lot configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If human inspectors manually examine vehicles, then damage can be identified, but the inspection process is slow and prone to human error
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual human inspection with an automated robotic system equipped with cameras and image processing algorithms. The robot autonomously navigates to vehicles, captures images from multiple angles, and uses computer vision to detect damage, eliminating human error while maintaining high inspection speed through automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The inspection system performs self-assessment through automated image capture and analysis. The robotic inspector independently identifies damage without human intervention, and the system automatically documents findings with timestamped photos and GPS locations, enabling self-service damage detection throughout the supply chain.
2Extent of automation
If a drive through garage with cameras is used, then automated image capture is achieved, but the unloading process is significantly slowed down
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a mobile robotic system that dynamically adapts to the vehicle staging environment. The robot can autonomously navigate to vehicles in their existing positions without requiring fixed infrastructure or altering vehicle spacing. This dynamic approach allows parallel operation with unloading activities, capturing images without slowing down the unloading process.
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic inspector operates in the spatial dimension by autonomously moving around vehicles to optimal viewing positions. Instead of requiring vehicles to pass through a fixed garage structure, the robot navigates the staging lot environment, capturing images from multiple angles while vehicles remain stationary in their existing locations, thus not impeding unloading flow.
3Measurement precision
If fixed infrastructure such as drive through garage is installed, then automated inspection capability is provided, but the system becomes significantly more expensive and space-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic inspection system is designed as a universal, multi-functional platform that can operate across multiple staging lots and locations without requiring location-specific fixed infrastructure. The single mobile robot can service different areas by autonomously navigating to vehicles, eliminating the need for expensive drive through garages at each location while maintaining consistent inspection quality throughout the supply chain.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a mobile robotic intermediary between the vehicles and the inspection process. Instead of requiring vehicles to pass through fixed garage structures, the robot acts as a mobile inspection station that brings the inspection capability to the vehicles wherever they are staged, reducing infrastructure requirements while maintaining inspection effectiveness.
4Measurement precision
If human inspectors examine vehicles under tight spacing, then damage can be detected, but inspectors cannot position themselves for optimal viewing angles
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic inspector dynamically positions itself relative to each vehicle by autonomously navigating to optimal viewing angles. The robot can move freely around vehicles regardless of tight spacing constraints, adjusting its position to capture clear images of all vehicle surfaces. This dynamic positioning capability eliminates the limitation of fixed inspector positions while maintaining ease of operation through automated navigation.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for capturing VIN numbers and vehicles images to track vehicle damage through vehicle supply chains which includes a mobile software application and/or robot(s) which moves autonomously around parking lots. The mobile application can direct the user to capture VIN images and/or vehicle images from certain views and collect GPS positions of the same and the robot includes various cameras and sensors to identify vehicles and take pictures of them. All of the captured images of vehicles are sent to a central server/storage where the vehicle images can be checked for damage as compared to locations so that it can be determined who was in possession of the vehicle when damage occurred.