Vehicle Roller Inspection Position Control With Adaptive Sensors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle inspection systems face challenges in maintaining vehicle position stability over rollers during unmanned driving, leading to potential deviations that can disrupt inspections, especially at higher rotation speeds or uneven positions.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing a vehicle equipped with unmanned driving capabilities, combined with a first sensor for initial position detection and a second, more accurate sensor, adjusts position control based on predefined conditions to ensure accurate alignment over rollers, employing a controller to switch sensors for enhanced precision as needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the rotation speed of the wheel or roller is increased to improve inspection efficiency, then productivity increases, but the vehicle position shifts to right and left more easily, worsening position stability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinspection efficiencyVSAvoidvehicle position stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the sensor selection and control strategy based on real-time operating conditions. When rotation speed exceeds a predetermined threshold, the controller switches to using the second sensor (with higher accuracy) for position detection, enabling adaptive response to changing stability requirements during high-speed operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the detection parameter (sensor accuracy) based on the rotation speed parameter. By setting a threshold for rotation speed and switching between different sensors with different accuracy characteristics, the system optimizes position detection precision according to the current operational state

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If the first sensor is used for position detection to simplify the system, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision is insufficient, leading to vehicle deviation from the roller

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor system complexityVSAvoidvehicle position detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs dynamic sensor selection rather than using a fixed sensor configuration. The controller determines which sensor to use based on real-time conditions such as rotation speed and position stability requirements, optimizing the balance between system complexity and measurement precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-configures multiple sensors with different accuracy characteristics and establishes predetermined thresholds for switching between them. This preliminary preparation enables rapid response to changing conditions without requiring complex real-time analysis

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If the second sensor with higher accuracy is always used to improve position detection precision, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle position detection accuracyVSAvoidsensor system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of always using the higher-accuracy second sensor, the system applies partial action by selectively using it only when necessary (when rotation speed exceeds threshold or position stability deteriorates). This reduces the overall complexity while maintaining sufficient precision for critical operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational state of the sensor system based on detected parameters. When position detection accuracy becomes insufficient under current operating conditions, the controller switches to the second sensor, thereby adapting the measurement precision to the actual needs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4707769A1system
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP4707769A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4707769A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4707769A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system comprises: a vehicle capable of running by unmanned driving; an inspection facility having a roller to rotate while supporting a wheel of the vehicle; a first sensor that detects the position of the vehicle; a second sensor that detects the position of the vehicle, the second sensor detecting the position of the vehicle with higher accuracy than the first sensor; and a controller that acquires position information about the vehicle using at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor and controls the vehicle using the position information. The controller acquires the position information using the first sensor if a condition set in advance including a provision that the vehicle be over the roller is not fulfilled, and acquires the position information using at least the second sensor if the condition is fulfilled.