3D Vehicle Surface Damage Detection via Mobile Image Capture
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for monitoring damage to car sharing vehicles are time-consuming and unreliable, often leading to overlooked damage, which can cause inconvenience.
Innovation Solution
A system using a mobile device with a camera to capture 360-degree images of a vehicle, building a 3D model, and comparing it to a stored reference model to recognize damage, with user guidance for comprehensive coverage and automatic damage detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual damage checking is performed by the renter, then damage can be identified, but the process is time-consuming and unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical inspection process with an automated optical system. A camera captures images of the vehicle surface, and image processing algorithms automatically detect damage, substituting the renter's manual visual inspection with an automated digital system that is both faster and more reliable.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service damage detection by allowing the renter to simply position the mobile device near the vehicle, while the automated image processing performs the damage analysis without requiring the renter's expertise or time-intensive manual examination.
2Ease of operation
If external damage is marked with stickers on the vehicle, then damage identification is easier, but the external appearance of the vehicle is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of physically marking the vehicle with stickers, the system creates a digital copy or record of damage through image capture and processing. The damage information is stored and displayed digitally, eliminating the need for physical markers that would degrade the vehicle's appearance while maintaining easy damage identification.
3Reliability
If comprehensive damage monitoring is implemented, then all damage can be detected, but the complexity of the monitoring system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a universal mobile device (smartphone or tablet) that the renter already possesses, rather than requiring specialized monitoring equipment. The mobile device's camera and processing capabilities are leveraged to perform comprehensive damage detection, reducing system complexity while maintaining detection completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that handles complex image processing and damage analysis. The mobile device captures images and transmits them to the server, which performs the computationally intensive damage detection algorithms, distributing system complexity across multiple components rather than concentrating it in a single device.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a processor configured to instruct image capture of a vehicle from a plurality of predefined perspectives, the perspectives defined to result in images providing a 360 degree capture of a vehicle surface. The processor is also configured to receive a plurality of images, at least one from each perspective, of a vehicle from a mobile device camera. The processor is further configured to build a 3-D model of the vehicle surface from the images and compare the 3-D model to a stored reference model of the vehicle surface in order to recognize damage to the vehicle.