Vehicle Ride Height Measurement Using Structured Light
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for determining ride heights in vehicle chassis measurements are cumbersome, error-prone, and lack accuracy due to the need for mechanical aids and varying definitions of ride height, which are influenced by different spring deflections and loading conditions.
Innovation Solution
A method using a structured light pattern projected onto the wheel and surrounding body area, with an imaging sensor system to create a 3D point cloud, adapting a parametric surface model to calculate wheel normal vectors and determine the center of rotation, and evaluating gray value images to precisely measure ride height as the vertical distance between the wheel center and a body point.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If mechanical aids are used to measure ride height, then measurement can be performed, but the process becomes cumbersome and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical measurement aids with an optical measurement system using projectors and imaging sensors. The structured light pattern is projected onto the vehicle, and the deformation of this pattern is captured by cameras to calculate 3D coordinates of measurement points, eliminating the need for physical contact with the vehicle and manual data entry.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an optical copy of the measurement points on the vehicle by projecting a structured light pattern onto them. The deformation of this light pattern captures the spatial information, which is then processed to generate accurate 3D coordinates without physical contact.
2Measurement precision
If feature points are measured mechanically, then distances can be obtained, but exact measurement is difficult due to inaccessibility of points
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses optical projection and imaging to measure feature points that are difficult to access mechanically. The structured light pattern can reach areas that are hard to touch, and the imaging sensors capture the pattern deformation to calculate precise 3D positions without physical contact.
3Reliability
If conventional measurement methods are used, then ride height can be determined, but reliability is reduced due to varying spring deflections and loading conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent measures multiple parameter sets at different positions on the vehicle (wheel rim points, body points, suspension points) to capture the effects of spring deflection and loading conditions. By measuring relative distances between these points rather than absolute values, the system compensates for variations in vehicle state and achieves more reliable results.
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
This approach enhances the reliability and accuracy of ride height measurements, allowing for precise determination of wheel positions and body points, even under varying conditions, and reduces the need for mechanical aids, improving the robustness and speed of the measurement process.
Implementation Method 1
a structured light pattern is projected onto the wheel and an area of the body surrounding the wheel
Implementation Method 2
a light pattern reflected by the wheel and an area of the body surrounding the wheel
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3b
Figure 3c~5
AI summary
A method according to the invention for determining distances for chassis measurement of a vehicle (1) comprising a body (3) and at least one wheel (2), in particular for determining a height level (h), comprises the following steps: determining a centre of rotation (Z) of a wheel (2) of the vehicle by projecting a structured light pattern at least onto the wheel (2), recording a light pattern reflected by the wheel (2) using a calibrated imaging sensor system, determining a 3D point cloud from the reflected light pattern and determining the centre of rotation (Z) of the wheel from the 3D point cloud. The method also comprises determining a point (P) on the body (3) by evaluating the previously determined 3D point cloud or by evaluating a plurality of grey-scale images recorded under unstructured illumination and determining the height level (h) as a vertical distance between the centre of rotation (Z) of the wheel and the point (P) on the body.