Non-contact Vehicle Wheel Alignment Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle wheel alignment measurement systems require vehicles to be stationary, which is inefficient and may lead to undetected alignment issues, especially during busy times when technicians cannot perform thorough inspections on every vehicle.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle measurement station using laser displacement sensors and imaging sensors positioned on both sides of a drive-through inspection lane to acquire measurements as vehicles move, allowing for quick and non-contact assessment of wheel alignment without the need for technicians to attach or remove sensors, and accounting for variations in speed and steering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If vehicle wheel alignment measurement systems require vehicles to be stationary for measurement, then measurement accuracy can be maintained under controlled conditions, but inspection efficiency decreases and alignment issues may remain undetected during busy times
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static measurement (vehicle stationary) to dynamic measurement (vehicle moving). The measurement system is designed to capture alignment data while the vehicle is in motion, allowing continuous operation without requiring the vehicle to stop, thereby maintaining productivity while acquiring necessary measurement data
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary alignment checks during the vehicle's passage through the inspection lane before the vehicle leaves the service area. This allows quick identification of vehicles needing alignment service, enabling technicians to prepare for subsequent detailed measurements or adjustments without delaying the vehicle unnecessarily
2Measurement precision
If technicians manually attach and remove optical targets or angle sensors to vehicle wheels for measurement, then measurement accuracy can be ensured, but the process requires significant time and technician involvement
Solution Approach 1:
The system eliminates the need for technician intervention in attaching and removing sensors. The vehicle itself passes through the inspection lane, and the alignment measurements are captured automatically by the stationary measurement system, freeing technicians from time-consuming manual preparation tasks
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces mechanical attachment of physical sensors (optical targets or angle sensors) with non-contact optical measurement technology. Lasers and cameras capture wheel alignment data remotely, eliminating the need for physical sensor attachment and removal while maintaining measurement capability
3Productivity
If multiple sensors are positioned to observe moving vehicle wheels, then non-contact measurement can be achieved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines multiple measurement functions into an integrated setup. Multiple sensors (lasers and cameras) are positioned to simultaneously capture data from both wheels, and the processing system correlates measurements from both sides to determine alignment parameters, reducing overall system complexity through functional integration
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses laser spots as intermediary markers on the wheel surfaces. These laser spots serve as reference points that the cameras can track to determine wheel position and orientation, simplifying the measurement process by providing clear, easily detectable features for image processing algorithms to analyze
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
Enables rapid acquisition of preliminary vehicle measurements as vehicles pass through the inspection lane, improving the efficiency of identifying alignment needs and reducing the likelihood of missed alignment issues during service.
Implementation Method 1
a laser spot is projected onto the surface of a moving vehicle from a stationary sensor
Implementation Method 2
measurement data representative of the distance between the sensor and two or more spaced apart points on each vehicle wheel assembly is acquired
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle measurement station utilizing one or more displacement sensors disposed on each opposite side of an inspection region of a vehicle inspection lane to acquire displacement measurement data along associated measurement axes. At least a portion of the displacement measurement data is associated with the outermost wheel assemblies on an axle of a moving vehicle passing through the inspection region, and utilized to determine one or more vehicle characteristics, such as an axle total toe condition.