A wheel alignment system includes a side-to-side reference including an active reference pod and a passive reference pod disposed on opposite sides of the vehicle. The active reference pod includes a reference image sensor fixedly attached to a reference target, for mounting on a first side of the vehicle such that the reference image sensor produces image data including a perspective representation of the passive reference pod disposed on a second/opposite side of the vehicle. In operation, alignment cameras on the opposite sides of the vehicle capture perspective representations of targets mounted to vehicle wheels and of targets of the active and passive reference pods. A computer processes the image data to compute an alignment measurement of the vehicle based on a spatial relationship between the active reference pod and the passive reference pod determined according to the image data produced by the reference image sensor.

A wheel alignment system includes a side-to-side reference including an active reference pod and a passive reference pod disposed on opposite sides of the vehicle. The active reference pod includes a reference image sensor fixedly attached to a reference target, for mounting on a first side of the vehicle such that the reference image sensor produces image data including a perspective representation of the passive reference pod disposed on a second/opposite side of the vehicle. In operation, alignment cameras on the opposite sides of the vehicle capture perspective representations of targets mounted to vehicle wheels and of targets of the active and passive reference pods. A computer processes the image data to compute an alignment measurement of the vehicle based on a spatial relationship between the active reference pod and the passive reference pod determined according to the image data produced by the reference image sensor.

The disclosure provides a method and auxiliary target for aligning a calibration device to a vehicle. The calibration device includes a calibration bracket and a calibration laser emitter. The calibration bracket includes a crossbar. The method includes: placing a vehicle on a horizontal plane; setting a calibration center point; turning on the calibration laser emitter, so that the calibration laser emitter emits two fan-shaped beams, the two fan-shaped beams forming, on the horizontal plane, a first laser line and a second laser line that intersect and are perpendicular to each other; and adjusting a position of the crossbar, so that a point of intersection of the first laser line and the second laser line coincides with the calibration center point and the first laser line coincides with the line of intersection of the central axial plane of the vehicle and the horizontal plane.

A target installation apparatus for installing a target for aiming equipment mounted on a vehicle comprises: a reference point setting unit configured to set vehicle-side reference points on both exterior sides in a vehicle width direction of the vehicle, wherein the reference point setting unit includes: a rod-shaped member that extends in the vehicle width direction with respect to the vehicle and that is arrangeable to abut both tires of the vehicle; and a pair of reference point forming units that are attached to the rod-shaped member to be positioned on both the exterior sides of the vehicle in the case of being arranged with respect to the vehicle and that include marks formed to respectively indicate the reference points, and wherein the pair of reference point forming units respectively include moving portions that move the reference points in a front-and-rear direction of the vehicle.

A support structure having a vertical element supporting a set of cameras associated with a vehicle measurement or inspection system together with at least one target structure required for realignment or recalibration of onboard vehicle safety system sensors. A camera crossbeam carried by the support structure locates the set of cameras as required to view a vehicle undergoing measurement or inspection. The target structure is affixed to the vertical element of the support structure, at an elevation suitable for observation by at least one vehicle onboard sensors during a realignment or recalibration procedure. A set of rollers facilitates positioning of the target structure on a supporting floor surface during a realignment or recalibration procedure.

A sensor calibration tool, in particular for calibrating sensors on a vehicle, includes a vertical rail defining a first axis, and first and second carriage assemblies. The first carriage assembly is supported by the vertical rail, movable along the first axis, and has a horizontal rail defining a second axis transverse to the first axis. The second carriage assembly is supported by the horizontal rail, movable along the second, and has a target mount that releasably supports a calibration target. A calibration tool includes a horizontal rail defining a first axis, a first carriage assembly movable along the first axis, a mounting bar defining a second axis and pivotable about a pivot axis transverse to the first and second axes, and a target mount positioned on the mounting bar. The first carriage assembly and the mounting bar move independently.

A vehicle wheel alignment system has a plurality of cameras, each camera for viewing a respective target disposed at a respective wheel of the vehicle and capturing image data of the target as the wheel and target are continuously rotated a number of degrees of rotation without a pause. The image data is used to calculate a minimum number of poses of the target of at least one pose for every five degrees of rotation as the wheel and target are continuously rotated the number of degrees of rotation without a pause. At least one of the cameras comprises a data processor for performing the steps of preprocessing the image data, and calculating an alignment parameter for the vehicle based on the preprocessed image data.

A wheel alignment system includes a side-to-side reference including an active reference pod and a passive reference pod disposed on opposite sides of the vehicle. The active reference pod includes a reference image sensor fixedly attached to a reference target, for mounting on a first side of the vehicle such that the reference image sensor produces image data including a perspective representation of the passive reference pod disposed on a second/opposite side of the vehicle. In operation, alignment cameras on the opposite sides of the vehicle capture perspective representations of targets mounted to vehicle wheels and of targets of the active and passive reference pods. A computer processes the image data to compute an alignment measurement of the vehicle based on a spatial relationship between the active reference pod and the passive reference pod determined according to the image data produced by the reference image sensor.

A sensor calibration tool, in particular for calibrating sensors on a vehicle, includes a vertical rail that defines a first rail axis, a vertically movable carriage assembly, and a horizontally movable carriage assembly. The vertically movable carriage assembly is supported by the vertical rail and movable along the first rail axis, and has a horizontal rail that defines a second rail axis transverse to the first rail axis. The horizontally movable carriage assembly is supported by the horizontal rail and is movable along the second rail axis. The horizontally movable carriage assembly has a transverse mounting bar with a plurality of target mounts. Each target mount is configured to releasably support a respective calibration target. Different combinations and positions of calibration targets enables calibration of sensors on different vehicles based on predetermined specifications corresponding to the different vehicles.

A vehicle wheel alignment system has a plurality of cameras, each camera for viewing a respective target disposed at a respective wheel of the vehicle and capturing image data of the target as the wheel and target are continuously rotated a number of degrees of rotation without a pause. The image data is used to calculate a minimum number of poses of the target of at least one pose for every five degrees of rotation as the wheel and target are continuously rotated the number of degrees of rotation without a pause. At least one of the cameras comprises a data processor for performing the steps of preprocessing the image data, and calculating an alignment parameter for the vehicle based on the preprocessed image data.