Embodiments include a method for autonomous camera pod tracking of a vehicle during vehicle alignment. The method can include receiving, at a processor of an autonomous camera pod, at least one of vehicle target image data from a vehicle target camera or calibration target image data from a calibration camera, the vehicle target camera being adapted to acquire images of a target mounted to the vehicle, and the calibration camera being adapted to acquire images of a calibration target mounted to a sister autonomous camera pod. An optimal location of the autonomous camera pod can be calculated based on the received vehicle target image data or calibration target image data. The method can include transmitting, when it is determined to move the autonomous camera pod, a motor command to a motor drive of the autonomous camera pod, thereby causing the autonomous camera pod to move to the optimal location.

Embodiments include a method for autonomous camera pod tracking of a vehicle during vehicle alignment. The method can include receiving, at a processor of an autonomous camera pod, at least one of vehicle target image data from a vehicle target camera or calibration target image data from a calibration camera, the vehicle target camera being adapted to acquire images of a target mounted to the vehicle, and the calibration camera being adapted to acquire images of a calibration target mounted to a sister autonomous camera pod. An optimal location of the autonomous camera pod can be calculated based on the received vehicle target image data or calibration target image data. The method can include transmitting, when it is determined to move the autonomous camera pod, a motor command to a motor drive of the autonomous camera pod, thereby causing the autonomous camera pod to move to the optimal location.

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.

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.

A method for monitoring at least one wheel of a vehicle includes acquiring an image of the at least one wheel of the vehicle by using a camera that is secured to the vehicle; identifying at least one visual feature of the wheel on the image; detecting at least one parameter of the at least one identified feature; determining an actual position of the camera relative to the wheel; obtaining a corrected parameter on the basis of the actual position of the camera; and determining an operation state of the wheel on the basis of the corrected parameter. The present invention also relates to a system for performing the method according to the invention and to a vehicle including the system.

A wheel alignment detection system for a vehicle includes a plurality of sensors and a controller. Each of the plurality of sensors is configured to generate a signal. The controller is in communication with the plurality of sensors and is configured to: detect an external force exerted on the vehicle based on the signal from at least one of the plurality of sensors; determine whether the external force exerted on the vehicle has a magnitude that is between a first predetermined value and a second predetermined value; and command the vehicle to provide an alert in response to determining that the magnitude of the external force exerted on the vehicle is between the first predetermined value and the second predetermined value, wherein the alert is indicative that a wheel alignment check should be performed.

A vehicle wheel alignment system and method is provided for performing a rolling wheel axis of rotation and wheel spindle point calculation every time an alignment is performed. Embodiments include an aligner having a target fixedly attachable to a wheel of the vehicle; a camera for viewing the target and capturing image data of the target; and a data processor. The data processor receives the image data from the camera, and determines a vector pointing from the target origin to a wheel spindle point based on the captured target image data, when the vehicle is rolled while the wheel is on a substantially flat surface such that the wheel and target rotate a number of degrees. The data processor is further adapted to calculate an alignment parameter for the vehicle based at least in part on the wheel axis of rotation and the coordinates of the wheel spindle point.

A device for checking the wheel suspension of a vehicle, in particular, of a motor vehicle, includes: a device for determining the wheel normals and/or the center of rotation of a wheel of the vehicle; a device for determining the movement trajectory of the wheel normals and/or of the center of rotation of the wheel during a movement of the vehicle; and a comparison and evaluation device, which is configured to compare the determined movement trajectory of the wheel normals and/or of the center of rotation of the wheel to a predefined movement trajectory, and to output a defect message when the deviation of the determined movement trajectory from the predefined movement trajectory exceeds a predefined limiting value.

A vehicle wheel alignment system and method is provided for performing a rolling wheel axis of rotation and wheel spindle point calculation every time an alignment is performed. Embodiments include an aligner having a target fixedly attachable to a wheel of the vehicle; a camera for viewing the target and capturing image data of the target; and a data processor. The data processor receives the image data from the camera, and determines a vector pointing from the target origin to a wheel spindle point based on the captured target image data, when the vehicle is rolled while the wheel is on a substantially flat surface such that the wheel and target rotate a number of degrees. The data processor is further adapted to calculate an alignment parameter for the vehicle based at least in part on the wheel axis of rotation and the coordinates of the wheel spindle point.

A method of automatically aligning wheel corner assemblies (WCAs) of a vehicle platform may include: measuring, by sensors of at least one of front WCAs, rear WCAs, a vehicle platform, or any combination thereof, a set of parameters; determining, by a computing device, steering angles for wheels of the front WCAs and wheels of the rear WCAs to drive the vehicle platform in a zero yaw rate and/or a zero thrust angle based on the measured set of parameters; and controlling, by the computing device, steering actuators of the front WCAs and the rear WCAs based on the determined steering angles to drive the vehicle platform in the zero yaw rate and/or the zero thrust angle.