A portable vehicle alignment system has a vertical central column with a carriage movable along its length, and a pair of camera arms pivotably attached to the carriage, each with a camera pod. The camera pods each have a camera for capturing image data of a respective vehicle-mounted target. One pod also has a calibration target disposed in a known relationship to its camera, and the other pod has a calibration camera disposed in a known relationship to its camera for capturing images of the calibration target. The camera arms pivot between an extended position where the cameras are disposed to capture image data of the vehicle targets and the calibration camera is disposed to capture images of the calibration target, and a folded position where the aligner has a width smaller than the width between the camera pods.

A control device acquires a first two-dimensional position of a cam bolt and a locknut in a first direction based on a first actual image captured by a first camera, and based on the acquired first two-dimensional position, the control device moves an adjustment socket to a position where the adjustment socket is fittable to a head of the cam bolt and moves a tightening socket to a position where the tightening socket is fittable to the locknut. Then, the control device acquires a second two-dimensional position of the cam bolt and the locknut in a second direction based on a second actual image captured by a second camera, and corrects, based on the acquired second two-dimensional position, a position of the adjustment socket relative to the head of the cam bolt and a position of the tightening socket relative to the locknut.

A laser alignment system for adjusting a mounting bracket of a lamp is disclosed. The laser alignment system includes an alignment bracket including a body portion defining one or more target features and a plurality of index features. The one or more target features include a target that is configured to align with a laser beam and the plurality of index features that are configured to position the alignment bracket along a surface. The laser alignment system also includes a laser alignment tool including a base, a mount, and a laser device. The mount holds the laser device in place and the laser device is configured to emit the laser beam, and the base of the laser alignment tool is shaped to fit within the mounting bracket for the lamp and the laser device directs the laser beam towards a corresponding one of target features of the alignment bracket.

A calibrating method is provided including the following steps. A type of a first sensor and a type of a first sensor carrier are determined according to an external shape of a first object. The first sensor is carried by the first sensor carrier, and a relative coordinate of the first object is measured by the first sensor. The relative coordinate of the first object is compared with a predetermined coordinate of the first object to obtain a first object coordinate error, and the first object coordinate error is corrected. After the first object coordinate error is corrected, the first object is driven to perform an operation on a second object or the second object is driven to perform the operation on the first object. A calibrating system is also provided.

A laser scanner determines the direction and distance of one or more targets by emitting two substantially parallel beams and receiving respective return beams. Components for handling the received beams are affixed to a monolithic block to ensure fixed relative placement. The direction of the target is determined using an optical encoder to reduce the timing window for interpolation to a fraction of the time it takes for the scanner to make a full revolution. A PLL trained by recent segment timing further improves accuracy and precision. A detection algorithm adapts detection thresholds for the different signatures of return signals depending on the distance to the target. Distance calculations are also adjusted for thermal expansion of the scanner components by including a temperature-variant thermometer output signal in the distance calculation algorithm.

Described is a method for aligning a vehicle service system (1) relative to a vehicle (2) positioned in a service area (8), where the vehicle service system (1) comprises: a calibration structure (3) for calibrating an ADAS sensor of an advanced driver assistance system of the vehicle (2), and a structure target (32) and an apparatus (4) for measuring the alignment of the vehicle (2) and on which an optical device (40) for capturing images is mounted, wherein the method comprises the following steps: applying a front wheel target (51) and a rear wheel target (52) on a front wheel and on a rear wheel of the vehicle (2); positioning the calibration structure (3) and the apparatus (4) at a position in front of the vehicle (2); capturing images through the optical device (40); processing the images to derive information useful for positioning the calibration structure (3) relative to the vehicle (2).

Described is a method for aligning a vehicle service system (1) relative to a vehicle (2) positioned in a service area (8), where the vehicle service system (1) comprises; a calibration structure (3) for calibrating an ADAS sensor of an advanced driver assistance system of the vehicle (2); an apparatus (4) for measuring the alignment of the vehicle (2) and on which an apparatus camera (41) is mounted; wherein the method comprises the following steps: applying a front wheel target (51) and a rear wheel target (52) on a front wheel and on a rear wheel of the vehicle (2); capturing an image through the apparatus camera (41), wherein the image represents the front wheel target (51) and the rear wheel target (52); processing the image to derive information useful for positioning the calibration structure (3) relative to the vehicle (2); placing a positioning device (7) at an operating position, spaced from the calibration structure (3), in front of the apparatus (4) and alongside the first side of the vehicle (2).

A method for aligning a calibration device with a vehicle based on a wheel aligner and a calibration system are provided. The wheel aligner includes an image sensor and a computer. The computer controls at least one image sensor to image a vehicle-mounted target on a vehicle, and processes the obtained image to determine a position of the vehicle. The computer controls the at least one image sensor to image a reference target on a calibration device, and processes the obtained image to determine a position of the calibration device. The computer determines an adjusting mode of the calibration device according to the position of the vehicle and the position of the calibration device, so that the calibration device is aligned with the vehicle according to an anticipated position or direction. The method can guide an operator to accurately align the calibration device with the vehicle.

The vehicle inspection device is used to adjust an optical axis of a radar device R in a vehicle in which the radar device R that acquires external environment information is attached to a vehicle body. The vehicle inspection device includes: a target robot T including a corner reflector 75 that reflects an electromagnetic wave emitted from the radar device R, and an electromagnetic wave characteristic measurement device 76 that measures characteristics of the electromagnetic wave emitted from the radar device R; and a control device 6 that controls the target robot T. The control device 6 calculates an attachment position of the radar device R and a direction of an optical axis on the basis of electromagnetic wave characteristics measured by the electromagnetic wave characteristic measurement device 76, and moves the target robot T to an inspection position that is determined on the basis of the calculation result.

The present invention relates to a method for determining spindle angles of a steerable wheel axle arrangement. In particular, by means of the method, an image of at least one wheel axle optical marker arranged in connection with a wheel axle and an image of a spindle optical marker arranged in connection with the spindle is acquired, where after rotation of the spindle, center of rotation and an axis of rotation of the spindle can be determined.