A device for wheel alignment measurement comprises at least two sensors which are configured to record each time at least two images of the front wheels and the rear wheels of a vehicle passing by; and an evaluation device which is configured to evaluate the images recorded by the sensors in order to determine whether the vehicle has traveled along a straight line. The sensors are arranged such that a vehicle to be measured can pass between the at least two sensors. The evaluation device is configured to determine the geometric travel axis of the vehicle and/or the individual tracks of the wheels on the front axle and/or the rear axle of the vehicle when the evaluation of the images recorded by the sensors reveals that the vehicle has traveled along a straight line.

A vehicle service system incorporating a set of imaging sensors disposed in an inspection lane through which a vehicle is driven. A processor is configured with software instructions to capture a set of images from the set of imaging sensors and to evaluate the captured images according to a set of rules to identify images in which a license plate is visible on an observed surface of the vehicle. The processor is further configured with software instruction to extract license plate information from the identified images, assign a figure of merit to the extracted information, and generate an output in response to the assigned figures of merit.

A camera calibration tool for calibrating one or more cameras of a mobile machine comprising calibration targets and a net. Each of the calibration targets comprises identifiable indicia. The net is adapted to be coupled to the mobile machine. The net has one or more configurations that define predetermined target locations, with location markers, in a predetermined layout. The calibration targets are positioned respectively at the predetermined target locations in the predetermined layout to calibrate the one or more cameras by use of the calibration targets.

A system and method for aligning a target to a vehicle for calibration of a sensor equipped on the vehicle includes multiple non-contact wheel alignment sensors configured for use in determining the orientation of tire and wheel assemblies of the vehicle. A target adjustment frame includes a target mount moveably mounted on a base frame, and includes multiple actuators configured to selectively move the target mount relative to the base frame, where the base frame is in a known orientation to the non-contact wheel alignment sensors. A computer system selectively actuates the actuators to position a target relative to the vehicle, with the target mount being moveable about a plurality of axes based on the determination of the orientation of the vehicle relative to the target adjustment frame to position the target relative to a sensor of the vehicle whereby the sensor is able to be calibrated using the target.

An optical sensor calibration apparatus in the form of a wheel clamp. The wheel clamp apparatus is configured to determine a center point of a wheel of a vehicle, and to provide a measurement reference with respect to the center point. The measurement reference may be used to position other apparatuses in an optical sensor calibration system configured to calibrate an optical sensor of the vehicle.

A method of instance segmentation in an image and a system for instance segmentation of images. The method includes identifying, with a processor, a starting pixel associated with an object in an image, the image having a plurality of rows of pixels, the starting pixel located in a row of the plurality of rows; identifying, with the processor, at least one pixel located in an adjacent row to the row in which the starting pixel is located, the at least one pixel being part of the same object as the starting pixel; iterating the previous two identification steps using the at least one identified adjacent row pixel as a start pixel for the next iteration; and connecting, with the processor, the at least one identified adjacent row pixels to form polylines representing the object.

A vehicle service system incorporating a set of imaging sensors disposed in an inspection lane through which a vehicle is driven. A first imaging sensor is disposed with a field of view aligned to observe leading surfaces on an approaching vehicle, while a second imaging sensor is disposed with a field of view aligned to observe trailing surfaces of a departing vehicle. A processor is configured with software instructions to capture a set of images from the first imaging sensor as the vehicle approaches, and a set of images from the second imaging sensor as the vehicle departs. The processor evaluates the acquired images from the first and second imaging sensors according to a set of rules to identify images in which a license plate is present on an observed surface of the vehicle, and to extract license plate information from at least one of the identified images.

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 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 vehicle service system and method to determine spatial parameters of a vehicle, employing a display system under processor control, to display or project visible indicia onto surfaces in proximity to a vehicle undergoing a safety system service or inspection identifying one or more locations, relative to the determined vehicle centerline or thrust line, at which a calibration fixture, optical target, or simulated test drive imagery is visible for observation by a sensor onboard the vehicle.