An external tire reader can be configured to read a tire tread. The external tire reader can include an offset structure, a camera system, and a controller. The offset structure can be configured to be applied to the tire tread. The camera system can be configured to generate an image of the tire tread while the offset structure is applied to the tire tread. The offset structure can be configured to provide a fixed distance between the camera system and the tire tread while the offset structure is applied to the tire tread. The controller can be coupled with the camera system. The controller can be configured to process the image of the tire received from the camera system.

A method and system are provided for estimating tire tread depth, the method comprising: obtaining an image of the tire informative of tread and grooves embedded therein, wherein the image is acquired by an imaging device from a first angle relative to a horizontal direction perpendicular to tread surface, and the tire is illuminated by an illumination device from a second angle relative to the horizontal direction, causing a shadow section and an illuminated section at the bottom and/or sidewall of a groove, the first angle being smaller than the second angle, such that the image captures the illuminated section and at least part of the shadow section; performing segmentation on the image to obtain image segments corresponding to the illuminated section and the at least part of the shadow section; and estimating the tread depth based on the image segments, the groove width, and the second angle.

A disclosed vehicle component may include at least one split-ring resonator, which may be embedded within a material. The split ring resonator may be formed from a three-dimensional (3D) monolithic carbonaceous growth and may detect an electromagnetic ping emitted from a user device. The split ring resonator may generate an electromagnetic return signal in response to the electromagnetic ping. The electromagnetic return signal may indicate a state of the material in a position proximate to a respective split ring resonator. In some aspects, the split-ring resonator may resonate at a first frequency in response to the electromagnetic ping when the material is in a first state, and may resonate at a second frequency in response to the electromagnetic ping when the material is in a second state. A resonant frequency of the 3D monolithic carbonaceous growth may be based on physical characteristics of the material.

An automated tread analysis system and methods for using are described. The automated tread analysis system may include a sensing system having a plurality of cameras providing a plurality of sequential two-dimensional images. The automated tread analysis system may also include an analysis system configured to provide at least one surface model of a first object via photogrammetry using the plurality of sequential two-dimensional images. The automated tread system may execute processing software reading data corresponding to the at least one surface model of the first object. The surface model may correspond to a current condition of the first object. The processing software executed by the user system may analyze the at least one surface model of the first object and provide at least one indicative wear metric based on the analysis of the surface model of the first object.

A remaining tire tread depth management system includes a remaining tire tread depth measurement device configured to measure a remaining tread depth of at least one of aircraft tires mounted on an aircraft, a tire wear amount estimation device configured to estimate a wear amount of all of the aircraft tires mounted on the aircraft including the aircraft tires, and a tire management server configured to estimate a remaining tread depth and a number of available flight times of all of the aircraft tires in accordance with measurement data output from the remaining tire tread depth measurement device and estimation data output from the tire wear amount estimation device.

Method for setting up a tyre checking apparatus, said apparatus (1) comprising at least: a support base (34) for a tyre (2); a first acquisition device (430) and a second acquisition device (43a) for acquiring images representative of said tyre (2) positioned on said support base (34); a first robotic member (40a) for moving said second acquisition device (43a). Said method comprises: providing a setup device (100) comprising: a first wall (110) having first predefined shapes (F1); a second wall (120) having second predefined shapes (F2), said second wall (120) being substantially parallel and non-coplanar to said first wall (110); a top surface (130); a central reference (140) arranged on said top surface (130). Said method also comprises: executing at least one of a first set-up and a second set-up. Said first set-up sets the first acquisition device (430), and comprises: positioning said setup device (100) on said support base (34) in a first position (PI); carrying out a first group of movements relative to said setup device (100); executing a calibration of said first acquisition device (430) as a function of said first predefined shapes (F1) and second predefined shapes (F2). Said second set-up sets said first robotic member (40a) that moves said second acquisition device (43a) and comprises: positioning said setup device (100) on said support base (34) in a second position (P2); carrying out a second group of movements relative to said setup device (100); executing a configuration of said first robotic member (40a) as a function of positions taken by said central reference (140). The invention also describes a setup device (100) adapted for being used in said method.

A device for detecting the profile of a tread includes a light source, a mask configured for receiving a light emission of the light source and permeable to the light emission in correspondence of a slit provided therein. The slit is configured for generating, when traversed by the light emission, a light curtain. At least one image-acquisition device is configured for acquiring a projection of the light curtain on a tread, and a data-processing unit is operatively connected to the image-acquisition device for reception of image data acquired thereby.

A method of detecting degradation of a real tire of a wheel includes the steps of: acquiring at least one first three-dimensional object representative of the shape of the real tire by using an electronic appliance including at least one three-dimensional sensor, the first three-dimensional object being made up of a set of capture points; determining the position of the center point of the real tire from the set of capture points; registering the first three-dimensional object to obtain a second three-dimensional object; transforming the second three-dimensional object in order to obtain one or more two-dimensional objects; and analyzing the two-dimensional object(s) in order to detect degradation of the real tire.

A vehicle inspection system to inspect one or more components of a vehicle moving on a path includes at least one vision sensor configured to capture one or more images of the vehicle, and at least one acoustic sensor configured to capture an acoustic data generated during the motion of the vehicle. The vehicle inspection system also includes a controller in communication with the at least one vision sensor and the at least one acoustic sensor and receives one or more images and receives the acoustic data from the at least one acoustic sensor. The controller is configured to determine one or more defects associated with one or more components of the vehicle based on at least one of the one or more images received or the acoustic data.

A system is provided for estimating a tread depth of a tire supporting a vehicle. The tire includes a pair of sidewalls that extend to a circumferential tread. The system includes a drive over reader, which includes a housing. At least one sensor is mounted in the housing to generate an image of the tire, which may be an image of the tire footprint or an image of the tread along a lateral line or section, and the tread depth is determined from the image. At least one piezoelectric actuator is mounted on the housing and is electrically connected to the at least one sensor to actuate the at least one sensor. A method for estimating a tread depth of a tire supporting a vehicle is also provided.