A machine-vision vehicle wheel alignment measurement system configured with at least one optical sensor to acquire images of optical targets disposed within an operative field of view. The system further includes a processing system configured with software instructions to determine relative spatial positions and orientations of one or more optical targets visible within images acquired by the optical sensor. The processing system is further configured with software instructions to automatically identify an axle count and axle configuration for a vehicle undergoing an alignment inspection or service using the determined relative spatial positions and orientations of the visible optical targets.

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 system for aligning a floor target to a vehicle for calibration of a sensor equipped on the vehicle includes a target adjustment frame with a base frame configured for placement on a floor and a target mount moveably mounted on the target adjustment frame, with the target mount configured to support a target. The target adjustment frame further includes an actuator configured to selectively move the target mount relative to the base frame, and includes a moveable floor target light projector configured to project a light line and be positioned relative to the vehicle. A floor target includes an alignment marker and a calibration pattern, where the alignment marker is configured to be aligned with the light line projected by the light projector to position the floor target relative to the vehicle.

An apparatus for chassis measurement for determining the alignment of the wheels of a motor vehicle. The apparatus includes a detachably fixed measurement head apparatus on the vehicle wheel to be measured, wherein the measurement markings are positioned parallel to the front and rear side of the vehicle or the vehicle stand level. After arranging the fastening apparatus and positioning the measurement markings, the laser light source is activated and a plane is projected in space, wherein the length of these laser light lines generates at least intersection points together with the measurement markings, the intersection points of which are detected as track gauge and used for computation in order to determine the fall, trailing and spread data and the virtual longitudinal travel axis of the vehicle. By a camera-assisted measurement value detection apparatus, different electromagnetic spectra for each wheel to be measured are detected and supplied for data processing.

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 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 system for determining alignment characteristics of a wheel assembly of a vehicle includes one or more optical gauges that are selectively attached to a wheel assembly, with the optical gauge including a mounting base having an underside that is affixed to the wheel assembly and including a gauge piece comprising a known dimension. The system further includes a light projector that projects light onto the optical gauge when attached to the wheel assembly, a digital imager, and a controller. The digital imager is configured to image light from the light projector that is reflected from the optical gauge, and the controller is configured to calculate a distance from the optical gauge based on the imaged light that is reflected from the optical gauge and the known dimension of the gauge piece. The mounting base may be a tape that is adhesively affixed to the wheel assembly.

A non-contact sensor for determining orientation of an object, such as a tire and wheel assembly of a vehicle, includes a projector assembly having a light emitter, a lens assembly and a mask, with the mask including mask apertures and the light emitter configured to project light through the lens assembly and mask apertures and onto the object, and with the mask apertures creating a light pattern of projected light onto the object. The sensor also includes an imager configured to image reflections of the light pattern from the object, and a processor. The projector assembly and imager are angled with respect to one another, and the processor is configured to process imaged reflections of the light pattern to derive the orientation of the object, such as the alignment orientation of the tire and wheel assembly.

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.