A three-dimensional target, a wheel positioning system, and a wheel positioning method are provided. The three-dimensional target includes a base body. The base body is provided with at least three target surfaces which are all in different planes. Each of the at least three target surfaces is provided with target elements. Each of the at least three target surfaces is used for wheel positioning. Two of the at least three target surfaces form a group of calculation units, and the spatial position relationship between the target elements of at least two groups of calculation units is used for determining the position of a wheel. By using two target surfaces as a group, the at least three target surfaces can be configured into multiple groups, and calibration is performed according to the multiple target surfaces; thus, the accuracy of calibration calculation is improved.

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 drive-through vehicle inspection system acquiring information from engraved markings on the tire sidewalls of a moving vehicle. Optical imaging sensors disposed on opposite sides of the vehicle acquire images of the sidewall surfaces for each passing wheel assembly. The acquired images are evaluated by a processing system configured to identify, within the acquired images, visible markings engraved into the tire sidewall surfaces which include at first portion having a first optical reflectivity, and a second portion having a second optical reflectivity which is different from the first optical reflectivity. Each identified marking is decoded to retrieve data stored therein, representative of the tire, wheel assembly, and/or associated vehicle onto which the wheel assembly is installed. The retrieved data is incorporated into an inspection report and/or utilized by the vehicle inspection system to access vehicle-specific information contained within an indexed database.

System for diagnosing the wheel alignment of a vehicle includes a measuring device configured to measure a characteristic parameter of the wheel alignment, wherein the measuring device comprises a wireless communication device to remotely transmit a signal related to the characteristic parameter. The system further comprises a portable remote device, distinct and separate from the measuring device, having a wireless communication device to remotely receive the signal related to the measured characteristic parameter, and a control unit adapted to receive the related signal from the wireless communication device and to carry out a step of processing the signal to derive a value of the characteristic parameter. The portable remote device further has a screen to display a characteristic information representative of the value of the characteristic parameter, and a battery connected to the wireless communication device, to the control unit and to the screen to allow their respective operation.

Systems, devices, and methods for analyzing the alignment of at least one wheel of a vehicle using a non-contact locating system. Systems can include a tie rod with a three-dimensional target that is used by a non-contact measuring instrument to determine the position of the target in three dimensional space. The target may be pyramidal in shape. The position of the target may be indicative of a desired wheel alignment.

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 vehicle wheel service system including a plurality of sensors positioned in proximity to a heavy-duty multi-axle vehicle, to measure angles associated with three or more axles of the vehicle without repositioning the mounting of the sensors after initiating a measurement procedure. Additional sensors, associated with a vehicle reference, such as the vehicle frame axis, are disposed to provide vehicle reference measurement data which is communicated to a processing system. The processing system is configured with software instructions to evaluate the measurement data and to determine various vehicle wheel alignment angle measurements and/or necessary vehicle adjustments for each axle relative to the vehicle reference or to a fixed axle having a determined relationship to the vehicle reference.

The present disclosure relates to the field of automobile engineering and provides a system for simultaneous measurement of “Wheel runout” and “Wheel alignment angles” of a multi-axle vehicle having a plurality of axles and wheels. The system includes a plurality of wheel targets, at least two camera modules, and an alignment control module. The plurality of wheel targets is respectively mounted on the axle wheels. Each of the camera modules has a camera that is configured to capture images of the plurality of wheel targets. The alignment control module has a processor co-operating with each of the camera module and configured to capture and analyze the images of the Targets to compute the “Runout”and “Wheel Alignment angles” of all the wheels of all the axles simultaneously. The processor is further configured to compare the analyzed wheel alignment angles with a predetermined range of acceptable wheel alignment angles.

An apparatus (1) for measuring an alignment of a wheeled vehicle (V), comprises: two contact tracks (P) for the wheels of the vehicle, extending along a longitudinal direction (L); a measuring assembly (2), including a measuring unit (21), for capturing one or more images of the vehicle and generating corresponding image data, and a connector (22), having a first end (22A) connected to the measuring unit (21) and positioned at a first height (Q1), and a second end (226), positioned at a second height (Q2), greater than the first height (Q1); a control unit (3), configured to receive the image data (301) from the measuring unit (21) and to process the image data (301) to derive vehicle alignment information therefrom. The measuring unit (21) is movable towards and away from the contact tracks (P).

A simulation hub includes an end plate, a clamping portion and a measuring disc, in which the clamping portion and the measuring disc are both detachably fixed to the end plate; the clamping portion includes a first positioning hole for positioning and clamping, the first positioning hole is a cylindrical hole, and the cylindricity of the first positioning hole is smaller than a preset value; the outer circumference of the measuring disc includes at least a measuring cylindrical surface having a preset axial length and a bus parallel to an axis of the first positioning hole, and circular runout test values of the measuring cylindrical surface are preset first or second harmonic runout values; and the outer diameter of the measuring cylindrical surface is adapted to the inner diameter of the first positioning hole.