Abstract: A LiDAR system includes a light source and an arrayed micro-optic configured to receive light from the light source so as to produce and project a two-dimensional array of light spots on a scene. The LiDAR system also includes receiver optics having an array of optical detection sites configured so as to be suitable for establishing a one-to-one correspondence between light spots in the two-dimensional array and optical detection sites in the receiver optics. The LiDAR system further includes a birefringent prism and a lens. The LiDAR system may also include a mask placed in the light path between the birefringent prism and the receiver optics. Alternatively, the LiDAR system may include a controller programmed to activate or deactivate each optical detection site.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calibrating an image capture device are provided. The method includes capturing one or more of a single or Multiview image set by the image capture device, detecting one or more calibration features in each set by a processor, initializing each of the one or more calibration parameters a corresponding default value, extracting one or more relevant calibration parameters, computing an individual cost term for each of the identified relevant calibration parameters, and scaling each of the relevant cost terms. The method continues with combining all the cost terms once each of the calculated relevant cost terms have been scaled, determining if the combination of the cost terms has been minimized, adjusting the calibration parameters if it is determined that that the combination of the cost terms has not been minimized, and returning to the step of extracting one or more of the relevant calibration parameters.

Abstract: There is provided a target installation apparatus. A rod-shaped member is capable of being arranged to extend in a vehicle width direction of the vehicle ahead of or behind the vehicle, and is provided with a target point indicating an installation position of the target. A reference member is formed such that reference points are positioned on left and right outer sides in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle when the reference member is arranged with respect to the vehicle. A connection unit connects the rod-shaped member and the reference member such that a distance from the reference point to the target point in the front-and-rear direction satisfies a predetermined condition.

Abstract: A cleaner performing autonomous traveling includes a main body, a driving unit moving the main body, a camera capturing an image around the main body at every preset period, and a controller selecting at least one of a plurality of traveling modes and controlling the driving unit and the camera to perform the selected traveling mode, wherein the controller changes a set value related to illumination of the camera while the camera is continuously capturing images.

Abstract: A system and method for moving and aligning tandem axle lock pins on a semi-trailer, having a viewer and a remote receiver that are placeable in communication with each other. The viewer is attachable to a trailer so that a camera on the viewer can be positioned such that the trailer slide rail and tandem axle slider frame of a trailer are within the field of vision. The remote receiver may be a smartphone which can access data from the camera so that the user can from a remote location, such as a cab of a tractor, determine the alignment and orientation of the trailer slide rail and the tandem axle slider frame.

Abstract: A system and method of calibrating an ADAS sensor of a vehicle by aligning a target with the sensor, where the vehicle is initially nominally positioned in front of a target adjustment stand that includes a stationary base frame and a movable target mount configured to support a target, with the target adjustment stand including one or more actuators for adjusting the position of the target mount. A computer system is used to determine an orientation of the vehicle relative to the target adjustment stand, with the position of the target mount being adjusted based on the determined orientation of the vehicle relative to the target adjustment stand. Upon properly orienting the target mount, and the target supported thereon, a calibration routine is performed whereby the sensor is calibrated using the target.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically evaluating chassis or wheel alignment measurement data comprises: a memory device configured to store a number of chassis data records, with each chassis data record containing at least one chassis parameter and a tolerance range allocated to each chassis parameter; a provisioning device configured to provide a data record of current chassis parameters, which comprises at least one current chassis parameter; a selection device configured to select, on the basis of the data record provided by the provisioning device, a subset of chassis data records from the chassis data records stored in the memory device; and a determination device configured to determine the proportion of the chassis data records from the subset of chassis data records for which the current chassis parameter's of the data record provided by the provisioning device are within the specified tolerance ranges.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calibrating an image capture device are provided. The method includes capturing one or more of a single or Multiview image set by the image capture device, detecting one or more calibration features in each set by a processor, initializing each of the one or more calibration parameters a corresponding default value, extracting one or more relevant calibration parameters, computing an individual cost term for each of the identified relevant calibration parameters, and scaling each of the relevant cost terms. The method continues with combining all the cost terms once each of the calculated relevant cost terms have been scaled, determining if the combination of the cost terms has been minimized, adjusting the calibration parameters if it is determined that that the combination of the cost terms has not been minimized, and returning to the step of extracting one or more of the relevant calibration parameters.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calibrating a projection axis orientation for an optical projector associated with a vehicle inspection or service system so as to enable projection of indicia onto selected spatial locations within a vehicle service area. Projector axis orientations required for the projection of visible indicia onto reference targets disposed at determinable locations within a common coordinate system of the vehicle service area are utilized to establish a relationship utilized to mathematically transform between selected spatial coordinate locations for projected indicia and corresponding orientations of the projection axis, facilitating projection of the visible indicia to additional spatial coordinate locations within the common coordinate system.

Abstract: An electronic device includes: a first image sensor that outputs a first image produced by photographing a first viewing angle; a second image sensor that outputs a second image produced by photographing a second viewing angle that overlaps a portion of the first viewing angle; a third image sensor that outputs a third image produced by photographing a third viewing angle; and a processor that performs object detection on an object included in an image. The processor generates disparity information indicating a separation degree of a feature point of the first and second images, transforms the third image based on the disparity information, and performs object detection on the transformed third image.

Abstract: A method for measuring the dimensions and characteristic angles of wheels, steering system and chassis of vehicles by means of an apparatus comprising a plurality of 3D scanners, functionally connected to a computer and arranged peripherally to a vehicle whose dimensions and characteristic angles of wheels, steering system and chassis are to be measured; each one of the 3D scanners having a viewing field, the merging of the viewing fields defining a viewing field of the apparatus; the method is characterized in that it comprises: a total measurement step, in which all the wheels of the vehicle are at least partially visible in the viewing field of the apparatus; and a partial measurement step, in which at least one wheel of the vehicle is not visible in the viewing field of the apparatus.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An object surface managing method comprising: (a) emitting detecting light to the groove via alight source; (b) receiving first reflected detecting light from the surface and second reflected detecting light from a bottom of the groove via a light sensor; and (c) calculating a groove depth of the groove according to the first reflected detecting light and the second reflected detecting light.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calibrating an image capture device are provided. The method includes capturing one or more of a single or Multiview image set by the image capture device, detecting one or more calibration features in each set by a processor, initializing each of the one or more calibration parameters a corresponding default value, extracting one or more relevant calibration parameters, computing an individual cost term for each of the identified relevant calibration parameters, and scaling each of the relevant cost terms. The method continues with combining all the cost terms once each of the calculated relevant cost terms have been scaled, determining if the combination of the cost terms has been minimized, adjusting the calibration parameters if it is determined that that the combination of the cost terms has not been minimized, and returning to the step of extracting one or more of the relevant calibration parameters.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for maintenance of a vehicle, comprising—determining (S2, S8) the position, in a fixed coordinate system, of at least one first part (2011, 4, 3011) of a vehicle, —characterized by determining (S3) the identity of the vehicle, —retrieving (S4, S10), by means of the vehicle identity, spatial data indicating how a second part (202, 2011, 4) of the vehicle is spatially related to the first part (201), and—determining (S8, S11) the position, in the fixed coordinate system, of the second part (202, 2011, 4) based at least partly on the first part position and the spatial data.

Abstract: A target alignment system for calibrating a safety sensor mounted on a vehicle with front and rear wheels by locating an optimum target position upon a horizontal surface for accurate calibration of the sensor. The target alignment system comprises a plurality of visual guide projectors and a pair of target assemblies which project a visible guide line perimeter around the vehicle, the perimeter including parallel longitudinal lines on either side of the vehicle, a lateral alignment guide line crossing the longitudinal lines in front of the vehicle, and a center guide line colinear with the vehicle center line. The front and rear wheels of the vehicle are longitudinally aligned causing the vehicle thrust line to match the vehicle center line. One of the visual guide projectors projects a transverse line across the center guide line, creating an intersection point which marks the optimum target position.

Abstract: A calibration target comprises a target pattern plane having a planar surface and a plurality of markers disposed on the planar surface. An optical axis of the imaging system is at a first angle with respect to the planar surface of the target pattern plane when the calibration target is being used to calibrate the imaging system. The plurality of markers is pre-warped in size and aspect ratio using a set of trigonometric functions that use the first angle and a distance from the imaging system to the marker, so that each of the plurality of markers appears a substantially same size as all others of the plurality of markers when viewed by the imaging system at the first angle. The plurality of markers includes a plurality of localizer features that have known relative positions on the target pattern plane and are used to determine an orientation for each marker.

Abstract: An example operation may include one or more of connecting, by a miner node, to a blockchain network comprised of a plurality user nodes, reading, by the miner node, a smart contract generated by a user node of the plurality of the user nodes, wherein the smart contract specifies a location of a user video file, acquiring, by the miner node, the user video file from the location, generating, by the miner node, a profile vector of the user video file based on properties of the user video file, determining, by the miner node, a cluster that has similar profile vectors, applying, by the miner node, a compression algorithm associated with the cluster to the user video file to generate a compressed user video file, and sending, by the miner node, the compressed user video file to the user node of the plurality of the user nodes for a validation.

Abstract: A distance measuring device includes: a light emitter which emits light from a light source to a target object; a light receiver which receives reflected light in a group of pixels two-dimensionally disposed, the reflection light being generated through reflection of the light emitted from the light emitter on the target object; a synthesizer which generates a synthesized signal by synthesizing pixel signals read from pixels exposed at different exposure intervals to generate a synthesized signal; and a distance arithmetic operator which calculates a value of distance to the target object based on the synthesized signal and the difference in time between emission and reception of the light.

Abstract: A machine-vision vehicle service system, and methods of operation, incorporating at least one gimbaled sensor module configured with at least one of a camera, an optical projector, or a range finder to acquire or convey data associated with surfaces in proximity to the vehicle service system for guiding placement of vehicle service components relative to a vehicle undergoing service. The gimbaled sensor module is operatively coupled to a processing system configured with software instructions to selectively control an orientation of the gimbaled guidance system about one or more axis of rotation, enabling observation, projection of visible indicia, or displacement measurement along an associated sensor axis parallel with one of the axis of rotation during vehicle service procedures.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for testing an interaction point of vehicle components such as bushings or joints by means of a vehicle test apparatus (1), wherein the vehicle test apparatus (1) comprises a test apparatus control unit (2), at least one vehicle wheel support (3) movable in a horizontal plane, and means for monitoring (4) bushings or joints. The vehicle wheel support (3) and the means for monitoring (4) are controllable by means of the test apparatus control unit (2).

Abstract: This application discloses a computing system to implement sensor event detection and fusion system in an assisted or automated driving system of a vehicle. The computing system can monitor an environmental model to identify spatial locations in the environmental model populated with temporally-aligned measurement data. The computing system can analyze, on a per-sensor basis, the temporally-aligned measurement data at the spatial locations in the environmental model to detect one or more sensor measurement events. The computing system can utilize the sensor measurement events to identify at least one detection event indicative of an object proximate to the vehicle. The computing system can combine the detection event with at least one of another detection event, a sensor measurement event, or other measurement data to generate a fused detection event. A control system for the vehicle can control operation of the vehicle based, at least in part, on the detection event.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and line for checking a tyre (2) for vehicle wheels in which it is provided to determine whether the tyre (2) is made according to a known model among a plurality of known models. If the tyre (2) is made according to a known model, the tyre (2) is inspected to search for any manufacturing defects by acquiring data representative of at least part of the surface of the tyre (2) through a set of image acquisition devices (282) set according to a setting associated with the known model of the tyre.

Abstract: A vehicle inspection system configured with a processing system and at least one displacement sensor disposed on opposite sides of a vehicle inspection lane sensor region to acquire displacement measurement data associated with a moving vehicle passing through the vehicle inspection lane. The processing system is configured to receive acquired displacement measurement data to determine characteristics of the moving vehicle, such as vehicle velocity, dynamic axle alignment, dynamic wheel alignment, or dimensions. The processing system is further configured to evaluate the determined dynamic vehicle characteristics in relation to static vehicle characteristics, such as static axle alignment or static wheel alignment, through application of one or more compensation factors based on user selected parameters, default parameters, or identified vehicle features.

Abstract: To make it possible to generate sinusoidal pattern light as intended and to prevent the occurrence of high-frequency waviness in a height image even if a dimension of a light emitting surface of a light emitting diode is equal to or less than a dimension of a half cycle of a sine-wave. The dimension of the light emitting surface of the light emitting diode 31b is set to be equal to or less than a half cycle of a sine-wave of the pattern light. A plurality of light emitting diodes 31b are arranged in a direction in which illuminance of the pattern light does not change, and are arranged to be deviated in a direction in which the illuminance of the pattern light changes.

Abstract: A method for detecting the occurrence of deviations from level, straight-line rolling movement of a wheel assembly across a supporting surface during a rolling compensation procedure associated with a vehicle wheel alignment measurement or inspection system by identifying changes in measurements or calculated parameters associated with the wheel assembly which would be unchanged during an ideal level and straight-line rolling movement. Identified changes in the measurements or calculated parameters are evaluated to either warn an operator of the occurrence of a deviation, or to generate a correction factor to account for at least a portion of an effect which the deviations introduce into compensation calculations or subsequent wheel alignment measurements or service procedures.

Abstract: A method for assessing tyre tread depth and/or tyre condition by taking and analysing a camera image or images of a tyre using portable instrumentation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calibrating laser displacement sensors within a vehicle inspection system. A calibration target structure is positioned within an operative field of view for the laser displacement sensor, providing one or more optical targets onto which illuminating laser beams from the laser displacement sensor are projected. Displacement measurements are acquired with the optical targets disposed at a plurality of positions within the field of view. The resulting displacement measurements, together with known position information for the optical targets, are utilized to calibrate an associated imaging sensor such that the displacement measurements associated with each illuminating laser beam and known positional information agree to within a desired tolerance throughout the operative field of view for the laser displacement sensor.

Abstract: A method estimates a weight of a motor vehicle including front and rear wheel assemblies, using a smart communication device, after loading of the vehicle. The method includes identifying the vehicle in the smart communication device, using a camera of the smart communication device to capture and process a photograph of at least one wheel with at least one point of the vehicle brought to sink down jointly upon the loading of the vehicle with a suspension of the wheel of the vehicle, determining a clearance of the wheel assembly opposite the photographed wheel, calculating a load value on the wheel assembly of the photographed wheel and a load value on the opposite wheel assembly as a function of the respective clearances of these wheel assemblies, to determine a total load value, and using the smart communication device to inform a user of a load state of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method of forming a mandrel assembly for use in fabricating a large scale component includes boring a plurality of cavities into an outer surface of the mandrel assembly and filling the plurality of cavities with a contrast color substrate to form a contrast target on the mandrel assembly. The method also includes curing the contrast color substrate such that an outer surface of the contrast color substrate is substantially flush with the outer surface of the mandrel assembly when the substrate is fully cured.

Abstract: Presented are embodiments for the generation of point clouds on a surface. A surface is described by a mathematical function. The surface may be subdivided into a plurality of patches, a plurality of triangles, or a plurality of rectangles, inter alia. A plurality of points are calculated and distributed among the patches, triangles, or rectangles comprising the surface. Generation of such point clouds may be useful in rendering N-dimensional surfaces for display or output on computer display or output devices.

Abstract: A method and a device for determining the orientation of at least one rail of a measuring station of a chassis measuring device or a motor vehicle test line. The device has at least one sensing device, the at least one sensing device has at least one camera and at least one illumination unit. The at least one illumination unit illuminates at least one section of the rail using structured or unstructured light and the at least one camera records the light reflected by the rail.

Abstract: A wheel fixing unit includes: a body; a plurality of wheel connectors protruding forward from the body and connected to a tool connection hole in a wheel of a vehicle; and a cable connector protruding rearward from the body and including a connection terminal formed on a protruding end side such that a cable is connectable thereto. A calibration device using the wheel fixing unit includes: wheel fixing units respectively coupled to left and right wheels of a vehicle; a target board installed spaced apart in a direction corresponding to a vehicle body and configured such that a transmission signal of a sensor mounted on a front or rear surface of the vehicle body is reflected by a reflector and is incident on the sensor; and an interval maintaining cable connected to one end of the wheel fixing unit and one of the both sides of the target board.

Abstract: A vehicle lift comprising a main housing and a carriage assembly configured to engage a wheel of a vehicle, with the carriage assembly being vertically shiftable relative to the main housing. The vehicle lift additionally includes a lift control module for controlling actuation of said carriage assembly. The vehicle lift further includes a docking area configured to receive a diagnostic device, with the docking area including a power port configured to provide power to the diagnostic device.

Abstract: A system for determining road force uniformity of a tire is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of imaging devices and a computer communicatively-coupled to the plurality of imaging devices. The plurality of imaging devices images a plurality of surfaces of the tire as the tire-wheel assembly is rotated about an axis of rotation. The computer receives images captured by the plurality of imaging devices in order for the computer to extract data from the images such that the computer may execute a road force uniformity simulation algorithm for the purpose of algorithmically simulating road force uniformity of the tire.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the running gear of a motor vehicle includes: a left measuring unit for positioning on a left side of the motor vehicle, in such a way that a measurement target on a left front wheel and a measurement target on a left rear wheel of the motor vehicle can be sensed from the left measuring unit; a right measuring unit for positioning on a right side of the vehicle, in such a way that a measurement target on a right front wheel and a measurement target on a right rear wheel of the motor vehicle can be sensed from the right measuring unit; and an evaluation device embodied to identify the vehicle geometry data from images of the measurement targets of the front wheels and of the measurement targets of the rear wheels by way of a comparison with reference images of the measurement targets.

Abstract: A stereoscopic measurement system determines relative location of a point on an object based on a stereo image pair of the object. The system comprises an image capture device for capturing a stereo image pair of the object, the image pair comprising a first image and a second image of the object. The system comprises a processing system configurable to designate a first point and a second point on the first image, designate the first point and the second point on the second image, define stereo points based on the designated points, and to calculate a distance between the stereo points.

Abstract: An inflation work station for inflating a tire-wheel assembly including a tire mounted to a wheel is disclosed. The inflation work station includes at least one inflation probe including a female portion and a male portion. The male portion is arrangeable with respect to the female portion in one of a non-mated orientation such that the at least one inflation probe is arranged in an offline orientation and a mated orientation such that the at least one inflation probe is arranged in an online orientation. The inflation work station further includes a working device including a controller, at least one movement actuator connected to the controller and the at least one inflation probe. The at least one movement actuator imparts movement to the male portion to result in the online/offline orientation of the at least one inflation probe. The inflation work station includes at least one valve connected to the controller and the at least one inflation probe.

Abstract: A system for calibrating a vision system of an object. For example, a system for calibrating a surround view system of a vehicle. The system may be configured to capture, via a first and second image sensor, a first and second image of a plurality of objects. Upon capturing such information, the system may be configured to determine a position and orientation of the first and the second image sensor relative to the plurality of objects based on the first and the second captured image. Further, the system may be configured to determine a relative position and orientation between the first and the second image sensor based on a result of the determining a position and orientation of the first and the second image sensor. Also, the system may be configured to determine intrinsic and extrinsic parameters of the first and the second image sensor.

Abstract: A system for determining the orientation of at least one first wheel of a vehicle and provided with: at least one first target integrally coupled to the first wheel, an image-capturing device that acquires a first two-dimensional image of the first target and a processing device, operatively connected to the image-capturing device and processing the first two-dimensional image. The first target has a three-dimensional shape suitable for defining geometric quantities arranged according to a known three-dimensional arrangement; the processing device processes the first two-dimensional image to identify the projections of the geometric quantities and determine a spatial arrangement of the first target with respect to a reference system based on the geometrical characteristics of the projections, to determine the orientation characteristics of the first wheel.

Abstract: A wheel alignment measuring device using a body center line of a vehicle includes: front laser sensors provided at both sides of a front of a workbench on which the vehicle is disposed to measure positions of side panels each provided at both sides of a front of the vehicle; rear laser sensors at both sides of a rear of the workbench to measure positions of the side panels each provided at both sides of a rear of the vehicle; and a measuring unit configured to connect a center point A of a connection line connecting two points of a front of the side panels measured by the front laser sensors and a center point B of a connection line connecting two points of a rear of the side panels measured by the rear laser sensors to obtain a body center line C of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for measuring wheel alignment of a test wheel rotating about a z-axis using at least one camera and a processor includes obtaining a calibration point from a calibration image of a zero-offset wheel that is the same size as the test wheel and that rotates about the z-axis, obtaining at least one test image of the test wheel with the camera and a non-structured light source, and locating a measurement point in the test image. The measurement point coincides with a radius that the calibration point is offset from the z-axis and the angular displacement of the calibration point from the vertical diameter of the zero-offset wheel. The measurement point is further located based on a change of reflectivity between other points in the test image adjacent the measurement point.

Abstract: A machine vision vehicle wheel alignment system for acquiring measurements associated with a vehicle. The system includes at least one imaging sensor having a field of view and at least one optical target secured to a wheel assembly on a vehicle within the field of view of the imaging sensor. The optical target includes a plurality of visible target elements disposed on at least two surfaces in a determinable geometric and spatial configuration which are calibrated prior to use. A processing unit in the system is configured to receive at least two sets of image data from the imaging sensor, with each set of image data acquired at a different rotational position of the wheel assembly around an axis of rotation and representative of at least one visible target element on each of the two surfaces, from which the processing unit is configured to identify said axis of rotation of the wheel assembly.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method of assessing condition of a wheel on a moving vehicle involves contactlessly determining distance of a first location on the wheel along a fixed path from a fixed point not on the wheel at a first time while the vehicle is moving and contactlessly determining distance of a second location on the wheel along the fixed path from the fixed point at a second time after the vehicle has moved. The two distances are compared to determine an offset between the first and second locations on the wheel. The offset provides an indication of slip angle of the wheel while the vehicle is moving. The method can be used to assess wheel alignment and wheel suspension. An apparatus and system for effecting the method involves the use of a displacement sensor, especially an optical displacement sensor (e.g. a laser) for making the distance determinations.

Abstract: A geodetic target 1 for use in geodesy comprises an orienting device 10 with a bearing direction P, a first inclinometer 20 with a first axis of inclination 20A, a reflector 30 reflecting incident measurement beams S, an imaging optics 40 that focuses the incident measurement beams S, a matrix sensor 50, whose receiving surface 51 is situated in an image plane of the imaging optics 40, and an interface 60, which is connected to the first inclinometer 20 and the matrix sensor 50. The spatial arrangement and orientation of the optical axis and/or axis of symmetry 30A of the reflector 30 relative to the bearing direction P of the orienting device 10 is predetermined here. The first axis of inclination 20A makes an angle ? other than zero with an optical axis 40A of the imaging optics 40. The optical axis 40A of the imaging optics 40 coincides with an optical axis 30A and/or axis of symmetry of the reflector 30 or is parallel to it or make an angle with it.

Abstract: Precision approach path indicator (PAPI) measurement systems and methods are described herein. One system includes a number of light sensor modules, wherein each light sensor module is configured to determine an intensity of a beam of light from a PAPI unit, a memory, and a processor configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to determine a transition angle of the beam of light from the PAPI unit, an elevation angle of the beam of light with respect to horizontal, and a width of a transition region of the beam of light, based, at least in part, on the intensity of the beam of light determined by each light sensor module.

Abstract: A steering angle sensing device for vehicle wheel alignment includes a swingable rocking arm. The rocking arm can be located in a predetermined position and slidably connected with a simple wheel alignment calibrator. When a wheel of the vehicle is steered, the wheel alignment calibrator affixed to the wheel is synchronously rotated along with the steering of the wheel. At this time, the rocking arm is driven to swing by a corresponding angle and the steering angle sensing device emits a human-perceivable signal to a calibration worker, whereby the calibration worker can real-time know the steering angle of the wheel for conveniently performing the wheel alignment process.

Abstract: Method for determining wheel alignment of a vehicle, which vehicle comprises at least one wheel axle (12, 13, 14) having an axle end with at least one wheel member (2a-b, 3a-b, 4a-b) at a respective longitudinal side of the vehicle. The method comprises steps for determining the out of square of the wheel axle in relation to the longitudinal geometric centerline of the vehicle. A system for carrying out the method is also described.

Abstract: A wheel slide detection system with at least one device, such as a camera, to capture an image of a wheel, and a processor to receive the captured image, identify the wheel, and to analyze the relative position of the wheel to determine whether or not the wheel is rotating. The system can detect rotation, non-rotation or partial rotation of the wheel. The camera(s) can be triggered by sensor-activation or microprocessor-activation. A visible or electronically encoded feature or marker on the wheel can be used as a reference for establishing wheel rotation. A processing algorithm can compare the location of the feature or marker on consecutive images to assess rotation of the wheel by determining an angle of rotation of the wheel.