Abstract: Described is a system (and method) for locating a center point of a lug nut for an automated vehicle wheel removal system. To improve the accuracy of the center point, the system may perform machine learning inferences using two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) image data. The system may process a 2D image to infer an initial center point, and potentially improve the accuracy by leveraging a 3D image. More particularly, the system may process a 3D image to infer a location of one or more edges (or edge points) around the perimeter of the lug nut and measure a set of distances between the initial center point and the located set of edges. The system may then refine (or adjust) the center point based on such measurements.

Abstract: Described is a system (and method) for locating a center point of a lug nut for an automated vehicle wheel removal system. To improve the accuracy of the center point, the system may perform machine learning inferences using two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) image data. The system may process a 2D image to infer an initial center point, and potentially improve the accuracy by leveraging a 3D image. More particularly, the system may process a 3D image to infer a location of one or more edges (or edge points) around the perimeter of the lug nut and measure a set of distances between the initial center point and the located set of edges. The system may then refine (or adjust) the center point based on such measurements.

Abstract: Vehicle dimension data describing dimensions of a vehicle are obtained, a robotic apparatus is moved to a position about the vehicle, a reference point of the vehicle is determined, and the robotic apparatus is caused to move to positions about the vehicle based on the reference point. The reference point may be a center point of a selected wheel of the vehicle. A coordinate system of the robotic apparatus is aligned to the reference point of the selected wheel of the vehicle. Based on the aligned coordinate system of the robotic apparatus, operations are performed by the robotic apparatus to remove lug nuts from a wheel hub of the vehicle.

Abstract: A device for winding elongate flexible objects is disclosed herein. The device includes a rigid member extending along a central axis between first and second ends. The device also includes first and second forks each having a base mountable to the rigid member and a plurality of tines supported on the base. The first fork and the second fork are further defined as both being removably engaged with the rigid member. The plurality of tines of the first fork include at least one tine mounted for pivoting movement about a pivot axis extending transverse to the central axis and this tine is larger than the other tines of the first fork.

Abstract: A device for winding elongate flexible objects is disclosed herein. The device includes a rigid member extending along a central axis between first and second ends. The device also includes first and second forks each having a base mountable to the rigid member and a plurality of tines supported on the base. The first fork and the second fork are further defined as both being removably engaged with the rigid member. The plurality of tines of the first fork include at least one tine mounted for pivoting movement about a pivot axis extending transverse to the central axis and this tine is larger than the other tines of the first fork.

Abstract: A device for winding elongate flexible objects is disclosed herein. The device includes a rigid member extending along a central axis between first and second ends. The device also includes a first fork having a base mounted to the rigid member at the first end of the rigid member and a plurality of tines supported on the base. The device also includes a second fork member having a base mounted to the rigid member at the second end of the rigid member and a plurality of tines supported on the base. The first fork and the second fork are further defined as both being removably engaged with the rigid member.

Abstract: A device for winding elongate flexible objects is disclosed herein. The device includes a rigid member extending along a central axis between first and second ends. The device also includes a first fork having a base mounted to the rigid member at the first end of the rigid member and a plurality of tines supported on the base. The device also includes a second fork member having a base mounted to the rigid member at the second end of the rigid member and a plurality of tines supported on the base. The first fork and the second fork are further defined as both being removably engaged with the rigid member.