Patent ID: 8985848
Filing Date: 2015-03-24
Classification: G01M

Abstract:
1. A method of inspecting a commercial motor vehicle, the method comprising: while a commercial motor vehicle is passing along a laneway in a flow of traffic in an inspection area of a vehicle inspection station, upon the commercial motor vehicle triggering a trigger device, acquiring a thermal image of a portion of wheel equipment relating to a wheel of the commercial motor vehicle at a vehicle inspection station; providing a database of data on malfunctioning equipment collected from multiple other commercial motor vehicles; automatically creating an electronic file uniquely relating to the commercial motor vehicle, the electronic file comprising the thermal image; automatically identifying the portion of wheel equipment as a vehicle equipment component; automatically performing a statistical analysis of the thermal image to determine the probability of faulty equipment on the commercial motor vehicle by comparing the thermal image with the data on malfunctioning equipment in the database to identify one or more of inoperative brakes, out of adjustment brakes, overheated brakes and overheated bearings; and based on the statistical analysis, determining whether the vehicle should be subject to further inspection, and upon determining that the vehicle should be subject to further inspection, pulling the commercial motor vehicle from the flow of traffic for further inspection.