Patent ID: 9019488
Filing Date: 2015-04-28
Classification: G01B

Abstract:
1. A method for measuring wheel alignment of a test wheel that is rotating about a z-axis using at least one camera in communication with a processor, the method comprising: (a) 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; (b) obtaining at least one test image of the test wheel with the at least one camera and a non-structured light source; (c) locating a measurement point in the at least one test image, wherein 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, wherein the measurement point is further located using the processor based on a change of reflectivity between other points in the at least one test image adjacent the measurement point, and the change in reflectivity is based on a dissimilarity of reflectivity between components that make up the test wheel; repeating (a) and (c) to provide a plurality of calibration points and a plurality of measurement points; and comparing each calibration point to a respective measurement point to measure the wheel alignment.