Wheel aligner with improved accuracy and no-stop positioning using a drive direction calculation

A system for aligning a fixture relative to a vehicle, the system comprising:

• an image sensor for viewing a target disposed on the vehicle, and for capturing image data of the target as the vehicle is rolled, the image sensor being mounted on the fixture in a known location and orientation relative to a centerline of the fixture;
• and
• a data processor for performing the steps of:
• calculating, using the image data, a plural number of poses of the target as the vehicle is rolled;
• calculating a drive direction of the vehicle using the calculated poses of the target;
• and
• guiding a user to orient the centerline of the fixture to the vehicle drive direction using a user interface;
• wherein the target is mounted on the center of a front portion of the vehicle, wherein the data processor is for:
• determining a location of the target using the image sensor;
• calculating a centerline of the vehicle and the distance from the centerline of the fixture to the front portion of the vehicle using the location of the target;
• and
• guiding the user to position the fixture in orientation to the drive direction, and relative to the center of the front portion of the vehicle and to the vehicle centerline.

A system for aligning a fixture relative to a vehicle, the system comprising:

• an image sensor for viewing a target disposed on the vehicle, and for capturing image data of the target as the vehicle is rolled, the image sensor being mounted on the fixture in a known location and orientation relative to a centerline of the fixture;
• and
• a data processor for performing the steps of:
• calculating, using the image data, a plural number of poses of the target as the vehicle is rolled;
• calculating a drive direction of the vehicle using the calculated poses of the target;
• and
• guiding a user to orient the centerline of the fixture to the vehicle drive direction using a user interface;
• wherein the system comprises a second target mounted on a side of the vehicle directly above a front wheel center and in view of the image sensor, and
• wherein the data processor is for measuring a distance from the fixture to the second target, and for guiding the user to place the fixture at a predetermined distance from the front wheel center using the user interface.

A system for aligning a fixture relative to a vehicle, the fixture being separate from the vehicle, the system comprising:

• an image sensor disposed on the vehicle for viewing a target, and for capturing image data of the target as the vehicle is rolled, the target being mounted on the fixture in a known location and orientation relative to a centerline of the fixture;
• and
• a data processor for performing the steps of:
• calculating, using the image data, a plural number of poses of the target as the vehicle is rolled;
• calculating a drive direction of the vehicle which is a direction in which the vehicle is moving in a coordinate system of the image sensor using the calculated poses of the target;
• and
• guiding a user to orient the centerline of the fixture to the vehicle drive direction using a user interface.

A system for aligning a fixture relative to a vehicle, the system comprising:

• an image sensor disposed on the vehicle for viewing a target, and for capturing image data of the target as the vehicle is rolled, the target being mounted on the fixture in a known location and orientation relative to a centerline of the fixture;
• and
• a data processor for performing the steps of:
• calculating, using the image data, a plural number of poses of the target as the vehicle is rolled;
• calculating a drive direction of the vehicle using the calculated poses of the target;
• and
• guiding a user to orient the centerline of the fixture to the vehicle drive direction using a user interface;
• wherein the image sensor is mounted on the center of a front portion of the vehicle, wherein the data processor is for:
• determining a location of the target using the image sensor;
• calculating a centerline of the vehicle and the distance from the centerline of the fixture to the front portion of the vehicle using the location of the target;
• and
• guiding the user to position the fixture in orientation to the drive direction, and relative to the center of the front portion of the vehicle and to the vehicle centerline.