System and method for detecting axle configuration on a multi-axle vehicle

A vehicle wheel alignment service system, comprising:

• a set of optical imaging sensors, said optical imaging sensors disposed within a vehicle service area to capture images of optical targets mounted to a set of wheels on at least three axles of a vehicle undergoing a wheel alignment service;
• a processing system operatively coupled to said optical imaging sensors to receive image data therefrom, said processing system configured with software instructions to
• acquire images of said visible optical targets secured to wheels on at least one lateral side of said vehicle;
• evaluate said acquired images to determine a range between each of said visible optical targets and one or more reference points within a common frame of reference;
• determine relative axle spacing for said vehicle axles from said determined ranges;
• present a representation of said axles on a graphical user interface, said representation including an indication of said determined relative axle spacing;
• receive through said graphical user interface operator input designating one or more axles of said vehicle as a steer axle, a non-steer axle, a drive axle, a reference axle, a rear axle, a tandem axle, or a trailer axle;
• select a vehicle wheel alignment service or inspection procedure in response to said determined relative spacing and said received operator input;
• and
• wherein said processing system is further configured with software instructions to conduct said selected vehicle alignment service or inspection procedure using said graphical user interface to provide operator guidance.

A method for configuring a vehicle wheel alignment measurement or inspection system to conduct a vehicle wheel alignment measurement and/or adjustment procedure for a vehicle having at least three axles, comprising:

• positioning said vehicle within a vehicle service area observable by a set of optical imaging sensors;
• securing an optical target to an outermost wheel assembly on at least one lateral side of said vehicle for each axle in an initial set of said axles;
• acquiring at least one image of each secured optical target from said set of optical imaging sensors;
• processing said acquired images to determine a range measurement associated with each of said secured optical targets;
• incrementing a set of measured axles on said vehicle by determining axle spacing between adjacent axles based on said measured ranges to each of said secured optical targets;
• removing said optical targets from at least one axle in said measured set of axles and repositioning said removed optical targets onto an outermost wheel assembly on said at least one lateral side of at least one unmeasured axle on said vehicle;
• utilizing said at least one repositioned optical target to repeat said steps of acquiring, processing, and incrementing said set of measured axles;
• repeating said steps of removing, repositioning, and utilizing until all axles of said vehicle are measured;
• selecting a vehicle wheel alignment measurement and/or adjustment procedure for said vehicle in response to a total number of axles in said set of measured axles and to said determined axle spacing for said measured axles;
• guiding an operator to complete said selected vehicle alignment measurement and/or adjustment procedure by presenting a representation of said measured axles on a graphical user interface together with said selected set of vehicle wheel alignment measurement and/or adjustment procedures.