# US 2018/0025624 A1 · Systems and methods to prevent carwash collisions > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0025624 A1 - Document ID: US20180025624A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/659,292 - Filed: 2017-07-25 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-25 - Assignees: NoPileups LLC - Applicants: NoPileups LLC - Inventors: Pete Ness; Richard A. Johnson, II; Robert W. Kaiser; Sami S. Wilf - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180025624A1 ## CPC - G08B 29/26: by updating and storing reference thresholds - B25J 9/0093: {co-operating with conveyor means} - G06T 7/246: using feature-based methods, e.g. the tracking of corners or segments - G06T 7/251: {involving models} - G06T 7/292: Multi-camera tracking - G08B 29/04: Monitoring of the detection circuits - H04N 13/111: Transformation of image signals corresponding to virtual viewpoints, e.g. spatial image interpolation - B60S 3/04: for exteriors of land vehicles {(B60S3/002, B60S3/004 take precedence; specially adapted for railway vehicles B60S3/006)} - G06T 2207/10016: Video; Image sequence - G06T 2207/20081: Training; Learning - G06T 2207/30236: Traffic on road, railway or crossing - G06T 2207/30261: Obstacle - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - B25J: MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES ({manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; manipulators used in cleaning hollow articles B08B9/04}; manipulators associated with rolling mills B21B39/20; manipulators associated with forging machines B21J13/10; {manipulators associated with picking-up and placing mechanisms B23P19/007}; means for holding wheels or parts thereof B60B30/00; {vehicles with ground-engaging propulsion means, e.g. walking members B62D57/02, B62D57/032; devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials between conveyors B65G47/90, B65G47/91; manipulators with gripping or holding means for transferring packages B65H67/065}; cranes B66C; {manipulators used in the protection or supervision of pipe-line installations F17D5/00; walking equipment adapted for nuclear steam-generators F22B37/006}; manipulators specially adapted for, or associated with, nuclear reactors G21C; {apparatus used for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor H10P72/50}) - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - B60S: SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract Disclosed systems and methods prevent collisions in a carwash property. Disclosed systems and methods include software that brings together computer vision and machine learning algorithms to track the interaction of vehicles and equipment within the environment of a carwash to improve safety and optimize production. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising a wash tunnel comprising a conveyor and wash equipment; at least one vision device comprising a field of view that includes at least a portion of the wash tunnel; a central controller comprising: a tracking system; and a wash tunnel control system; and wherein the tracking system communicates with the at least one vision device and the wash tunnel control system to control the conveyor based upon events observed in the field of view. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the tracking system further comprises: a modeling module that creates a model of a wash tunnel path. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the tracking system further comprises: a notification module that provides a notification upon the occurrence of an event. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the tracking system further comprises: a tracking module that tracks motion in the wash tunnel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4 wherein the tracking module further comprises: unique point identification to track motion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5 wherein the tracking module further comprises: unique point variance over time to track motion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4 wherein the tracking module further comprises: a location module; a measuring module; a point identification module; and wherein an identified point is located and measured on a path through a defined field of vision. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4 wherein the tracking module further comprises: a known image module that stores known vehicle images; and wherein the known vehicle images are used to generate a mask template. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4 wherein the tracking module further comprises: an exclusion module that masks regions in the wash tunnel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4 wherein the tracking module further comprises: a machine learning module that excludes regions in the wash tunnel based on prior collected data. ### Claim 11 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4 wherein the tracking module further comprises: a location module; a measuring module; a point identification module; and a stereoscopic module that creates stereoscopic vision from the at least one vision device by using location and measurements of an identified point as it progresses through the field of view. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the wash tunnel control system controls the operation of the wash equipment based at least in part on communications from the tracking system. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the wash tunnel control system controls further comprises: a drive motor module; an emergency module; a system interface; a trigger module; and a display interface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13 wherein the wash tunnel control system controls further comprises one or more of: an audio interface; a queuing interface; a POS interface; or a 3rd party interface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13 wherein the display interface communicates with at least one indicator that indicates a condition within the wash tunnel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14 wherein the audio interface communicates with at least one indicator that indicates a condition within the wash tunnel. ### Claim 17 A method comprising: detecting a vehicle's entry into a wash tunnel with a first vision device; identifying a point on the vehicle; monitoring the identified point on the vehicle for flow through a field of vision of the first vision device; and filtering the flow through the field of vision against a modeled path through the wash tunnel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 further comprising: detecting the vehicle's entry into a field of vision of a second vision device; monitoring the identified point on the vehicle for flow through the field of vision of the second vision device; filtering the flow through the field of vision against a modeled path through the wash tunnel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 further comprising: verifying a location of the vehicle against the modeled path through the wash tunnel; and if unable to verify, signaling the occurrence of a potentially adverse event. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 wherein the signaling the occurrence of a potentially adverse event further comprises issuing a stop conveyor signal.