Using sound to detect vehicle body anomalies

A method for using sound to detect vehicle body damage, the method comprising:

• via one or more transceivers onboard a vehicle, sending first ultrasonic sound waves across a portion of the vehicle;
• via the one or more transceivers, receiving first reflected ultrasonic sound waves as a result of the first ultrasonic sound waves reflecting off a surface back to the one or more transceivers;
• storing first sound signature data relating to characteristics of the first reflected ultrasonic sound waves in a non-volatile memory of the vehicle;
• via the one or more transceivers, sending second ultrasonic sound waves across the portion of a vehicle body;
• via the one or more transceivers, receiving second reflected ultrasonic sound waves as a result of the second ultrasonic sound waves reflecting off a surface back to one or more the transceivers;
• determining second sound signature data relating to characteristics of the second reflected ultrasonic sound waves;
• and
• detecting damage in the portion of the vehicle based on the second sound signature data deviating from the first sound signature data.

A tangible, non-transitory computer storage medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, perform:

• via one or more transceivers mounted to a portion of a vehicle, sending and receiving a plurality of first ultrasonic sound waves across the portion of the vehicle;
• determining a plurality of first sound signatures relating to characteristics of the sent and received plurality of first ultrasonic sound waves to establish a baseline sound signature;
• sending and receiving a second ultrasonic sound wave across the portion of a vehicle;
• determining second sound signature relating to characteristics of the sent and received second ultrasonic sound wave;
• and
• outputting an electronic notification indicating damage on the portion of the vehicle in response to the second sound signature deviating from the baseline sound signature.