Method and apparatus for determining a location of a vehicle feature

1. A method for determining a location of a vehicle feature ( 14 ) of a vehicle ( 10 ) relative to an environmental feature ( 20 ) located in an environmental zone of the vehicle feature ( 14 ), the method comprising the steps:

arranging a camera ( 12 ) at the vehicle ( 10 ) with a fixed orientation relative to the vehicle ( 10 ) such that the vehicle feature ( 14 ) and an environmental zone of the vehicle feature ( 14 ) are disposed in the field of view of the camera ( 12 );

generating an index ( 25 ) in the environmental zone of the vehicle feature ( 14 ) for determining the location of the vehicle feature ( 14 ) relative to an environmental feature ( 20 ) located in the environmental zone;

taking at least one measurement image ( 30 ) during the travel of the vehicle by means of the camera ( 12 ) or generating at least one measurement image ( 30 ) from an image taken by the camera ( 12 ), wherein the measurement image ( 30 ) includes the vehicle feature ( 14 ), the index ( 25 ) and an environmental feature ( 20 ) located in the environmental zone of the vehicle feature ( 14 ); and

determining the location of the vehicle feature ( 14 ) relative to the environmental feature ( 20 ) with reference to the position of the environmental feature ( 20 ) relative to the index ( 25 ) in the measurement image ( 30 ), wherein the generating of the index ( 25 ) and the generating of the measurement image ( 30 ) comprise the steps:

placing a measuring scale ( 24 ) at the vehicle feature with a stationary vehicle ( 10 );

taking a source image ( 22 ) by the camera including the vehicle feature ( 14 ) and the measuring scale ( 24 );

removing the measuring scale ( 24 ) from the vehicle feature ( 14 );

taking at least one intermediate image ( 28 ) by the camera ( 12 ) during a travel of the vehicle ( 10 ), wherein the intermediate image ( 28 ) includes the vehicle feature ( 14 ) and an environmental feature ( 20 ) located in the environmental zone of the vehicle feature ( 14 ); and

at least partly superposing the source image ( 22 ) and the intermediate image ( 28 ) on the measurement image ( 30 ) such that the measuring scale ( 24 ) is visible in the measurement image ( 30 ) at that point at which it was taken in the source image ( 22 ) and the environmental feature ( 20 ) taken with the intermediate image ( 28 ) is visible in the measurement image ( 30 ).

2. The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the placing of the measuring scale ( 24 ) comprises a positioning of the measuring scale ( 24 ) on a base on which the vehicle ( 10 ) stands; and/or in that the measuring scale ( 24 ) is placed substantially transversely, in particular perpendicular, to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle ( 10 ).

3. The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the index ( 25 ), is projected, in particular by a laser system and/or by a projector, onto a base section in the environmental zone of the vehicle feature ( 14 ) and the measurement image ( 30 ) is an image taken by the camera ( 12 ).

4. The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein a spacing, in particular a spacing measured transversely and/or perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle ( 10 ), between the vehicle feature ( 14 ) and the environmental feature ( 20 ) is determined as the location.

5. The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the vehicle feature ( 14 ) is a tire of the vehicle ( 10 ); and/or in that the environmental feature ( 20 ) is a road marking or a road boundary.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the intermediate image ( 28 ) and/or the measurement image ( 30 ) form frames of respective intermediate video sequences or measurement video sequences.