Apparatus and method for checking the attitude of a vehicle

1. An apparatus ( 1 ) for checking the attitude of a vehicle ( 2 ), comprising:

at least one target ( 3 a ) defining a spatial reference system;

a mobile unit ( 4 ) equipped with measuring means ( 10 ), for measuring the value of parameters representing the geometric characteristics of a vehicle ( 2 ) wheel ( 9 ) and its position relative to the mobile unit ( 4 ), and with means ( 11 ) for viewing the at least one target ( 3 );

a processor ( 13 ) connected to the measuring means ( 10 ) and to the viewing means ( 11 ) for calculating the position and orientation of the wheel ( 9 ) relative to the spatial reference system and to obtain characteristic parameter values for the attitude of the vehicle ( 2 );

an interface ( 23 ) associated with the mobile unit ( 4 ) and designed to make available in real time to the user manually driving the mobile unit ( 4 ) information relating to the position of the measuring means ( 10 ) relative to the wheel ( 9 ), whereby a user is allowed to manually drive the mobile unit ( 4 ) and to position it in the proximity of the wheel ( 9 ) according to said information, wherein the mobile unit ( 4 ) comprises a trolley ( 5 ) equipped with handles or handgrips to make it easier for the user to manually guide the trolley ( 5 ) to the desired position in front of the vehicle wheel ( 9 ), and wherein said interface ( 23 ) comprises a display mounted on the trolley ( 5 ).

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the interface ( 23 ) is designed to make available in real time to the user information relating to the position of the viewing means ( 11 ) relative to the at least one target ( 3 a ).

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the measuring means ( 10 ) comprise at least one camera ( 14 ) designed to frame at least one portion of the vehicle ( 2 ) being checked and to capture at least one image of the wheel ( 9 ), the interface ( 23 ) being adapted to tell the user whether the wheel ( 9 ) is within the field of vision of the camera ( 14 ).

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the measuring means ( 10 ) comprise two cameras ( 14 ) in a stereo setup, the processor ( 13 ) being designed to generate from the images captured by the cameras ( 14 ) a digital representation of the wheel ( 9 ) in the spatial reference system.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the interface ( 23 ) is adapted to display an image captured by the at least one camera ( 14 ) and an image captured by the viewing means ( 11 ).

6. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the processor ( 13 ) is adapted to calculate, from dimensional data relating to the wheel ( 9 ) and stored in a memory unit, a reference position of the mobile unit ( 4 ) relative to the wheel ( 9 ), corresponding to an optimum condition for the measuring means ( 10 ) to obtain the measurement parameters, the interface ( 23 ) being connected to the processor ( 13 ) to make available to the user information ( 29 , 31 ) regarding the real position of the mobile unit ( 4 ) relative to the reference position.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the interface ( 23 ) comprises a screen mounted adjustably on the mobile unit ( 4 ) to be oriented in such a way as to facilitate viewing by a user located near the mobile unit ( 4 ).

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:

the measuring means ( 10 ) are associated with a front portion ( 7 ) of the mobile unit ( 4 ) and are substantially directed in a longitudinal direction towards the outside of the mobile unit ( 4 );

the viewing means ( 11 ) comprise two cameras ( 12 ) substantially directed transversally in opposite sideways directions.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one target ( 3 a ) is fixed to a mounting structure ( 19 ) designed to be moved manually by the user to position it near the vehicle ( 2 ).

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising, additionally to said at least one target, which constitutes a first target, a second target ( 3 a ), for defining the spatial reference system, wherein said first and second targets are fixed to a mounting structure ( 19 ) in a predetermined position relative to one another.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the trolley ( 5 ) is equipped with a plurality of wheels ( 6 ), wherein at least one of said wheels ( 6 ) is of the swivelling type to make it easier to position the measuring unit.

12. A method for checking the attitude of a vehicle ( 2 ), comprising the following steps:

preparing at least one target ( 3 ) defining a spatial reference system;

positioning the target ( 3 ) near the vehicle;

preparing a mobile unit ( 4 ) equipped with measuring means ( 10 ) for measuring the value of parameters representing the geometric characteristics of a vehicle ( 2 ) wheel ( 9 ) and its position relative to the mobile unit and with means ( 11 ) for viewing the at least one target ( 3 ), wherein the mobile unit ( 4 ) comprises a trolley ( 5 ) equipped with handles or handgrips;

preparing a processor ( 13 ) connected to the measuring means ( 10 ) and to the viewing means ( 11 ) for calculating the position and orientation of the wheel ( 9 ) relative to the spatial reference system and to obtain characteristic parameter values for the attitude of the vehicle;

manually driving the mobile unit ( 4 ) to position it relative to one of the wheels ( 9 ), in such a way as to enable the measuring means ( 10 ) to measure the value and simultaneously allow the viewing means ( 11 ) to see the at least one target ( 3 );

displaying in real time to a user who is manually driving the mobile unit ( 4 ) information relating to the position of the measuring means ( 10 ) relative to the wheel ( 9 ), said positioning step being repeated for all the wheels ( 9 ) on the vehicle ( 2 ) to be measured,

wherein the step of displaying the information is performed by an interface ( 23 ) associated with the mobile unit ( 4 ) and connected to the processor ( 13 ), wherein said interface ( 23 ) comprises a display mounted on the trolley ( 5 ).

13. The method according to claim 12 , comprising displaying in real time to the user information relating to the position of the viewing means ( 11 ) relative to the target ( 3 ).

14. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising the following steps:

moving the target ( 3 ) to a position near another vehicle to be checked;

repeating the positioning step for all the wheels of said other vehicle to be measured.

15. The method according to claim 12 , wherein positioning the target ( 3 ) comprises fixing it to the vehicle being checked.

16. An apparatus ( 1 ) for checking the attitude of a vehicle ( 2 ), comprising:

at least one target ( 3 a ) defining a spatial reference system;

a mobile unit ( 4 ) equipped with measuring means ( 10 ), for measuring the value of parameters representing the geometric characteristics of a vehicle ( 2 ) wheel ( 9 ) and its position relative to the mobile unit ( 4 ), and with means ( 11 ) for viewing the at least one target ( 3 );

a processor ( 13 ) connected to the measuring means ( 10 ) and to the viewing means ( 11 ) for calculating the position and orientation of the wheel ( 9 ) relative to the spatial reference system and to obtain characteristic parameter values for the attitude of the vehicle 2 ;

an interface ( 23 ) associated with the mobile unit ( 4 ) and designed to make available in real time to the user manually driving the mobile unit ( 4 ) information relating to the position of the measuring means ( 10 ) relative to the wheel ( 9 ), whereby a user is allowed to manually drive the mobile unit ( 4 ) and to position it in the proximity of the wheel ( 9 ) according to said information, wherein the interface ( 23 ) and the processor ( 13 ) are adapted to display a screen page comprising:

a wheel ( 9 ) framing areas ( 25 ) containing real-time images ( 31 ) captured by measuring cameras ( 14 ), or a digital representation thereof;

a panel ( 26 ) representing the targets ( 3 ), containing real-time images ( 30 ) of the targets captured by range cameras ( 12 ), or digital representations thereof.

17. The apparatus ( 1 ) of claim 16 , wherein the interface ( 23 ) and the processor ( 13 ) are adapted to display said screen page additionally comprising an area ( 27 ) for displaying a schematic representation of the vehicle being measured and of the vehicle wheels ( 9 ) or of the position thereof, indicating the wheel ( 9 ) where the mobile unit ( 4 ) is currently positioned and the wheels ( 9 ) that have already been measured.

18. A method for checking the attitude of a vehicle ( 2 ), comprising the following steps:

preparing at least one target ( 3 ) defining a spatial reference system;

positioning the target ( 3 ) near the vehicle;

preparing a mobile unit ( 4 ) equipped with measuring means ( 10 ) for measuring the value of parameters representing the geometric characteristics of a vehicle ( 2 ) wheel ( 9 ) and its position relative to the mobile unit and with means ( 11 ) for viewing the at least one target ( 3 );

preparing a processor ( 13 ) connected to the measuring means ( 10 ) and to the viewing means ( 11 ) for calculating the position and orientation of the wheel ( 9 ) relative to the spatial reference system and to obtain characteristic parameter values for the attitude of the vehicle;

manually driving the mobile unit ( 4 ) to position it relative to one of the wheels ( 9 ), in such a way as to enable the measuring means ( 10 ) to measure the value and simultaneously allow the viewing means ( 11 ) to see the at least one target ( 3 );

displaying in real time to a user who is manually driving the mobile unit ( 4 ) information relating to the position of the measuring means ( 10 ) relative to the wheel ( 9 ), said positioning step being repeated for all the wheels ( 9 ) on the vehicle ( 2 ) to be measured,

wherein the step of displaying the information is performed by an interface ( 23 ) associated with the mobile unit ( 4 ) and connected to the processor ( 13 ),

wherein the interface ( 23 ) and the processor ( 13 ) are adapted to display a screen page comprising:

a wheel ( 9 ) framing areas ( 25 ) containing real-time images ( 31 ) captured by measuring cameras ( 14 ), or a digital representation thereof;

a panel ( 26 ) representing the targets ( 3 ), containing real-time images ( 30 ) of the targets captured by range cameras ( 12 ), or digital representations thereof.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the interface ( 23 ) and the processor ( 13 ) are adapted to display said screen page additionally comprising an area ( 27 ) for displaying a schematic representation of the vehicle being measured and of the vehicle wheels ( 9 ) or of the position thereof, indicating the wheel ( 9 ) where the mobile unit ( 4 ) is currently positioned and the wheels ( 9 ) that have already been measured.