Techniques are disclosed for methods and systems for automating the operation of vehicle lifts in the servicing of automotive vehicles. The lifts may be motorized mobile column lifts and/or fixed lifts, including two-post lifts with swing-arms and a variety of drive-on lifts. Motorized mobile lifts have a motorized transport mechanism. A guidance system first assigns available motorized mobile lifts to the axled wheels of a vehicle and then directs their transport mechanism for transporting them to their engagement locations. It also guides the engagement of both the motorized mobile lifts and the fixed lifts in the service center. A number of technologies may be used for this purpose, including sensors onboard the vehicles and/or the lifts and/or the service center. A computer vision pipeline may also be utilized to assist in the process. Machine learning may also be employed. Techniques are also extended to autonomous vehicles as well as interfacing with fleet management software.
Automating the operation of vehicle lifts
2021-02-16
Patent
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
IPC: | B66F HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING, OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD , Hub-, Verhol- oder Schubvorrichtungen, soweit nicht anderweitig vorgesehen, z.B. Vorrichtungen mit unmittelbarer Krafteinwirkung auf die Last / G05D SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES , Systeme zum Steuern oder Regeln nichtelektrischer veränderlicher Größen |