Wheel Alignment of a Suspension Module Unit Using a Laser Module

Abstract

Vehicle wheel alignment inspection is generally carried out using a computer vision-based system. Due to its inspection mechanism using four wheel centers, the computer vision-based system cannot be applied to the wheel alignment inspection of suspension module units. However, when a vehicle suspension module is being developed, there is no complete car ready for wheel alignment inspection even though it is a very important procedure for suspension property tests. This study proposes a novel and efficient way to inspect vehicle wheel alignment for suspension modules. Two laser modules and several mechanical jigs were employed for wheel alignment inspection, allowing the toe and camber angles of the suspension module to be measured. For accurate wheel alignment results, calibration of the laser modules was performed prior to the inspection. This calibration procedure adjusts the yaw and pitch angles of the laser module so that they can be orthogonal to the mounting jig. For the calibration, a novel method of using laser straightness was adopted and, consequently, 0.02 degrees of orthogonality was achieved. The wheel alignment inspection results were determined then verified using a vision system with two cameras. In order to use this vision system, two cameras were used and a new method of modifying the measurement mechanism was developed. According to the verification results, the proposed wheel alignment inspection provided very high measurement accuracy. The wheel alignment inspection mechanism proposed in this study can not only give very reliable results but also provide a cost-efficient method of inspecting the wheel alignment of suspension modules to automakers.

Effects of Front Total Toe-In Angle on Tire Wear and Emissions for a Light-Duty Vehicle

“…Te experimental method was developed based on the concepts of Singh and Taheri [38] and Kim and Lee [39], which focused on the regression model and the wheel alignment inspection process. Regression analysis is carried out to determine the best prediction equation describing tire wear and CO 2 emissions in relation to the wheel front total toe-in angle.…”

Development of the Android-Based Mobile Application 'Mywheel Alignment' for Wheel Alignment Topics in Automotive Technology Courses at Vocational Colleges

“…The function of a wheel alignment is to ensure that the driven vehicle moves in perfect condition and to obtain grip between the wheels and the road surface. Therefore, a vehicle must have a good wheel control system when turning or when the vehicle is moving straight (Kim & Lee, 2020). The wheel alignment process which includes checking the correct angle of the wheel is the main thing in the automotive field (D'Mello et al 2022).…”

Vehicle Dynamics, Lateral Forces, Roll Angle, Tire Wear and Road Profile States Estimation - A Review

“…It is worth noting that an anti-lock braking system (ABS) has improved human safety [94]. The chasm model has been used for developing the automotive control system and laser module [95] that are used in vehicle stability control systems and can maintain vehicle stability and passengers' safety even in extreme situations. However, these control systems need accurate information about vehicle sideslip angle, lateral and longitudinal forces in potential vehicle trajectories, and real-time road conditions for better vehicle dynamic management.…”

“…Therefore, according to continuation in research, our experimental method is developed based on the concept of [20] and [95] which both focused on the regression model and wheel alignment inspection process. It has been found that the regression model has maintained a good correlation between the dependent variable and independent variable with our experimental data.…”