Method and apparatus for wheel alignment

Abstract

A vehicle wheel alignment method and system is provided. A three-dimensional target is attached to a vehicle wheel known to be in alignment. The three-dimensional target has multiple target elements thereon, each of which has known geometric characteristics and 3D spatial relationship with one another.

1 . A method for determining the alignment of a motor vehicle wheel, comprising the steps of:
 attaching a three-dimensional target on the vehicle wheel, wherein the three-dimensional target has thereon a plurality of target elements having known geometric characteristics and being configured in 3D space in accordance with known three-dimensional relationships with each other;   detecting, from a 2D image of the three-dimensional target acquired by at least one camera, a plurality of target element images corresponding to the plurality of target elements; and   determining the alignment of the wheel based on a spatial orientation of the three-dimensional target determined based on the target element images and the three-dimensional relationships among the target elements.   
     
     
         2 - 20 . (canceled)