Evaluation of Dynamic Wheel Alignment Audit System Performance

Wheel alignment audit systems are used in vehicle service environments to identify vehicles which may benefit from a comprehensive evaluation on a precision static alignment measurement system. Non-contact dynamic wheel alignment audit systems acquire measurement data from vehicles in motion passing between sensors in an inspection lane. The dynamic nature of the moving vehicles introduces variables which are not present when auditing wheel alignment on a static vehicle. Measurement results are affected by changes in vehicle velocity, steering movement, suspension movement, floor surface conditions, tire sidewall profiles, and driver presence, as well as other variables. Examining the effects on acquired measurements introduced to a non-contact dynamic wheel alignment audit system by these variables shows that utilization of multiple points of measurement and statistical averaging techniques allows for meaningful measurement results, enabling a non-contact dynamic wheel alignment audit system to reliably distinguish between moving vehicles which are in need of further inspection for alignment issues and moving vehicles which are aligned within manufacturer tolerances.