Patent Issued for Systems And Methods For Machine-Assisted Vehicle Inspection (USPTO 10,497,108)

2019 DEC 13 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- From Alexandria, Virginia, NewsRx journalists report that a patent by the inventors Knuffman, Ryan (Danvers, IL); Sliz, Bradley A. (Normal, IL); Allen, Lucas (East Peoria, IL), filed on December 15, 2017, was published online on December 16, 2019.

The patent’s assignee for patent number 10,497,108 is State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (Bloomington, Illinois, United States).

News editors obtained the following quote from the background information supplied by the inventors: “Conventionally, inspection of a vehicle for damages and/or defects involves manual processes. A mechanic, for example, the mechanic may inspect the body and/or undercarriage of the vehicle. By inspecting the vehicle, the mechanic may identify, for example, aesthetic or functional damages to the vehicle, parts in need of replacement/repair, vehicle alignment issues, and/or other damage to the vehicle or defects of the vehicle. After identifying damage and/or a defect, the mechanic may determine remedial steps to correct the damage or defect (e.g., correction of wheel alignment, repair of a vehicle part, ordering a replacement vehicle part, etc.).

“These manual processes, however, may incur high equipment and labor costs. For example, any inspection of a vehicle may require a mechanic to move the vehicle from its current location (e.g., a parking lot) to a more appropriate location (e.g., a repair bay of an automotive repair shop) that offers more physical space and equipment for vehicle inspection. As another example, a complete and accurate inspection of the vehicle undercarriage may require a means for elevating the vehicle (e.g., a vehicle lift). Furthermore, the costs of any vehicle inspection processes are, naturally, subject to labor costs associated with the mechanics or technicians performing the processes.

“After inspecting the vehicle, a mechanic may estimate a cost or parts necessary for a service or repair. Alternatively, the mechanic may manually input results of the inspection into a tool to do the same. However, if the mechanic has misidentified or failed to identify a damage or defect of the vehicle, the mechanic or the tool may provide an inaccurate estimate.”

As a supplement to the background information on this patent, NewsRx correspondents also obtained the inventors’ summary information for this patent: “The present aspects may be generally related to utilization of remotely-controlled (RC) and/or autonomously operated inspection devices (e.g., RC or autonomously operated cars or drones to identify damage to a vehicle and/or a defect of the vehicle. The inspection device may capture one or more sets of imaging data indicative of at least a portion of the vehicle. The one or more sets of imaging data may be analyzed based upon data indicative of vehicle damage and/or a vehicle defect. Based upon the analysis of the one or more sets of imaging data, at least one of damage to the vehicle or a defect of the vehicle may be identified.

“According to one aspect, a computer system configured to identify at least one of damage to a vehicle or a defect of the vehicle may be provided. The computer system may include (1) one or more processors; and (2) one or more memories storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computer system to (i) cause, via at least one of the one or more processors or one or more transceivers, one or more sets of imaging data indicative of at least a portion of the vehicle (such as all, or a portion of, the undercarriage, including axles, body, wheels, brake lines, exhaust system, etc.) to be captured by an imaging unit of an inspection device, wherein the inspection device is at least one of autonomously operated or remotely-controlled; (ii) receive, via at least one of the one or more processors or the one or more transceivers, the one or more sets of imaging data indicative of the at least the portion of the vehicle captured by the imaging unit of the inspection device (such as via wireless communication or data transmission over one or more radio frequency links or digital communication channels); (iii) analyze, via the one or more processors, the one or more sets of imaging data based upon data indicative of at least one of vehicle damage (e.g., damage to the undercarriage, drivetrain, wheel alignment, axle, wheels, brake lines, exhaust system, etc.) or a vehicle defect being indicated by the one or more sets of imaging data; and/or (iv) identify, via the one or more processors, the at least one of the damage to the vehicle or the defect of the vehicle based upon the analyzing of the one or more sets of imaging data. The computer system may include additional, less, or alternate functionality and components, including those discussed elsewhere herein.

“According to another aspect, a computer-implemented method for identifying at least one of damage to a vehicle or a defect of the vehicle may be provided. The method may include (1) causing, via at least one of one or more processors or one or more transceivers, one or more sets of imaging data indicative of at least a portion of the vehicle to be captured by an imaging unit of an inspection device, wherein the inspection device is at least one of autonomously operated or remotely-controlled; (2) receiving, via at least one of the one or more processors or the one or more transceivers, the one or more sets of imaging data indicative of the at least the portion of the vehicle (e.g., all or a portion of the undercarriage, including axles, body, wheels, brake lines, exhaust system, etc.) captured by the imaging unit of the inspection device (such as via wireless communication or data transmission over one or more radio frequency links or digital communication channels); (3) analyzing, via the one or more processors, the one or more sets of imaging data based upon data indicative of at least one of vehicle damage (e.g., damage to the undercarriage, wheel alignment, drivetrain, axle, wheels, brake lines, exhaust system, etc.) or a vehicle defect being indicated by the one or more sets of imaging data; and/or (4) identifying, via the one or more processors, the at least one of the damage to the vehicle or the defect of the vehicle based upon the analyzing of the one or more sets of imaging data. The method may include additional, less, or alternate actions, including those discussed elsewhere herein. The method may be implemented via computer-executable instructions stored on non-transitory computer-readable media or medium.

“According to another aspect, a computer-implemented method for verifying a claim may be provided. The method may include (1) receiving, via at least one of one or more processors or one or more transceivers, an indication of a claim associated with a reported at least one of a damage to a vehicle or a defect of the vehicle (such as via wireless communication or data transmission over one or more radio frequency links or digital communication channels); (2) receiving, via at least one of the one or more processors or one or more transceivers (such as via wireless communication or data transmission over one or more radio frequency links or digital communication channels), one or more sets of imaging data captured by an imaging unit of an inspection device that is at least one of autonomously operated or remotely-controlled, the one or more sets of imaging data being indicative of at least a portion of the vehicle (such as all or a portion of the undercarriage, including axles, body, wheels, brake lines, exhaust system, etc.); (3) analyzing, via the one or more processors, the one or more sets of imaging data to identify at least one of damage to the vehicle (e.g., damage to the undercarriage, wheel alignment, drivetrain, axle, wheels, brake lines, exhaust system, etc.) or a defect of the vehicle; (4) analyzing, via the one or more processors, the identified at least one of the damage to the vehicle or the defect of the vehicle with respect to the reported damage to determine whether the damage to the vehicle has occurred or the reported defect of the vehicle is present, and/or (5) processing, via the one or more processors, the claim when it is determined that the reported damage to the vehicle has occurred or that the reported defect of the vehicle is present. The method may include additional, less, or alternate actions, including those discussed elsewhere herein. The method may be implemented via a computer system having processors and/or transceivers, and/or implemented via computer-executable instructions stored on non-transitory computer-readable media or medium.

“According to another aspect, a computer-implemented method for identifying at least one of damage to a current vehicle or a defect of the current vehicle damage based upon training sets of imaging data indicative of reference vehicles may be provided. The method may include (1) training one or more processing elements to identify at least one of vehicle damages or vehicle defects based upon the training sets of imaging data, the training sets of imaging data being indicative of, for each of the reference vehicles, at least a portion of the reference vehicle; (2) receiving, via a communication element, one or more current sets captured by an imaging unit of an inspection device that is at least one of autonomously operated or remotely-controlled, each the one or more current sets of imaging being indicative of at least a portion of the current vehicle (such as via wireless communication or data transmission over one or more radio frequency links or digital communication channels); and/or (3) analyzing, via the one or more trained processing elements, the one or more current sets of imaging data to identify the at least one of the damage to the current vehicle or the defect of the current vehicle. The method may include additional, less, or alternate actions, including those discussed elsewhere herein. The method may be implemented via a computer system having processors and/or transceivers, and/or implemented via computer-executable instructions stored on non-transitory computer-readable media or medium.”

The claims supplied by the inventors are:

“What is claimed is:

“1. A computer-implemented method for identifying at least one of damage to a current vehicle or a defect of the current vehicle damage based upon training sets of imaging data indicative of reference vehicles, the method comprising: training one or more processing elements to identify at least one of vehicle damages or vehicle defects based upon the training sets of imaging data, the training sets of imaging data being indicative of, for each of the reference vehicles, at least a portion of the reference vehicle; receiving, via a communication element, an indication of a claim associated with a reported at least one of a damage to the current vehicle or defect of the current vehicle; determining, via the one or more trained processing elements, based upon the claim, at least a portion of the current vehicle of which to capture imaging data; obtaining, via the communication element, one or more current sets of imaging data captured by an imaging unit of an inspection device that is at least one of autonomously operated or remotely-controlled, each the one or more current sets of imaging data being indicative of the determined at least the portion of the current vehicle; and analyzing, via the one or more trained processing elements, the one or more current sets of imaging data to identify or verify the at least one of the damage to the current vehicle or the defect of the current vehicle.

“2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the inspection device is a ground inspection device that is at least one of autonomously operated or remotely-controlled.

“3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the inspection device is an airborne inspection device that is at least one of autonomously operated or remotely-controlled.

“4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the identified or verified at least one of the damage or the defect includes at least one of a damaged vehicle part or a defective vehicle part.

“5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, further comprising scheduling, via the one or more processing elements, at least one of a maintenance, a repair, or a replacement of the at least one of the damaged vehicle part or the defective vehicle part.

“6. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, further comprising identifying, via the one or more processing elements, a replacement part for replacing the at least one of the damaged vehicle part or the defective vehicle part.

“7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, further comprising initiating, via the one or more processing elements, an order of the replacement part for replacing the at least one of the damaged vehicle part or the defective vehicle part.

“8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the identified or verified at least one of the damage or the defect includes an improper wheel alignment.

“9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising scheduling, via the one or more processing elements, a maintenance for correcting the improper wheel alignment.

“10. A computer system configured to identify at least one of damage to a current vehicle or a defect of the current vehicle based upon training sets of imaging data indicative of reference vehicles, the computer system comprising: one or more processing elements; and one or more memories comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processing elements, cause the computer system to: train the one or more processing elements to identify at least one of vehicle damages or vehicle defects based upon the training sets of imaging data, the training sets of imaging data being indicative of, for each of the reference vehicles, at least a portion of the reference vehicle; receive, via a communication element, an indication of a claim associated with a reported at least one of a damage to the current vehicle or defect of the current vehicle; determine, via the one or more trained processing elements, based upon the claim, at least a portion of the current vehicle of which to capture imaging data; obtain, via the communication element, one or more current sets of imaging data captured by an imaging unit of an inspection device that is at least one of autonomously operated or remotely-controlled, each the one or more current sets of imaging data being indicative of the determined at least the portion of the current vehicle; and analyze, via the one or more trained processing elements, the one or more current sets of imaging data to identify or verify the at least one of the damage to the current vehicle or the defect of the current vehicle.

“11. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the one or more current sets of imaging data include one or more sets of thermal imaging data.

“12. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the one or more current sets of imaging data include one or more sets of lidar imaging data.

“13. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the one or more current sets of imaging data include one or more sets of imaging data captured using a wide-angle camera lens of the imaging unit.

“14. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the computer system is further configured to generate, via the one or more processing elements, one or more terms of an insurance policy based upon the identified or verified at least one of the damage or the defect.

“15. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the computer system is further configured to modify, via the one or more processing elements, based upon the identified or verified at least one of the damage or the defect, an insurance policy of a party associated with the current vehicle.

“16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein modifying the insurance policy includes modifying at least one of a premium, a coverage limit, or a deductible.

“17. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the computer system is further configured to estimate, via the one or more processing elements, a monetary cost of at least one of a maintenance, a service, or a repair for correcting the identified or verified at least one of the damage or the defect.

“18. The computer system of claim 10, wherein the computer system is further configured to transmit, via at least one of the one or more processing elements or the communication element, to at least one of a mobile device of an owner of the current vehicle or a mobile device of an insurance representative, an indication of the identified or verified at least one of the damage or the defect.”

For additional information on this patent, see: Knuffman, Ryan; Sliz, Bradley A.; Allen, Lucas. Systems And Methods For Machine-Assisted Vehicle Inspection. U.S. Patent Number 10,497,108, filed December 15, 2017, and published online on December 16, 2019. Patent URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=10,497,108.PN.&OS=PN/10,497,108RS=PN/10,497,108

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