Problem Statement and Background
Commercial vehicles (CMV), including large and medium sized trucks and motor coaches, travel more than 200 billion miles per year.
Inspecting millions of CMVs for safety related issues is virtually impossible.
Infrared inspection is effective in identifying vehicles with a range of problems, such as:
- Inoperative brakes (below, left)
- Poorly inflated tires (below, center)
- Overheated bearings (below, right)
Used to prescreen vehicles, thereby focusing limited resources on those vehicles with known problems.
Thermal imaging is not widely employed, however, because:
- Expensive to buy and operate
- Current systems require human operator
- Only look at one side of vehicles
- Not effective at highway speed
IEM is developing Smart Infrared Inspection System in conjunction with FMCSA. SIRIS addresses first three issues. Current project, funded by NYSERDA, will specifically address use at highway speed.
Project Goals
- Identify and develop high-speed thermal imaging sensors to allow inspection of vehicles traveling at highway speed
- Design a high-speed infrared inspection system using this sensor
- Modify intelligent processing algorithms to operate at highway speed
- Interface this system with emerging VII systems for CMV inspection
- Demonstrate the system at a site in New York State
SIRIS Alpha Prototype at Weigh Station on Interstate 81, Greene County Tennessee
Features and Benefits of High Speed SIRIS
- Fully Automatic No full-time operator required, operates all the time
- Looks at Both Sides of Vehicle Always considers the entire vehicle in evaluation
- Relies on Temperature Data, Not Visual Cues Display technology limits capability to assess thermal data. What 'looks' hot may be cold, what 'looks' cold may be hot
- Employs "smart image processing" and expert systems Provides consistent evaluation from vehicle to vehicle
- Operates At Highway Speeds Increases number of CMVs screened for potential safety issues and integrates with wireless roadside inspection technology
Research & Development of High-Speed SIRIS is supported by
New York State Energy Research & Development Authority
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
International Electronic Machines Corporation 60 Fourth Ave., Albany, NY 12202-1924 518-449-5504, http://www.iem.net