Publication Details

Application of smart infrared technology to roadside commercial vehicle inspection

Type: conferencePapers

Author(s): Foss, Robert D.

Pages: 9

Publisher: ITS America

Url: https://trid.trb.org/View/897705

Publication Date: 2008

Abstract: This paper describes a project to apply smart infrared technology to roadside commercial vehicle inspection. The paper describes the technology developed by the International Electronic Machines Corporation (IEM), with funding from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. The authors report on progress on this project, discussing current data collection activities and development of rules for selection. Prior research has demonstrated that thermal imaging is an effective means for identifying potential problems with brakes, tires, and wheel bearings. However, up to now, the need to dedicate scarce human resources to actually conduct these thermal inspections has limited the extent to which it has been adopted by authorities responsible for vehicle safety inspections. IEM’s Smart Infrared Inspection System (SIRIS) uses a variety of methods to extract relevant thermal data from vehicles as they pass a pair of infrared cameras. By applying a set of rules to this thermal data, SIRIS is able to automatically identify which vehicles require additional inspection. Working in concert with inspectors in Tennessee, New York, and New Jersey, SIRIS has successfully identified vehicles with faulty brakes, underinflated tires, suspension problems, and overheated wheel bearings. With the detailed understanding of thermal properties for such safety issues, SIRIS will be able to automatically detect such flaws and notify inspectors in a timely manner. The authors conclude with a brief discussion of future SIRIS developments, including expert system development, controlled testing, increased speed, integration with pre-screening/wireless roadside inspection technologies, and passenger bus evaluation.

Conference name: 15th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems and ITS America's 2008 Annual Meeting, New York, NY, November 2008