Automated wheel slide detector

Abstract

A wheel slide detection system including an image capture means to capture an image of a wheel and a processing means to receive said captured image, identify said wheel and analyse the relative position of said wheel to determine whether said wheel is rotating.

1 . A wheel slide detection system including: 
 an image capture means to capture an image of a wheel; and    a processing means to receive said captured image, identify said wheel and analyse the relative position of said wheel to determine whether said wheel is rotating.    
     
     
         2 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of image capture means are included.  
     
     
         3 . A system as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , wherein a plurality of images are captured by said image capture means to enable relative comparison between each said image.  
     
     
         4 . A system as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the comparison is made between consecutive captured images.  
     
     
         5 . A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further including a trigger means to activate said image capture means.  
     
     
         6 . A system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said trigger means is a switch or an electronic impulse generated by a microprocessor.  
     
     
         7 . A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further including at least one additional trigger means to provide at least one reference point for said processing means.  
     
     
         8 . A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein each said image capture means is a camera.  
     
     
         9 . A system as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said camera includes automated iris control mechanisms adapted to adjust to varying lighting conditions.  
     
     
         10 . A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further including a lighting means to illuminate said wheel.  
     
     
         11 . A system as claimed in  claim 10 , further including a lighting control means to adjust the illumination provided by said lighting means dependent on ambient conditions.  
     
     
         12 . A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein to determine whether said wheel is rotating, said processing means identifies a fixed component, feature or marker on said wheel, and analyses the movement of said fixed component or feature to determine whether said wheel is rotating.  
     
     
         13 . A system as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein at least two images are captured. by said image capture means, and said processing means compares the relative position of said component, marker or feature in each said image to determine rotation.  
     
     
         14 . A system as claimed in  claim 12  or  13 , wherein the degree of rotation determined by said processing means is compared with expected rotation of said wheel to determine whether said wheel is partially or fully rotating.  
     
     
         15 . A system as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the expected angle (f rotation is determined by (D/R)×(360/2xπ) 
 where D equals distance traveled by said wheel,  
 R equals radius of said wheel, and  
 π is a mathematical constant.  
 
     
     
         16 . A system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the image capture means uses a slow shutter or time lapse technique.  
     
     
         17 . A system as claimed  claim 16 , wherein to determine whether said wheel is rotating, said processing means identifies a fixed component, feature or marker on said wheel, and analyses the movement of said fixed component or feature to determine whether said wheel is rotating.  
     
     
         18 . A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein if said processing means determines said wheel is not rotating, or is partially rotating, an alert or warning message is sent to at least one predetermined recipient.