Methods and systems for determining part wear based on digital image of part

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for determining part wear using a mobile device. One such exemplary method includes capturing, using the mobile device, at least one digital image of a wear part of a machine. The method further includes determining, by the mobile device and based on the at least one digital image, a degree of wear of the wear part.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for determining part wear using a mobile device, comprising:
 capturing, using the mobile device, at least one digital image of a wear part of a machine;   identifying, using the mobile device, in the at least one digital image, a wear edge of the wear part;   identifying, using the mobile device, in the at least one digital image, at least one feature of the wear part;   measuring, using the mobile device, in the at least one digital image, the wear edge of the wear part, including measuring, in the at least one digital image, a value of a dimension of the wear part based on the identified wear edge and on the identified at least one feature, wherein measuring a value of a dimension of the wear part includes measuring a distance from a line connected with the identified at least one feature and a line defining the identified wear edge in the at least one digital image; and   determining, using the mobile device, the degree of wear of the wear part based upon the measurement of the wear edge.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising executing, by the mobile device, an application to capture the at least one digital image and to determine the degree of wear of the wear part. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein measuring a value of a dimension of the wear part includes measuring a distance from the identified at least one feature to the identified wear edge in the at least one digital image. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein measuring a distance includes determining a number of pixels between the identified at least one feature and the identified wear edge in the at least one digital image. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining a degree of wear of the wear part includes looking up the measured value of the dimension of the wear part in a wear table that defines the degree of wear of the wear part as a function of the value of the dimension. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining a degree of wear of the wear part further includes:
 calibrating the at least one digital image; and   converting the measurement based on the calibration.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein calibrating the at least one digital image includes:
 identifying, in the at least one digital image, a first feature and a second feature of the wear part;   measuring, in the at least one digital image, a distance between the first feature and the second feature;   determining a known distance between the first feature and the second feature based on specification information for the wear part; and   calculating a calibration factor based on the measured distance and the known distance, and   wherein converting the measurement based on the calibration includes converting the measurement based on the calibration factor.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further including displaying, by the mobile device, an indication of the determined degree of wear of the wear part. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further including:
 determining, by the mobile device, whether the degree of wear is greater than a threshold; and   sending, by the mobile device and based upon a determination that the degree of wear is greater than the threshold, a notification to a dealer system associated with the machine.