Inspection Facility

Abstract

An enhanced claims settlement apparatus may process insurance claims rapidly and accurately. The apparatus may first receive a notification of loss associated with an insured item (e.g., car, boat, truck, home, etc.). The apparatus may then apply various algorithms for using sensors to identify, analyze, and estimate the cost of damage associated with the insured item. The sensors that are a part of the enhanced claims settlement server may include cameras, tactile sensors, electromagnetic sensors, etc. that may communicate data to a processor associated with the server. Once the data has been generated and analyzed by the sensors, a claim settlement file may be transmitted to a claimant.

1 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable program instructions stored thereon that when executed by a processor, cause a computing device of an inspection facility to:
 initiate an automatic inspection of a vehicle in response to receiving the vehicle at an inspection location within the inspection facility, the inspection facility comprising a plurality of sensors communicatively coupled with the computing device, wherein the plurality of sensors comprise one or more lasers;   receive damage information corresponding to the vehicle within the inspection facility, the damage information including a description of the location of damage;   analyze the damage information to identify a desired view of a portion of the vehicle;   control movement of the plurality of sensors to manipulate the position of the sensors with respect to the vehicle based on the analyzed damage information to examine the desired view of the portion of the vehicle, wherein the desired view of the portion of the vehicle incudes damage to the vehicle;   control operation of the plurality of sensors to make laser measurements of the vehicle using the one or more lasers, wherein the plurality of sensors generate sensor data characterizing one or more physical conditions of the vehicle when the vehicle is positioned at the inspection location;   receive, from the plurality of sensors, the sensor data characterizing the one or more physical conditions of the vehicle;   receive vehicle specification data;   compare the one or more physical conditions of the vehicle to the vehicle specification data;   determine vehicle exterior damage based on the comparison of the one or more physical conditions and the vehicle specification data;   determine vehicle interior damage based on the determination of the vehicle exterior damage and the comparison of the one or more physical conditions and the vehicle specification data;   receive, from an on-board diagnostic system on the vehicle communicatively coupled to the computing device, vehicle operation information data, the vehicle operation information data characterizing operation of the vehicle, the vehicle operation information data comprises vehicle condition information;   identifying one or more operating conditions of the vehicle, at least in part on the, vehicle condition information;   determine an estimated cost to repair the vehicle based, at least in part, on the vehicle exterior damage, the determined interior damage, and the identified operating condition of the vehicle; and   generate a claim settlement file based on the automatic inspection wherein the claim settlement file comprises the estimated cost to repair the vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor further cause the computing device to:
 perform object recognition to compare one or more images of the vehicle with one or more images of an undamaged vehicle of similar make and model.   
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the vehicle operation information comprises at least one of a speed measurement characterizing a speed of the vehicle, a braking measurement characterizing a braking of the vehicle, or an acceleration measurement characterizing an acceleration of the vehicle.   
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the vehicle condition information comprises at least one of a vehicle mileage measurement characterizing a number of miles the vehicle has traveled, a coolant temperature measurement characterizing a temperature of coolant of the vehicle, an engine speed measurement characterizing a speed of an engine of the vehicle, or an oxygen sensor measurement characterizing an oxygen reading at the vehicle.   
     
     
         7 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the computing device to:
 present an interface comprising a plurality of questions regarding the vehicle, and   receive an answer to each question of the plurality of questions.   
     
     
         8 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the plurality of questions comprises a first question regarding prior damage to the vehicle, a second question regarding an accident involving the vehicle, and a third question regarding liability for the accident.   
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the computing device to:
 perform a comparison between the sensor data and one or more answers received in order to determine whether an insurance claim associated with the vehicle is potentially fraudulent.   
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the computing device to:
 notify an insurance claims adjuster in response to determining that the insurance claim is potentially fraudulent.   
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the claim settlement file further comprises a product discount or a service discount available to an individual associated with the vehicle when an actual cost to repair the vehicle exceeds the estimated cost to repair the vehicle.   
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein:
 controlling the order in which the plurality of sensors is operated comprises moving the vehicle from a sensor station to another sensor station.   
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the claim settlement file further comprises payment information characterizing a payment that settles an insurance claim associated with the vehicle.   
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of sensors comprises a camera.   
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the computing device to:
 automatically control, during the automatic inspection, operation of a plurality of mechanical devices to position the vehicle at the inspection location.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of sensors comprises a fluid sensor.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of sensors comprises an infrared sensor.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of sensors is remotely controllable from a location located remotely relative to the inspection facility.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the computing device to:
 receiving insurance customer information from a card reader of the inspection facility, the card reader being configured to read the insurance customer information from a card associated with an individual that is associated with the vehicle, the card being an insurance card or a credit card; and   provide a first notice of loss for the vehicle, the first notice of loss comprising the insurance customer information.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor further cause the computing device to:
 determine whether to either repair or replace a damaged portion of the vehicle.