AUTONOMOUS DETECTION OF VEHICULAR WHEEL ALIGNMENT PARAMETERS

Abstract

Vehicular technology has improved tremendously in the last few decades. Drivers and passengers are now being made more aware of their surroundings as well as the state of their cars, ergo becoming increasingly capable of making better decisions. These 'smart-vehicles' are directed by microcontrollers and microprocessors where a network of sensors and actuators provide contextual feedback for the user. Some of these features include parking and reverse assistance, collision avoidance and cruise control. In the coming years, this trend will undergo unprecedented growth as the technologies become cheaper to manufacture and implement. In fact, more advanced systems now alert the driver to realtime critical failures and problematic conditions while the simpler ones do so upon start-up. This paper provides a tested framework for a potential sensing system to alert the driver when the vehicle alignment is off. Vehicle misalignment can become an issue quickly as the following can result: Increased tire tread wear leading to reduced traction with the road's surface and ultimately higher chances of accidents as well as more frequent replacement of the tires becoming necessary. Uneven friction at contact between the road and tire can increase the resistance resulting in higher fuel consumption by the engine. Strain on multiple components within the braking system and suspension as misalignment can cause drift while in motion and additionally uneven braking. A damaged suspension is quite expensive to repair or replace. Early detection of the extent of misalignment can lead to decreased expenditure in the areas of maintenance and fuel consumption, contributing to an increase in reliability. Since many drivers, however experienced they are, may at times be ignorant of the degree of misalignment their vehicle possesses, adding this technology can serve as a potential remedy ultimately improving the user experience and vehicle longevity.