How to Get All the Data from the Tire Sidewall Using Computer Vision
Christian Dale
Product Marketing Manager at Anyline
Tires are the unsung heroes of the automotive world, supporting the weight of your vehicle, providing grip on the road, and influencing fuel efficiency. To make informed decisions about tire maintenance and replacement, it’s crucial to access all the data present on a tire’s sidewall. This information includes details about the tire’s size, specifications, DOT code, manufacturing date, treadwear, traction, and temperature ratings.
Getting all of that information quickly and applying it to the specific task at hand can be challenging. However, there’s a solution. In this digital age, computer vision plays a pivotal role in extracting this valuable data from a tire sidewall efficiently and accurately.
Understanding the Data on a Tire Sidewall
Before delving into the world of computer vision and how it can be used to extract data from a tire sidewall, it’s important to grasp the significance of this information. A tire sidewall is like a treasure trove of vital details for vehicle owners. Here’s a breakdown of the key information you can find on a typical tire sidewall:
Tire size, make, model, and specifications:
This includes the tire’s:
- Width
- Aspect ratio
- Diameter
- Type (all-season, summer, winter tires, etc.)
- Make and model
Understanding the tire size is crucial for finding a replacement that matches your vehicle’s requirements. Each bit of this information supplies necessary data that must be accurately extracted to solve problems.
DOT Code and Manufacturing Date: The Department of Transportation (DOT) code is a combination of letters and numbers that help relay when and where the tire was manufactured. It also helps track recalls and safety-related information. The last four digits of this code indicate the week and year of manufacture.
Treadwear, traction, and temperature ratings: These are denoted by letters and numbers, indicating the tire’s performance characteristics. Treadwear ratings help you gauge the tire’s durability, while traction and temperature ratings inform you about grip and heat resistance, respectively.
The Basics of Computer Vision
Computer vision is the field of artificial intelligence that empowers computers to interpret visual information from the world, much like the human eye and brain. It combines image acquisition, processing, and analysis to extract meaningful insights from visual data. There are several core concepts that impact how computer vision works in gathering this data from the sidewall of a tire:
How it Works
- Image Acquisition: This involves capturing clear images of the tire sidewall. Factors such as lighting, camera quality, and angles play a crucial role in obtaining high-quality images.
- Image Processing: The captured images go through preprocessing techniques to enhance their quality, remove noise, and ensure clarity. Object detection methods are then employed to locate and segment the information on the sidewall.
- Optical Character Recognition (OCR): Once the relevant portions of the image are identified, OCR technology comes into play. OCR converts the visual text on the sidewall into machine-readable alphanumeric characters.
- Data Validation and Correction: After extraction, the data must be validated and corrected, as errors can occur during OCR. This step ensures the accuracy and reliability of the extracted information.
That sounds great and works instantly, but what’s the value of it?
Real-World Applications
Computer vision for tire sidewall data extraction is not just a theoretical concept; it has practical applications in the automotive industry and for consumers. Anyline solutions are used to scan millions of vehicles and tires every day. Here are some real-world use cases that we are already applying:
- Tire manufacturers and automotive service centers use computer vision to automate the inspection and quality control of tires during production and service checks.
- Dealerships, repair shops, and fleet managers can quickly and accurately assess the condition of tires, including checking for recalls and DOT compliance.
The Value of Computer Vision
There’s so much vital information on the sidewall of a tire that influences how it is purchased, used, and maintained. Even with small mistakes in copying this information by manual methods, significant problems can occur. That’s why computer vision is so valuable. It simplifies the process of gathering this data, ensuring it is accurate and applicable to the specific task at hand.
