Automated Vehicle Inspection System by UVeye Expanding in U.S.

Automated vehicle-inspection-system pioneer UVeye, which was founded in Israel and works with automakers and dealerships in metro Detroit, is providing fleet operators in the U.S. with a fast, accurate way to detect costly vehicle problems that often are missed by drivers and service technicians.
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Israel's UVeye is providing U.S. fleet operators with a fast and accurate solution to test for costly vehicle problems. // Courtesy of UVeye
Israel’s UVeye is providing U.S. fleet operators with a fast and accurate solution to test for costly vehicle problems. // Courtesy of UVeye

Automated vehicle-inspection-system pioneer UVeye, which was founded in Israel and works with automakers and dealerships in metro Detroit, is providing fleet operators in the U.S. with a fast, accurate way to detect costly vehicle problems that often are missed by drivers and service technicians.

High-speed inspection systems can reduce repair costs and keep fleet vehicles on the road, while helping to eliminate potential accidents, avoid costly downtime, and improve overall vehicle safety.

UVeye’s vehicle scans use artificial intelligence, sensor fusion, and high-tech camera systems to spot within seconds a wide range of issues ranging from worn tires to missing or defective underbody parts.

The company states its high-speed systems are much faster and more accurate than traditional service-lane inspections and help fleet operators correct problems before they can lead to much more costly repairs and downtime.

“We are helping our fleet customers solve major problems caused by faulty vehicle-inspection processes,” says Mike Bush, UVeye’s director of North American fleet sales. “Today, manual inspections are not always done, and when they are done, they often are not done thoroughly.”

He points out that UVeye inspections are fast, accurate, and standardized. They boost uptime and spot issues before they become major problems that can ground a vehicle or take it out of commission for major repairs. They also contribute to overall driver and vehicle safety.

“Detecting a problem early on can mean the difference between replacing a gasket and dealing with a blown engine,” Bush explains. “Catching a tire problem before it can cause a high-speed accident will save money and potentially save lives as well. About 11,000 tire-related accidents take place a year involving 600 fatalities in the U.S. alone, according to NHTSA.”

A recent survey of UVeye customers showed that automated inspections can identify 96 percent of existing vehicle defects compared to just 24 percent for manual inspections, according to Bush.

“That 96 percent identification rate catches a lot of attention from prospective customers,” Bush says. “But that’s the rate you get when you have consistency and automation.

“The early detection of problems can cut maintenance and repair costs by 90 percent or more, help avoid costly roadside breakdowns, and reduce insurance premiums. It also reduces exposure to costly lawsuits resulting from accidents caused by undetected defects such as a tire bulge.”

UVeye offers three high-speed vehicle-inspection systems that are suited for a variety of fleets, including so-called “final-mile” delivery vans and trucks, as well as private, police, medical, rental, public transit, food delivery, school bus, taxi, and municipal fleets. The rapid drive-through systems include:

  • Helios – An underbody scanner that detects a wide variety of problems including frame damage, missing parts and fluid leaks, as well as brake and exhaust-system issues.
  • Artemis – A system that checks tire quality. Within seconds it identifies tire brand, technical specifications, air pressure, tread depth, sidewall damage and whether a vehicle’s tires are mismatched.
  • Atlas – A 360-degree detection system that checks sheet metal and other external body components such as bumpers, door locks, grilles, and windows.

Today’s fleet operators deal with a wide variety of challenges including an extremely high COVID-related demand for delivery services, a shortage of trained technicians, a lack of replacement parts, additional vehicle downtime and higher insurance costs.

“UVeye systems ensure that accurate and recorded inspections are done quickly and on time,” Bush says out. “That’s not always the case if a fleet operator relies on manual inspections. Manual checks are often ‘pencil whip’ operations that are subjective, incomplete, time-consuming, and subject to error.”

Helios, Artemis, and Atlas systems each create condition reports that detail inspection results. They are set up to accommodate a variety of vehicle sizes, from trucks to cars. Some fleet operators use all three products, while others focus on UVeye’s tire and underbody systems.

The company’s inspection systems also are in use in auto dealership service departments and on assembly lines at automakers such as Volvo and Toyota. One dealership using UVeye’s tire and underbody scans reports a potential monthly net profit of more than $46,000 for additional tire replacements, wheel alignments, and underbody work.

Ideally, fleet inspections are done on a daily basis as vehicles return from their rounds. UVeye also is looking into installing its equipment at highway truck stops and toll centers for scanning on a per-pay basis.

“Our automated scans are done almost instantaneously,” says Yaron Saghiv, chief marketing officer of UVeye. “It saves cost-conscious fleet operators a whole lot of time since vehicles can be driven through an inspection in seconds.

“In contrast, old-school manual inspections can take 20 minutes or more. There is a massive difference between automated and manual inspections. We are pioneering a new approach and finding that people definitely want an objective automated inspection process. The demand is there.”

UVeye systems utilize a unique combination of proprietary algorithms, cloud architecture, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and sensor fusion technologies. The company’s drive-through systems can detect any external or mechanical flaw and identify anomalies, modifications, or foreign objects from under and from any side of a vehicle.

UVeye’s scanning processes are completed within a matter of seconds and can be used throughout a vehicle’s lifecycle. The company’s technology originally was developed for the security industry to detect weapons and contraband. It now also is used in the auto industry to detect a wide variety of quality issues, including oil leaks, paint scratches, tire problems, brake-line damage, and exhaust-system issues.

For more information, visit www.uveye.com.