Digital vehicle scanner

TwoTronic utilizes LiDAR technology for vehicle return

From drivers of luxury cars to operators of agricultural vehicles – customers expect quality. This applies not only to new and used vehicles, but also when its time for repairs and when returning rental cars. TwoTronic supports manufacturers, car dealerships and rental agencies to meet this demand. With the help of SICK, the company has developed a system that scans vehicles for wear and damage. The best part is that it all works like a drive-through.

A dynamic approach

Car dealerships, logistics service providers, car rentals – there are many use cases for TwoTronic’s vehicle scanner. It makes it possible to save time and money wherever people manually check vehicles for damage.

Take, for example, a customer who comes to a car dealership to return their leased car. The scanner is located right outside the entrance, and the customer automatically passes through it as soon as they drive onto the dealer’s premises. The vehicle inspection company then uses the images from the scanner to prepare the condition report. This can be done completely remotely, meaning the inspector no longer has to come to the car dealership.

To ensure that their systems are always up to date, the vehicle scanner specialists from Ellgau in Germany’s Swabia region aren’t just relying on their own expertise. They are also focused on collaborating closely with leading industry giants.

Working together toward a solution

The durable MRS1000 3D LiDAR sensor makes it possible to precisely and reliably scan multi-dimensional objects in indoor and outdoor environments. That makes it an ideal solution for this particular vehicle scanner. LiDAR (light detection and ranging) is a technology in which an object is targeted with a laser, and the time that elapses until the reflected light hits the receiver again is measured. This enables LiDAR sensors to generate a 3D or 2D image with spatial and depth data for recognizing, measuring, localizing and detecting objects. 

With the MRS1000, scanner can achieve a horizontal aperture angle of 275 degrees thanks to its four spread layers. The device can also measure from different angles almost simultaneously. This makes it possible to determine the exact position of the vehicle, which allows for precise tracking from the high-resolution cameras. All the details and damaged areas are recorded, even if the vehicle does not maintain a constant speed while passing through the scanner. TwoTronic also wanted to make an adjustment to the software so that it could process the data directly. SICK was flexible and promptly implemented this request.

Further, the 2D LiDAR sensor picoScan100, featuring its multi-echo technology, is also used in TwoTronic’s vehicle scanners

Plans for the future

The sensor setup delivered the desired results. As such, TwoTronic will be able to install the LiDAR sensor in all products going forward and improve the performance of its systems, for example in bad weather. TwoTronic cooperated with SICK as partners. This was due in large part to the sales department’s good planning and the quick response to change requests. CEO Michael Müller says: “The communication with SICK was quick and easy, and adjustments to the software were carried out quickly. These factors were very important for us.” TwoTronic would like to expand its portfolio further in the future and include additional systems.

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