New AI Technology Inspects Cars in Michigan
LIVONIA, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) – A cutting-edge technology initially developed for homeland security is now available in Michigan, offering a comprehensive inspection of every inch of your vehicle. Developers compare the UVeye system to an MRI for cars.
“This will capture a full scan anywhere from five miles per hour up to 30 miles an hour,” said Kristie Risner, an account manager with General Motors. “Although we would never recommend that speed.”
GM collaborated with UVeye to bring the drive-through technology to dealerships like Feldman Chevrolet in Livonia. The Israeli startup originally created the in-ground component to detect potential bomb threats hidden beneath vehicles.
“As they’re going through checkpoints, it’s mirrors and looking at the undercarriage of vehicles, and so basically they’re like ‘there’s a better way,'” Risner explained. Motorists drive over the automated system, which captures thousands of images and stitches them together into a high-definition view. Beyond detecting car bombs, the system began identifying mechanical issues and leaks. UVeye then incorporated an arch component that captures 360-degree images of the car’s exterior as it passes through, detecting dents, scratches, and chips. A third section inspects tires for bulges and uneven tread wear.
Within 30 seconds of passing through the UVeye system, a detailed report is generated. John Butkovich, the fixed operations manager for the Feldman Automotive Group, emphasized, “It’s all for safety. That’s the biggest piece of all of this.” The technology is currently in use at three of their dealerships. He also noted that it fosters trust and transparency with customers, allowing them to examine the detailed images.
“You can actually click on it, and you can scroll right in on it and see as close as you want to get to it. And this is an actual photograph of the vehicle itself.”
Butkovich stated that the system saves both employees and customers time, as it is faster and more thorough than manual inspections, capable of identifying damage as small as 2 millimeters.
“These are things that the naked eye, you wouldn’t normally see that when you walk around a car,” said Butkovich.
The dealership utilizes UVeye in its service lane, as well as to inspect new cars arriving from factories and in its used car department to assess vehicle value. The AI technology also inspects loaner vehicles, identifying damage before and after each use. According to Butkovich, scans are offered free of charge, and customers retain the option of whether or not to address any issues identified by the technology. Michigan is among the first to adopt this technology, with only a few hundred UVeye systems currently in use throughout the U.S. Risner anticipates the increased proliferation of this technology in the future. Amazon plans to implement the automatic inspection system within its fleet of over 100,000 vehicles across the U.S., Canada, Germany, and the U.K.
