Page 26 - GIADA Nov-Dec 2020

V.I.P. Auctions Introduces Industry-First

Auto-Inspection Technology

Georgia firm in partnership with UVeye is first remarketing group in the U.S.
to utilize artificial-intelligence technology to support vehicle inspections
t
New camera-based systems from UVeye quickly evaluate tires and critical
underbody components for both buyers and sellers

V.I.P. Auctions will be one of the first
vehicle auction companies in the world to
use automated vehicle-inspection systems
to evaluate tires and critical underbody
components for the inspection of used
vehicles.

Jim Smith, founder and CEO of V.I.P.
Auctions, said the company’s new camera-
based artificial-intelligence technology will
save time, reduce costs, document vehicle
condition and also set new inspection
standards for the automotive remarketing
industry.

Developed by UVeye, the underbody and
tire-inspection systems are scheduled
for installation at V.I.P. Auctions in
Cumming, Georgia, later this month.
The technology was originally unveiled
for the first time in North America at the
2020 Consumer Electronics Show (CES)
in Las Vegas. support technicians and inspectors. This “These software-focused solutions allow
automation allows inspectors to focus on us to continually add new inspection
USS, one of the world’s largest car-auction critical items instead of items that do not features without the need to add
groups, recently installed similar UVeye need attention. hardware.”
inspection equipment at its facilities in
Japan. Based in Nagoya, USS has 19 sites Artemis, UVeye’s tire-quality system, Founded more than 15 years ago by Jim
and handles more than three million is designed to check a tire’s overall Smith, V.I.P. Auctions is located near
vehicle sales a year. condition, including tire pressure, Atlanta and serves franchised new-
tread depth, wheel scratches, sidewall car dealerships, commercial fleets and
The UVeye Helios and Artemis inspection damage, abrasions and outside shoulder lending institutions in the southeastern
systems being installed at V.I.P. damage. It can read and recognize a tire’s United States.
Auctions rely on a unique combination brand, size-load speed ratings and DOT
of proprietary algorithms, cloud nomenclature within seconds. “Our team at V.I.P. is excited about this
architecture, sensor fusion, artificial new venture with UVeye for the launch of
intelligence and machine learning “Helios and Artemis will be key elements automated vehicle-inspection systems in
technologies. in establishing future standards related the United States,” said Smith.
to certainty and transparency for
The Helios underbody-inspection system vehicle inspections, not only at vehicle “There always have been two major areas
uses multiple high-resolution cameras to auctions, but also at dealerships, fleets missing from vehicle-condition reports
generate thousands of images per second and independent service garages,” said provided to auction customers – detailed
to identify damage, missing components Glenn Hemminger, managing director evaluations of a vehicle’s underbody
and other quality-related issues to for UVeye’s North American operations. and its tires,” Smith noted. “Helios and

24 | GIADA Independent Auto Dealer NOV/DEC 2020