Fraunhofer Center for Assistive Information and Communication Solutions – AICOS
21.04.2025
At Fraunhofer Portugal AICOS, we continue to push the boundaries of Automated Visual Inspection with the approval of our latest research and innovation project, AI4CarOps, set to begin in July. Focused on the automotive sector, this project reflects our deepening expertise in combining artificial intelligence with real-world applications, creating digital solutions that are both intelligent and practical.
Developed in partnership with Guisoft, the project aims to transform OfficeGest Master, a commercial management software for car workshops, into a smarter, AI-powered platform. By incorporating innovative modules to automatize tire assessment, dashboard analysis, and technical Issues diagnosis and quotation support, AI4CarOps responds directly to critical operational challenges faced by today’s automotive workshops.
Through this project, we are applying our research in Monocular Depth Estimation, Object Detection, and Natural Language Processing to deliver three main solutions: a mobile-based tool to assess tire tread wear from a single image and provide recommendations on tire replacement; an AI system that detects dashboard warning icons to enhance vehicle diagnostics and streamline documentation; and a cloud-based NLP solution that uses historical data to identify the most likely technical issues and optimizes estimation of service quotations. These innovations will not only streamline workshop operations but also build greater transparency, trust, and customer satisfaction.
“With AI4CarOps, we’re taking a hands-on approach to solving real industry problems with technology. Our goal is to develop tools that are accurate, promote efficiency and traceability, and seamlessly integrate into existing workflows,” says Luís Rosado, Senior Researcher at FhP-AICOS. “This project represents a natural step forward in our vision of digital industry transformation, specifically in the area of automated visual inspection,” adds the Researcher.
AI4CarOps is also a steppingstone in the development of strategic competencies that align with FhP-AICOS’ roadmap for Digital Industry. These include millimeter-scale monocular depth estimation, object detection and semantic segmentation, and emerging synergies with Generative AI from other projects like AISym4Med.