CRA – New Technology Explored
The Matrix Wand can measure anything you can take an image of,” said Travis Young, CEO of both Vortex Global and Matrix Electronic Measuring.
The Matrix Wand is currently starring in the collision repair business, where the standards are much higher as vehicles are packed with more and more advanced driver assistance technology aimed at safety.
Common ones include auto braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warnings, lane keeping assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control.
In 2018, 92.7 percent of consumer vehicles produced, included a least one Advance Driver Assistance System (ADAS) feature, and by 2022, all vehicles manufactured in the United States will be required to have automatic braking systems, according to the company’s website — thematrixwand.com.
If these systems are not mounted correctly, the sensors can send back false readings. It’s not about making sure everything is aesthetically correct anymore, the industry has changed a lot because of these systems.
The Matrix Wand makes it easier to repair the motor vehicle back to original specifications and that is a must.
There are documented cases where (equipment not installed correctly) created accidents, and in some cases, loss of lives. Safety is a matter of millimetres. The Matrix Wand helps put safe vehicles back on the road. In the USA one in three vehicles leaves a shop with undiscovered damage.
The general rule of thumb across most original equipment’s tolerance is plus or minus three millimeters, when it comes to the structure of the vehicle, and in other areas, the tolerance is plus or minus one millimeter. It’s got to be right. There’s not a lot of flexibility. Accuracy is key to the successful repair of a vehicle. It’s very critical to be within what the vehicle manufacturer intended. If a car has been in a collision or accidents of some sort, it could severely impact a safety system.
The Matrix Wand has proven to be attractive to large body shops that focus on cycle time and driver safety. They need tools to help them get the job done faster, which means doing it right the first time. Insurance companies also have money in the game, and if cycle times are long, that costs them more money.
The wand is compact and portable. No heavy or bulky gear is needed. If required, you can do your measurements in a parking lot.
In the USA the hardware ranges from $21,500 to $28,000, with the deluxe set including an optional cart system with a television and a rack.
The Matrix has demonstrated swift return on investment of typically six to twelve months. Technicians usually master the training in three months.
The Matrix Wand has put a whole new dynamic into body shops and how they handle repairs. In the next three to five years, if you drive a new car, it will be a smart car.
Safety systems are simply going to continue adding precision. It’s becoming more and more difficult to repair modern-day late-model vehicles. Repairs are going to have to leverage technology in order to truly repair vehicles back to safe conditions as the manufacturers intended.
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