Skip to main content
License plate recognition, RFID, gates, cameras, and site networking. Part of the Car Wash Industry Glossary.

​
AI Vehicle Recognition

AMP’s AI camera-based vehicle-recognition capability, used to identify member vehicles and drive its Loading Stations and AI Retract features. Comparable products include LPVR (NXT Wash), FastID (DRB), Auto Passport LPR (ICS), and ExpressPass (Hamilton). See also: LPR; LPVR; Loading Stations; AI Retract.

​
Antenna Bump

A configurable wash-package/retract item that withdraws a specific piece of tunnel equipment (or suppresses a sensor trigger) to accommodate vehicles with a raised radio antenna, preventing false equipment contact or false pack/collision-detection triggers. See also: Retract; Auto Retracts. Unverified.

​
APL (Appliance)

Field shorthand for the on-site DRB Patheon Appliance - the headless server that runs Site Core services (Postgres DB, Peripheral Router Service, Card Manager, POS API, etc.) and replaces the old SiteWatch server in the rack during a conversion. Techs use “the APL” and “the Appliance” interchangeably in internal notes and checklists (“reboot the APL”, “Enabling Demo Pay on APL”). Also known as: The Appliance (interchangeable field usage). See also: Patheon; Site Core; Peripheral Router Service; SiteWatch.

​
Auto Passport LPR (AI-LPR)

ICS’s camera-based license-plate-recognition system for hands-free membership/customer identification at wash entry, without a windshield tag. Upgraded in 2024/2025 with a machine-learning “AI-LPR” version claiming up to 99.9% accuracy without requiring new camera hardware. Also known as: AI-LPR (ICS’s own branding for the ML version - note DRB uses “AI-LPR” for its own FastID product too); LogicVision (Micrologic); FastID (DRB); Sonny’s LPR; LPVR (NXT Wash). See also: Auto Passport RFID; LogicVision; LPR; FastID.

​
Auto Passport RFID

ICS’s windshield-tag RFID vehicle-recognition system for automated gate entry and wash-club/fleet identification; automatically identifies and time-stamps vehicles on entry with claimed 99%+ accuracy, integrating with WashConnect for reporting. Tag reader specs: 11”W x 30”L x 6”D, ~30 lbs, -4 to +122 degrees F, 902.75-927.25 MHz, 45W max. Also known as: CleanCarPass (Micrologic); FastPass (DRB); ExpressPass (Hamilton). See also: Auto Passport LPR; CleanCarPass; FastPass; WashConnect.

​
Axis Camera

The IP camera brand used for Washify’s ALPR license-plate-capture systems; connects either directly to the built-in PoE switch on an X-Station kiosk, or (at POS-only sites without a kiosk) via a standalone PoE adaptor into the office network/router. Also known as: “IP Camera”. See also: LPR; Rekor Scout; PoE Budget.

​
Breakaway Gate Arm (POS Breakaway Gate Arm)

A gate arm, marketed for car washes by Magnetic AutoControl, engineered to release or pivot cleanly when struck by a vehicle at a payment/entry point, rather than resist and damage the vehicle or barrier - addressing the risk of a distracted driver at a pay station rolling into a still-lowered arm. Reattaches quickly without special tools. Also known as: Breakaway flange (the release mechanism itself). See also: Gate Arm; Entrance Terminal; Gate.

​
CleanCarPass

Micrologic’s trademarked RFID vehicle-recognition system (CLEANCARPASS): passive, battery-free windshield tags (9-11 ft read range) for membership/fleet identification, hands-free entry, and tamper detection (the tag disables if removed); integrates with Decline Minimizer for card-update checks. Also known as: Auto Passport RFID (ICS); FastPass (DRB); ExpressPass (Hamilton). See also: Decline Minimizer; LogicVision; Auto Passport RFID; RFID.

​
Cradlepoint

Third-party cellular/wired router brand Washify standardizes on for site networking, alongside Omada and customer-provided routers, used both as a primary router and as an LTE/5G cellular-backup path. The recommended combo is an AER1600 router paired with an MC400 4G modem, requiring a mini-SIM (not micro or nano) with a 4G data plan; once installed on site it is often labeled the “Washify Router” in diagrams. Washify’s L1 network-troubleshooting guide names Cradlepoint first in its router hierarchy, and best-practice guidance calls for connecting the router directly to the ISP modem/ONT to avoid Double NAT. Also known as: “Washify Router” (the diagram label used once a Cradlepoint is installed on-site). See also: Double NAT; L1/L2 Support.

​
Cross-Read

A false-positive RFID condition where a lane’s reader picks up a membership tag mounted on a vehicle physically located in a different (usually adjacent) lane, due to overlapping antenna range. Standard mitigation is converting/activating lanes one at a time (typically starting with an outside lane rather than a middle lane) and tuning each lane’s read threshold rather than activating all lanes simultaneously. Also known as: Cross-read interference; adjacent-lane read. See also: RFID Read Threshold; RFID; LPR.

​
Double NAT

A network fault pattern flagged in Washify’s L1 support guide where two routers both perform NAT in series (traceroute shows two private IPs in the first hops), typically caused by connecting the Washify router behind an existing customer/ISP router instead of directly to the modem/ONT. Fixed by connecting the Washify router directly to the ISP modem or setting the upstream router to bridge mode. See also: Cradlepoint; L1/L2 Support.

​
Entrance & Exit Management System

ICS hardware/software bundle combining gate control, sensors, and access logic to manage vehicle traffic flow at wash entry/exit points, integrated with the payment system. Also known as: Gate Controller (Washify); Gate Control (Unitec); Sonny’s Multiple Gate Control System. See also: Auto Passport RFID; Gate Controller; Gate Arm; Gate Queue.

​
Exclusion Mask / Privacy Mask

Two distinct camera-masking features on an ALPR/LPR camera. An exclusion mask blocks a defined region of the frame from being scanned for license plates (e.g., to ignore an adjacent lane), while a privacy mask blocks a region from appearing in the video feed at all (e.g., to hide a building or window), configured via the camera’s own web interface. Also known as: “LPR Exclusion Mask” / “Detection Mask”. See also: LPR; Axis Camera.

​
ExpressPass

Hamilton’s branded RFID/LPR-based loyalty and access technology, integrated into its pay stations (Gold Line, HTK) to identify a customer’s account for automatic membership/loyalty recognition without a physical card swipe. Comparable products include FastPass (DRB), Auto Passport RFID (ICS), CleanCarPass (Micrologic), and LPVR (NXT Wash). Also known as: ExpressPass RFID. See also: Gold Line; HTK; RFID; LPR.

​
FastID (AI-LPR)

DRB’s camera-based license-plate-recognition (LPR) system, using optical/infrared imaging and AI to identify vehicles, including non-members, without a physical tag. DRB claims 99.9% accuracy and includes “smart” and “aggressive” whitelisting modes to tune matching. Works with both SiteWatch and Patheon. Comparable products include Auto Passport LPR/AI-LPR (ICS), LogicVision (Micrologic), Sonny’s LPR, LPVR (NXT Wash), and ExpressPass (Hamilton). Also known as: AI-LPR (DRB’s own alternate name). See also: FastPass; TotalID; LPR; Auto Passport LPR.

​
FastPass (FastPass RFID)

DRB’s RFID-tag-based vehicle/member identification system. A small windshield-mounted tag is read by a reader at the tunnel/pay-station entrance, granting automatic access for members/fleet accounts in about 2 seconds at a claimed 99% read rate; tags are tamper-resistant and brandable. DRB has reported issuing its 7-millionth FastPass tag. Comparable products include Auto Passport RFID (ICS), CleanCarPass (Micrologic), and ExpressPass (Hamilton). See also: FastID; TotalID; ARM; RFID.

​
Gate

The automated barrier or guillotine-style mechanism that controls vehicle entry and flow through wash tunnel lanes, operating on sensor inputs or software commands from the controller. Equipped with safety sensors and often integrated with LPR and the pay station for membership verification. Also known as: Tunnel gate; lane gate; entrance gate; exit gate; access gate; gate arm. See also: Gate Arm; Induction Loop; Tunnel Controller; Gate Queue.

​
Gate Arm (Boom Barrier)

The physical barrier arm at a tunnel’s entrance and/or exit that raises to admit a paid/authorized vehicle and lowers to block the lane otherwise - commonly paired with LPR/RFID identification or a paid-transaction signal from the POS/controller. Hardware is usually supplied by gate-opener specialists (Magnetic AutoControl, BFT) rather than the tunnel-controller vendors, then wired into the controller/POS. Also known as: Boom Barrier (access-control industry term). See also: Breakaway Gate Arm; Gate; Sonny’s Multiple Gate Control System; Gate Control.

​
Gate Control

Unitec’s product-line name for gate-arm/entry-control hardware sold as a discrete part (listed as “GATECONTROL” in DRB’s Unitec parts catalog). Comparable products include Gate Controller (Washify), Entrance & Exit Management System (ICS), and Sonny’s Multiple Gate Control System. See also: Sentinel; Gate Queue; Gate Arm; Gate. Unverified.

​
Gate Controller

Washify hardware/software component that operates entry/exit gates or barrier arms at a wash, triggered by payment confirmation or member vehicle recognition, and integrated with Washify’s system via relay controllers such as MOXA. In practice this is a Washify-supplied 3-gate relay board (see IA Gate Controller) for controlling access gates not originally purchased from Washify: each gate’s “open” input wires to one of three onboard relays, and each gate’s open-status output wires back into the board’s input section, with jumper wiring available for merge-loop configurations. The relay-to-signal mapping is fixed and non-configurable in the Washify software, which addresses the board by its MAC address rather than a stored IP so it can rediscover the board after a network change. The board exposes per-relay and per-input status LEDs and supports merge-loop status inputs, which hold a gate closed while a vehicle occupies a shared merge point; notably, the software has no way to regain a dropped connection short of a full software restart. Also known as: Entrance & Exit Management System (ICS); Gate Control (Unitec); Sentinel (Unitec); Sonny’s Multiple Gate Control System; IA Gate Controller / IA Relay Board (the specific product). See also: MOXA; Entrance & Exit Management System; Gate; Gate Arm.

​
Gate Queue

The entrance-control logic/hardware that opens a wash’s entry gate based on a vehicle having an active membership or paid transaction, and that can throw an error state if a vehicle exits the queue unexpectedly (e.g., leaves before entering the tunnel). Also known as: Gate Control (Unitec’s product-line name); entry system (Unitec/Hamilton general category term). See also: Pause; Tunnel Controller; Sentinel; Wash Select II.

​
IA Gate Controller

Washify’s own 3-gate relay-board product for driving gates not purchased through Washify, built on a NetBurner SBL2e network module. Wiring is fixed in the Washify software, so specific relay and input positions cannot be changed, and at startup the software finds the board on the network by MAC address rather than a stored IP. The board is configured over the local network using NetBurner’s own “IPSetup.exe” utility, which broadcasts via UDP and cannot be used across a router to the internet. A steady red status LED means the board has network connectivity, while a blinking LED means no connection. It also supports “merge loop” inputs in addition to per-gate open/status wiring. Also known as: “IA” (as a gate-controller-type selector in POS settings). See also: Gate Controller; Merge Loop; MOXA; Micro Drive (Gate Control).

​
LogicVision

Micrologic’s camera-based license-plate-recognition product; identifies plate, vehicle make/model/color without a physical tag, as a lower-install-cost alternative to RFID. Integrates with Decline Minimizer and auto-initiates washes for enrolled plan members. Also known as: Auto Passport LPR / AI-LPR (ICS); FastID (DRB); Sonny’s LPR; LPVR (NXT Wash). See also: CleanCarPass; Decline Minimizer; Auto Passport LPR; LPR.

​
LPR (License Plate Recognition)

Camera-based automatic reading of a vehicle’s license plate at wash entry, used to identify a returning member or subscriber and pull their account without a card, tag, or code, and to capture plate data on non-members for marketing and analytics. The generic concept behind every major vendor’s branded product; underlying camera hardware often comes from LPR camera OEMs such as Survision and Axis. Washify’s own implementation targets a 90+ to 97 percent successful-read rate, retains the last 50 captured plate images on-device, and keeps a plate-read log in its system for one year by default. Hunter Engineering also sells an ALPR system, but it is built for vehicle-service and inspection shops, and no source ties it to car wash tunnel entry. Also known as: License Plate Recognition; ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition); license plate verifier; plate recognition; LPR camera; License Plate Reader; LPVR (NXT Wash’s variant naming); “LPR” (License Plate Recognition, used interchangeably for the exclusion/privacy mask feature). See also: RFID; FastID; Auto Passport LPR; LogicVision.

​
LPVR (License Plate Vehicle Recognition)

NXT Wash’s patent-pending computer-vision technology that identifies vehicles by license plate, with adaptive machine learning, to attach a returning car to its customer profile without a scanned card, tag, or app. Marketing materials cite 99%+ / 99.8% accuracy. Comparable products include FastID (DRB), Auto Passport LPR (ICS), LogicVision (Micrologic), ExpressPass (Hamilton), and AI Vehicle Recognition (AMP). Also known as: LPVR.AI (unconfirmed branded spelling). See also: NXT Wash; Ask NXT; LPR; ExpressPass.

​
Magnetic Parking Pro Gated Entry System

A Sonny’s gated-entry product surfaced only as a “related product” name/link on other controls pages (Truck Bed Retract Controller and POS System pages) - no dedicated product page text was captured, so treat this purely as confirmation the name exists in Sonny’s current catalog, not as a full feature description. See also: Gate Control; Sonny’s Multiple Gate Control System; Magnetic AutoControl. Unverified.

​
Micro Drive (Gate Control)

The gate-control option selected in Washify POS settings when the site uses Magnetic Autocontrol brand gates (as opposed to the IA relay-board gate controller); requires each gate’s IP address and “Current Gate” designation to be configured per POS. See also: IA Gate Controller; Magnetic AutoControl.

​
MOXA

Brand name of an industrial I/O/relay device, made by Taiwan-based Moxa Inc., a third party, that Washify uses as a bridge to interface its POS/kiosk system with third-party tunnel controllers for triggering relays and outputs. It is not a car-wash-specific term but a generic industrial relay/IO device repurposed for tunnel integration. Specifically, Washify uses MOXA’s NPort-series serial-to-Ethernet units as its standard bridge for essentially every third-party tunnel-controller integration, not just ICS and DataTrax: dedicated install guides exist for Belanger, CompuWash Diamond Series, DataTrax, McNeil CCS4000, generic in-bay (“INBAY”), and a plain “Generic (MOXA)” fallback guide, and Beacon Mobile’s own Unitec Code Generator Module uses a MOXA NPort 5110 to reach a site’s Unitec Sierra Server. As a relay-board/controller option supported by Washify’s Loader software, a MOXA unit is configured and diagnosed through its own locally-hosted web interface (I/O Settings > DO Channels), where individual output relays can be manually pulsed on and off to verify wiring during troubleshooting. Also known as: “Moxa Controller”. See also: Gate Controller; DataTrax; Tunnel Master; Tunnel Controller.

​
Pay-by-Plate

The term is not attested in car wash industry sources; it is recorded here as disambiguation for readers arriving from tolling vocabulary. In tolling and parking, “pay-by-plate” means a post-use invoice billed to a plate with no on-the-spot transaction. The closest real pattern in the car wash industry is different: LPR at tunnel entry identifies a known member’s vehicle and automatically bills their account or card on file for that visit, an at-the-moment automatic charge tied to a pre-enrolled plate, not a mailed post-use invoice. ICS’s Auto Passport LPR, DRB’s AI-LPR/FastPass flows, and Survision’s car wash pitch all describe this at-visit pattern. Also known as: “No-stop” entry; contactless member entry. See also: LPR; RFID; Auto Passport LPR; FastID. Unverified.

​
PoE Budget

The total wattage a network switch (or a switch port group) can supply to Power-over-Ethernet devices - cameras, access points, gate controllers - before overloading. Installers check remaining PoE budget before adding a device to any available port, since port choice is otherwise not order-sensitive. Also known as: POE budget. See also: Coordinator.

​
Rekor Scout

Rekor’s third-party ALPR (Automatic License Plate Recognition) software engine used by Washify’s camera-based license plate reading; explicitly does not communicate directly with the CWA - the only ALPR-related configuration inside the CWA itself is Image Capture for Profiling Kiosks. See also: LPR; Axis Camera; CWA.

​
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification)

Vehicle-identification technology using a windshield-mounted passive, battery-free tag read by a gate- or kiosk-mounted reader to auto-identify a member or fleet vehicle for entry and billing, without driver interaction. It offers better read reliability than LPR in dirty or obscured-plate conditions, at a higher per-vehicle install cost, and many implementations disable the tag if it is removed, to prevent membership sharing. Washify’s own UHF reader uses the EPC Class 1 Gen 2 tag standard and connects to the POS, kiosk, or Loader over a 3-wire serial data connection, or via a Prolific-chipset USB-to-serial adapter when COM ports are unavailable, plus a separate 9V power feed. Also known as: RFID tag; RFID reader; RF tag; passive tag; windshield tag; RFID sticker; “UHF Reader”; “UHFReader” (the diagnostic program name). See also: LPR; FastPass; Auto Passport RFID; CleanCarPass.

​
RFID Read Threshold

A configurable signal-strength cutoff (measured in dBm, e.g., -58 or -65) set per lane on an RFID reader, below which a tag read is ignored. Installers tune it during multi-lane rollouts to prevent a reader on one lane from picking up a tag mounted on a vehicle actually in an adjacent lane; a lower (more negative) threshold widens the read zone, a higher one narrows it. Also known as: RSSI threshold. See also: Cross-Read; RFID; LPR.

​
Sonar

An ultrasonic vehicle-presence detection technology proposed as an alternative or supplement to camera/LPR and inductive-loop detection at entrance gates. Integration/liability concerns (noted explicitly in FlexWash internal notes, which decline to support sonar hardware integration and route such requests to third-party providers) suggest it remains a niche, vendor-fragmented approach rather than a standardized offering. See also: LPR; Gate; Photo Eye. Unverified.

​
Sonny’s LPR

Sonny’s branded license-plate-recognition system for identifying member vehicles at entry, part of its controls/site-tech lineup. Comparable products include FastID/AI-LPR (DRB), Auto Passport LPR (ICS), LogicVision (Micrologic), and LPVR (NXT Wash). Also known as: Sonny’s LPR(TM). See also: LPR; Auto Passport LPR; LogicVision; FastID. Unverified.

​
Sonny’s Multiple Gate Control System

Sonny’s product for coordinating multiple entrance/exit gates at a single site, e.g., multi-lane sites or sites with separate member/retail lanes. Comparable products include Gate Control (Unitec), Gate Controller (Washify), and Entrance & Exit Management System (ICS). See also: Gate Arm; Gate; Magnetic AutoControl; Gate Control. Unverified.

​
Sonny’s RFID Payment System

Sonny’s RFID-tag-based membership/house-account system: RFID antennas installed in existing lanes (or a dedicated express lane) give contactless, instant vehicle ID and gate access for members, distinct from the generic “RFID” and “Auto Passport RFID” concepts already in the glossary in that this is Sonny’s own current-catalog product name. Also known as: Sonny’s RFID System. See also: Auto Passport RFID; RFID; FastPass; Sonny’s Pay Station.

​
TotalID

DRB’s combined/hybrid vehicle-ID package that runs FastPass (RFID) and FastID (LPR) together, so a site can recognize tagged members instantly while still capturing plate data on every other vehicle for marketing and analytics. See also: FastPass; FastID; RFID; LPR.

​
X3 Switch

A network switch component in DRB tunnel-system infrastructure that connects controllers, NPU servers, and other components for network communication and data flow. Also known as: Network switch. See also: DRB; NPU; TCS2. Unverified.