Load status of transport chassis

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11001230-B2
Application number	US-201715622475-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 14, 2017
Priority date	Jun 14, 2017
Publication date	May 11, 2021
Grant date	May 11, 2021

Abstract

In some examples, a system receives sensor data from a sensor of a transport chassis configured to carry a cargo transportation unit (CTU), and determines, based on the sensor data and a profile learned based on past data, whether the transport chassis is loaded with a CTU or cargo.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
at least one processor configured to:
receive sensor data from a strain gauge of a transport chassis configured to carry a cargo transportation unit (CTU), wherein the sensor data is from the strain gauge that measures a strain of a suspension of the transport chassis; and
determine, based on the sensor data and a profile learned based on past data, whether the transport chassis is loaded with the CTU or cargo.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor data is received over a network from a communication transceiver of the transport chassis.

3. A system comprising:
at least one processor configured to:
receive sensor data from a sensor of a transport chassis configured to carry a cargo transportation unit (CTU), wherein the sensor data comprises a signal characteristic of a wireless signal to be transmitted or received by a wireless transceiver of the transport chassis; and
determine, based on the sensor data and a profile learned based on past data, whether the transport chassis is loaded with the CTU or cargo, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine whether the transport chassis is loaded with the CTU or the cargo based on determining whether the signal characteristic is within a specified range of signal characteristic values indicating that the wireless signal is subject to interference by the CTU or the cargo.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the signal characteristic is of the wireless signal to be communicated by the wireless transceiver over a wireless network.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the signal characteristic is of the wireless signal for receipt by a Global Positioning (GPS) receiver.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
receive image data from a camera of the transport chassis; and
determine whether the transport chassis is loaded with the CTU or the cargo further based on determining whether the image data from the camera indicates that the sky is visible.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
receive magnetic data from a magnetic field sensor of the transport chassis; and
determine whether the transport chassis is loaded with the CTU or the cargo further based on determining whether the magnetic data indicates that a magnetic field is distorted by presence of the CTU or the cargo.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
receive acceleration data from an accelerometer of the transport chassis; and
determine whether the transport chassis is loaded with the CTU or the cargo further based on determining whether the acceleration data is within a specified range of acceleration data values indicating that the CTU or the cargo has been dropped on the transport chassis.

9. The system of claim 3 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
receive image data from a camera of the transport chassis, and
determine whether the transport chassis is loaded with the CTU or the cargo further based on determining whether the image data from the camera indicates that the sky is visible.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
receive the sensor data as part of a collection of events detected by different types of sensors of the transport chassis, the different types of sensors including the strain gauge,
wherein the determining of whether the transport chassis is loaded with the CTU or the cargo is based on the collection of events.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
receive information of a location or movement of the transport chassis; and
determine whether the transport chassis is loaded with the CTU or the cargo further based on the information of the location or movement of the transport chassis.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
determine whether the transport chassis has a specified relationship with respect to a geofence; and
determine whether the transport chassis is loaded with the CTU or the cargo further based on determining whether the transport chassis has the specified relationship with respect to the geofence.

13. A non-transitory storage medium storing instructions that upon execution cause a system to:
receive sensor data from a strain gauge that measures a strain of a suspension of a transport chassis configured to carry a cargo transportation unit (CTU), the suspension attached to a wheel of the transport chassis;
access profile data learned based on past determinations of load status performed by the system; and
determine, based on the sensor data and the profile data, whether the transport chassis is loaded with the CTU or cargo.

14. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the instructions upon execution cause the system to further:
receive a signal characteristic of a wireless signal transmitted or received by a wireless transceiver of the transport chassis,
wherein the determining of whether the transport chassis is loaded with the CTU or the cargo is further based on determining whether the signal characteristic is within a specified range of signal characteristic values indicating that the wireless signal is subject to interference by the CTU or the cargo.

15. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the instructions upon execution cause the system to determine that the transport chassis is not loaded with the CTU or the cargo based on determining that the signal characteristic is outside the specified range of signal characteristic values.

16. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the instructions upon execution cause the system to further:
compute likelihoods of a loaded status corresponding to measurement data from a plurality of sensors including the strain gauge,
wherein the determining of whether the transport chassis is loaded with the CTU or the cargo is based on the likelihoods.

17. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the instructions upon execution cause the system to further:
trigger the determining in response to a location or motion of the transport chassis determined based on a further sensor of the transport chassis.

18. A method comprising:
receiving, by a system comprising a processor, a collection of events that are produced responsive to measurement data of corresponding sensors of a transport chassis, the sensors comprising a strain gauge on a suspension attached to a wheel of the transport chassis; and
determining, by the system based on the collection of events and a profile learned based on past data, whether the transport chassis is loaded with a cargo transportation unit (CTU) or cargo.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the sensors further comprise one or more of:
a signal characteristic sensor, an optical sensor, a camera, a magnetic field sensor, an accelerometer, a position sensor, and a motion sensor.

20. The system of claim 3 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
determine that the transport chassis is loaded with the CTU or the cargo based on determining that the signal characteristic is within the specified range of signal characteristic values; and
determine that the transport chassis is not loaded with the CTU or the cargo based on determining that the signal characteristic is outside the specified range of signal characteristic values.

Assignees

• Blackberry Ltd

Inventors

• Seaman Conrad Delbert
• West Stephen
• Travers Christopher Scott

Classifications

• G01S2205/01

  specially adapted for specific applications · CPC title

• B60R25/33 Primary

  of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates · CPC title

• G01G1/00

  Weighing apparatus involving the use of a counterweight or other counterbalancing mass · CPC title

• G01G19/08

  for incorporation in vehicles · CPC title

• B60R25/30

  Detection related to theft or to other events relevant to anti-theft systems · CPC title