Container loading/unloading time estimation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11003804-B2
Application number	US-201715852993-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 22, 2017
Priority date	Dec 22, 2017
Publication date	May 11, 2021
Grant date	May 11, 2021

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to system and methods for estimating the time associated with completion of loading and/or unloading of a container. In an embodiment, the present invention is a method of estimating an estimated time to completion (ETC) of loading a container. The method includes: capturing, via an image capture apparatus, a three-dimensional image representative of a three-dimensional formation, the three-dimensional image having a plurality of points with three-dimensional point data; based at least in part on a first sub-plurality of the points, determining an active load time for the container; based at least in part on a second sub-plurality of the points, determining a fullness of the container; and estimating, by a controller, the ETC based on the active load time and on the fullness.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method of estimating and utilizing an estimated time to completion (ETC) of loading a container, the method comprising:
capturing, via an image capture apparatus, a three-dimensional image representative of a three-dimensional formation, the three-dimensional image having a plurality of points with three-dimensional point data;
based at least in part on a first sub-plurality of the points representing goods being loaded into the container, determining, by a controller, an active load time for the container;
based at least in part on a second sub-plurality of the points representing planes corresponding to substantially flat surfaces, determining, by the controller, a fullness of the container;
estimating, by the controller, the ETC based on the active load time and on the fullness,
wherein the operation of estimating the ETC is defined by

ETC
=

t
l

⁡

(

D
f

-
1

)

where t 1 is the active load time,
where f is the fullness expressed as a first percentage in decimal form, and
where D is a second percentage expressed in decimal form of a total depth of the container to which the loading is estimated; and
based on the ETC, at least one of:
adjusting personnel engaged in loading the container;
adjusting loading equipment used in loading the container;
adjusting a routing of a second container; or
identifying movement of freight that is slower than expected.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the image capture apparatus includes a three-dimensional camera, and wherein the plurality of points represents a point cloud.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operation of determining the active load time for the container includes subtracting an idle load time of the container from a total elapsed load time of the container.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the idle load time is based on an amount of time over which no change in the movement of items within the container is detected.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the amount of time is comprised of a plurality of time samples over which no change in the movement of items within the container is detected.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operation of determining the fullness of the container includes:
detecting at least one shape having a substantially flat surface that is substantially orthogonal to a floor of the container and is substantially facing the image capture apparatus;
determining an average depth value of all the at least one shape having the substantially flat surface; and
determining the fullness based on the average depth value and a total depth of the container.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the operation of determining the fullness includes:
subtracting the average depth value from the total depth value to obtain an estimated occupied depth; and
dividing the estimated occupied depth by the total depth.

8. A method of estimating and utilizing an estimated time to completion (ETC) of unloading a container, the method comprising:
capturing, via an image capture apparatus, a three-dimensional image representative of a three-dimensional formation, the three-dimensional image having a plurality of points with three-dimensional point data;
based at least in part on a first sub-plurality of the points representing goods being loaded into the container, determining, by a controller, an active unload time for the container;
based at least in part on a second sub-plurality of the points representing planes corresponding to substantially flat surfaces, determining, by the controller, a fullness of the container;
estimating, by a controller, the ETC based on the active unload time and on the fullness,
wherein the operation of estimating the ETC is defined by

ETC
=

t
l

⁡

(

1

(

1
-
f

)

-
1

)

where t 1 is the active unload time, and
where f is the fullness expressed as a percentage in decimal form; and
based on the ETC, at least one of:
adjusting personnel engaged in unloading the container;
adjusting loading equipment used in unloading the container;
adjusting a routing of a second container; or
identifying movement of freight that is slower than expected.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the image capture apparatus includes a three-dimensional camera, and wherein the plurality of points represents a point cloud.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the operation of determining the active unload time for the container includes subtracting an idle load time of the container from a total elapsed unload time of the container.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the idle load time is based on an amount of time over which no change in the movement of items within the container is detected.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the amount of time is comprised of a plurality of time samples over which no change in the movement of items within the container is detected.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the operation of determining the fullness of the container includes:
detecting at least one shape having a substantially flat surface that is substantially orthogonal to a floor of the container and is substantially facing the image capture apparatus;
determining an average depth value of all the at least one shape having the substantially flat surface; and
determining the fullness based on the average depth value and a total depth of the container.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the operation of determining the fullness includes:
subtracting the average depth value from the total depth value to obtain an estimated occupied depth; and
dividing the estimated occupied depth by the total depth.

15. A system for estimating and utilizing an estimated time to completion (ETC) of loading a container, comprising:
a container monitoring unit (CMU) having:
a housing;
an imaging assembly at least partially within the housing and operable to capture a three-dimensional image representative of a three-dimensional formation, the three-dimensional image having a plurality of points with three-di

Assignees

• Symbol Technologies Llc

Inventors

• Krishnamurthy Adithya H
• Trajkovic Miroslav

Classifications

• G06F30/00 Primary

  Computer-aided design [CAD] · CPC title

• G06Q10/04 Primary

  Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" (market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202) · CPC title

• G06Q10/0833

  Tracking · CPC title

• G06Q10/08

  Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management · CPC title

• F25D11/003

  Transport containers · CPC title