A device and related method for vehicle identification in an automated logistics center.

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for managing a motor vehicle parking area and a system comprising at least one human or robotic vehicle conveyor (10) provided for moving or transporting motor vehicles (100), the system comprising: a plurality of physical media bearing a unique barcode-type optical identifier or QR code, each physical medium being placed on or inside the motor vehicle; at least one camera (4) for photographing the vehicles; analysis means (6) for executing a program for analyzing the images transmitted by the cameras (4) and extracting the unique optical identifier; and means (7) for wireless communication between the analysis means (6) and the at least one conveyor (10) for moving or transporting the vehicles associated with the identifier, the means (7) for wireless communication being for transmitting to the at least one conveyor (10) a digital message indicating the destination address of the vehicle (100).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of devices and / or methods for managing vehicle storage zones or parking areas.

[0002] prior art In the prior art, it is known to read the license plate of each vehicle entering or leaving a parking area by means of a camera.

[0003] Patent U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0271062 describes a passenger and vehicle elevator system for transporting a vehicle containing at least one passenger to a desired parking space in a building having multiple floors. The passenger and vehicle elevator system includes a plurality of elevator cabs positioned substantially a distance from a central stairwell of the building. Each elevator cab includes a housing and at least one door. The elevator cab housing has a floor, a ceiling, and at least one sidewall. The elevator cab is sized and configured to transport the vehicle and at least one passenger. Information regarding the parking space is read from the vehicle by an external sensor, such as an RFID sensor, a barcode reader, or the like.

[0004] US Patent Application No. 2007 / 031218 describes a system and method for automated storage and retrieval of vehicles, containers, and ships in a multi-level car park, using receiving means configured to receive identification data uniquely assigned to each vehicle associated with access to a vehicle transfer area.

[0005] Shortcomings of the prior art In the situation of a parking area containing new vehicles, these vehicles do not have license plates, unlike the vehicles removed in prior art solutions.

[0006] Patent US Patent Application No. 2014 / 0271062 and Patent US Patent Application No. 2007 / 031218 are not concerned with identifying vehicles, but rather with identifying parking spaces by vehicles already identified by their license plates.

[0007] It is therefore desirable to propose a simple and inexpensive identification solution in the case of car storage zones or new vehicle parking areas.

[0008] The technical problem to be solved is to ensure that the identification of a new vehicle that is not yet registered can be used remotely, without interfering with the vehicle, in a safe manner, for the purpose of autonomously moving the vehicle to a location provided for it, and without requiring any modification of the vehicle.

[0009] The solution provided by the invention According to its most general accepted aspect, the present invention relates to a system for managing a vehicle storage zone or a car parking area equipped with cameras, having the technical features presented in claim 1 or the dependent claims.

[0010] "Reusable medium" in the sense of this patent is understood to mean an easily removable medium that can be placed in or removed from a vehicle without any tools or irreversible connections.

[0011] "Camera" in the sense of this patent means an image acquisition means, in particular an image sensor, or an infrared scanning device. The communication means may consist of a communication link (wired or wireless) between the gate and a central system, which itself is connected to the conveyors, people or robots it manages.

[0012] The gate may be equipped with multiple devices for detecting / reading barcodes or QR codes / reading RFID tags to appropriately surround the vehicle.

[0013] The management system according to the invention is a simple, cheap and reusable solution as it allows for the reassignment of media and associated identifiers.

[0014] Preferably, each physical medium is a sheet of paper. Each sheet of paper is placed on the dashboard of the vehicle and near the windshield, or glued onto a side window. For example, the paper sheet format is A4 (21 cm x 29.7 cm).

[0015] Advantageously, the unique optical identifier is printed over at least 50% of the surface of the physical medium, a feature that can make the identifier more visible and / or distinctive to a camera.

[0016] According to a variant embodiment, the identifier is an RFID tag applied to the window of the vehicle.

[0017] According to a variant embodiment, the system comprises lighting means designed to illuminate the vehicle.

[0018] Preferably, the system comprises a frame with at least one camera. The frame may also include lighting means.

[0019] For example, the frame may be a gate allowing the passage of a vehicle. The term "gate" refers to two vertical posts connected to each other by a horizontal crossbar. The vertical posts have a length equal to or greater than the height of a vehicle. A camera and possibly lighting means may be carried by the horizontal spar of the gate or by one or both of the two vertical posts.

[0020] According to a variant embodiment, the frame is a vertical bar, and the camera and lighting means may be carried on top of the vertical bar.

[0021] According to a particular embodiment, the aforementioned system further comprises at least one vehicle conveyor equipped with communication means for receiving movement instructions based on the unique identifier acquired by the camera and processed by the analysis means, the conveyor may be a robotic platform or a human driver equipped with a communication device.

[0022] According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a method for managing a vehicle storage zone or a vehicle parking area, in which at least one vehicle conveyor is provided for moving or transporting vehicles, comprising: - placing a physical medium carrying a unique barcode type identifier or a QR code or an RFID tag near a glass surface within each of the vehicles; moving or transporting a vehicle using a vehicle conveyor; - moving or transporting the moved or transported vehicle in front of a camera so that the camera photographs a unique optical identifier associated with the vehicle, or in front of an RFID tag so that the RFID tag recognizes a unique RFID identifier associated with the vehicle; - analyzing the unique optical identifier or RFID by an analysis means; - transmitting a digital message indicating a destination address to the conveyor via wireless communication means. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] The invention will be better understood from reading the following description with reference to non-limiting exemplary embodiments illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which: [Figure 1] 1 shows a system for managing a parking area according to a first embodiment, the system comprising a gate carrying a camera, lighting means, analysis means and means for wireless communication, the camera photographing unique optical identifiers placed inside vehicles transported by a vehicle conveyor. [Figure 2]10 shows a system for managing a parking area according to a second embodiment, further comprising a single optical curtain. [Figure 3] 10 shows a system for managing a parking area according to a third embodiment, further comprising a double optical curtain. [Figure 4] 10 shows a system for managing a parking area according to a fourth embodiment, further comprising a vertical detection camera. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a system or device 1 for managing a vehicle storage zone or vehicle parking area.

[0025] The system comprises electric vehicle conveyors 10 arranged to move or transport automobiles 100. Each conveyor covers a parking area having automobiles awaiting delivery, in this case new cars without license plates, and is arranged and / or programmed to transport automobiles from a storage zone of the parking area to a transfer zone of the parking area.

[0026] Furthermore, each vehicle is provided with a medium, e.g., a sheet of paper, on which a unique identifier is printed, the medium being placed on the dashboard or adhesively attached to the window so as to be visible through the windshield from outside the vehicle (not shown). The unique identifier is a barcode or a QR code (registered trademark).

[0027] The system comprises a gate 3 carrying a camera 4 and lighting means 5. The camera 4 and lighting means 5 are aimed towards the windscreen of the vehicle as it is presented in front of the gate via a conveyor 10. The camera 4 is arranged to read or scan a unique identifier.

[0028] The system comprises an analysis means 6 connected to the camera 4 and arranged to run a program for analyzing the images transmitted by the camera 4 to extract the aforementioned unique optical identifier. When the conveyor passes under the gate with a vehicle, the code read by the camera is communicated to the analysis means for associating it with the vehicle.

[0029] The management system further comprises a database in which each unique identifier is associated with a destination address. Wireless communication means 7 between the analysis means 6 and each conveyor make it possible to send to said conveyor a digital message indicating the destination address of the vehicle transported by said conveyor.

[0030] The usefulness of such a system is particularly important when dealing with vehicles that do not yet have license plates, as is typically the case in new car logistics situations.

[0031] Alternative Embodiments 2 to 4 illustrate an alternative embodiment in which the system incorporates functionality for measuring the length of the vehicle.

[0032] According to these three variants, the gate (3) is equipped with optical means that interact with the front end of the vehicle (100) in order to allow it to pass through the gate and automatically verify its length.

[0033] According to the variant illustrated in Figure 2, the gate (3) comprises a vertical post (20) with a light source directed laterally towards a second post (30) with a photodetector to form a light barrier (25) that becomes invisible when a vehicle passes through.

[0034] According to the variant shown in Figure 3, the gate (3) comprises two lamps (20, 21) of the light source and two lamps (30, 31) of the photodetector to form a double barrier (25, 26). This variant makes it possible to automatically detect the direction of movement.

[0035] According to the variant illustrated in FIG. 4, the gate (3) To detect the passage of the rear end of the vehicle (100), the illustrated embodiment includes a vertically positioned camera (40).

[0036] By detecting the passage of a vehicle (100) moved by the conveyor (10) from the rear end and then the front end (or vice versa), it becomes possible to estimate the length of the vehicle (100) based on disruptions caused by light barriers or the beam of the camera (40).

[0037] When the robot (10) picks up the car (100) at the delivery zone, it must pass under a gate (necessary to pass between the delivery zone and the storage zone).

[0038] As it moves slowly under the gate, the location of the unseen face of the vehicle (100) passing under the gate (3) is acquired by a light barrier or camera (40), and the vehicle length is estimated along with the location of the robot (10) at the moment the unseen face crosses the vertical section of the gate (3).

Claims

1. A system (1) for managing a motor vehicle parking area, comprising a vehicle identification means, The vehicle identification means a plurality of reusable physical media carrying a unique barcode-type optical identifier or QR code or an RFID tag associated with a memory containing a unique digital identifier, each physical media being located on or within a vehicle; at least one sensor (4) arranged to acquire information inscribed on the physical medium of the vehicle; analysis means (6) connected to said at least one sensor (4), said analysis means (6) executing a program for analyzing the information transmitted by said sensor (4) to extract a unique identifier associated with said physical medium and to calculate the destination address of the vehicle in which said physical medium is located; means (7) for wireless communication between the analysis means (6) and a robotic conveyor (10) that moves or transports the vehicle on which the physical medium is placed, for transmitting a digital message to the robotic conveyor (10) indicating the destination address of the vehicle (100); the system comprises at least one robotic conveyor (10) equipped with communication means for receiving movement instructions based on the unique identifier acquired by the sensor (4) and processed by the analysis means (6), the system further comprises a frame carrying at least one of the sensors (4); The frame is a gate (3) that allows vehicles to pass through, A system for controlling, characterized in that the gate (3) further comprises means for detecting the passage of the front end of the vehicle (100) moved by the robot conveyor (10).

2. each reusable physical medium is a sheet of paper bearing inscriptions encoding a unique identifier; 2. A system for managing according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor (4) is a camera.

3. each physical medium comprising an RFID tag associated with a digital memory containing a record of a unique digital identifier; 2. A system for managing according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor (4) is an RFID reader.

4. System for managing according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the system comprises lighting means (5) provided for illuminating the vehicle (100).

5. 5. A system for managing according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the frame is a vertical bar.

6. 6. A control system according to claim 1, wherein the means for detecting the passage of the front end of the vehicle (100) are constituted by a light barrier (25) formed by a light source lamp (20) directed towards a light detector lamp (30), the lamps (20, 30) being arranged on both sides of the gate (3).

7. 7. A control system according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for detecting the passage of the front end of the vehicle (100) are constituted by a double light barrier (25, 26) formed by two lamps (20, 21) of a light source directed towards two lamps (30, 31) of a photodetector, said lamps (20, 21; 30, 31) being arranged on either side of the gate (3).

8. A method for managing a car parking area, provided with at least one robotic conveyor (10) for moving or transporting vehicles (100), comprising the steps of: the vehicle (100) is provided with a reusable physical medium having a unique barcode type identifier or QR code or RFID tag located near a glass surface inside the vehicle; - moving or transporting a vehicle (100) using a robotic conveyor (10); - passing the vehicle (100) in movement or transportation in front of the sensor (4) so that the sensor (4) proceeds to remotely acquire the associated unique identifier of the physical medium; - analyzing the unique identifier of said physical medium by an analysis means (6) and associating a destination address with the vehicle in which said physical medium is located; - transmitting a digital message indicating the destination address to the robotic conveyor (10) via wireless communication means (7), a frame carrying at least one of said sensors (4), The frame is a gate (3) that allows vehicles to pass through, The gate (3) further comprises means for detecting the passage of the front end of the vehicle (100) moved by the robot conveyor (10). A method characterized by:

Images