3D Point Cloud Descriptor for Shipping Object Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for tracking shipping objects during transport are time-consuming, especially when evaluating their tracking records to locate lost or damaged items, as they rely on conventional methods like barcoding and RFID, which are inefficient in documenting and retrieving metadata.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a database structure with content-based descriptors derived from 3D point cloud representations of shipping objects, combined with 3D scanning systems and similarity search algorithms to quickly identify and track objects along their transport path, enabling efficient retrieval of shipping history.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If conventional tracking methods (barcoding, RFID) are used to identify shipping objects, then object identification is achieved, but the evaluation of tracking records is time-consuming and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a content-based descriptor (a simplified representation or copy of the 3D point cloud) for each shipping object and stores it in a database. This descriptor serves as an efficient proxy for the full 3D data, enabling quick similarity searches without processing complete point cloud representations, thus resolving the time-consuming evaluation problem while maintaining tracking accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the complex 3D point cloud data into a content-based descriptor by changing the data representation parameters. This transformation reduces the dimensionality and complexity of the data structure, making it suitable for rapid similarity searches and efficient retrieval operations in the database
2Measurement precision
If 3D scanning systems are applied to create detailed 3D models of shipping objects, then accurate object representation is achieved, but the complexity of data processing and evaluation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential features from the complete 3D point cloud data to create a content-based descriptor. This extraction process removes redundant information while preserving the key characteristics needed for identification and tracking, thus reducing data processing complexity while maintaining measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the complex 3D point cloud data into a structured content-based descriptor that can be efficiently stored and queried in a database. This segmentation organizes the data into manageable units with specific properties, facilitating rapid similarity searches without requiring processing of the entire point cloud
Data Source
AI summary
A method, an apparatus and a computer program are provided for tracking a shipping object that has been selected from a stock of objects. The shipping object is subjected to a 3D scanning as it is being transported along a transport path from a first location to a second location distant from the first location.