Cargo Handling Control Using Image and Distance Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cargo-handling technologies require improvements in transport efficiency, as rapid movement of holding units can lead to damage or inefficiencies due to inaccurate article positioning and height calculation.

Innovation Solution

A cargo-handling apparatus equipped with an image-capturing unit, distance measurement sensor, and control unit that accurately calculates the positions of article faces to stabilize holding and transport, using suction units to grasp articles based on precise image and distance measurements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the holding unit moves rapidly to improve transport efficiency, then productivity increases, but article damage risk increases due to inaccurate positioning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransport efficiencyVSAvoidarticle damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary image capture and distance measurement to calculate article position and height before the holding unit moves. This advance information allows the rapid movement to be executed with accurate positioning data already available, preventing damage while maintaining high speed transport efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses image-capturing units and distance measurement sensors to continuously monitor article position, providing feedback to the control unit. This feedback mechanism enables real-time adjustment of holding unit movement to prevent damage while optimizing transport speed and efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If the holding unit moves rapidly, then transport time decreases and productivity improves, but measurement precision deteriorates due to motion blur and positioning errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransport speedVSAvoidarticle position and height measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

All image capture and distance measurement operations are completed before the holding unit begins rapid movement. This preliminary measurement approach ensures high precision data is obtained while the system is stationary, eliminating motion-related measurement errors while maintaining fast transport speeds.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The transport process is divided into distinct phases: a measurement phase where the system is stationary and captures precise article data, followed by a transport phase where rapid movement occurs. This segmentation allows both high measurement precision and high transport speed to be achieved in different temporal stages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If the holding unit operates without accurate article height calculation, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability decreases due to unstable holding and transport

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol system complexityVSAvoidholding stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces complex mechanical measurement mechanisms with optical and electronic systems (image-capturing units and distance measurement sensors). This substitution achieves accurate article height calculation and reliable holding control through software-based processing rather than complex mechanical linkages, maintaining reliability while managing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit automatically calculates article position and height from the captured image and distance measurement data without requiring external intervention or complex manual calibration. This self-service capability ensures reliable holding operation while keeping the control system relatively simple and easy to operate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enhances transport efficiency by stabilizing article holding and reducing damage through accurate positioning and controlled movement, allowing for faster and safer handling of articles with varying arrangements.

Implementation Method 1

using suction units to grasp articles based on precise image and distance measurements

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentUS12589502B2Cargo-handling apparatus, control device, control method, and storage medium

Publication Date: 2026.03.31 KK TOSHIBA

AI summary

According to one embodiment, a cargo-handling apparatus includes a holding unit, an image-capturing unit, a distance measurement sensor, and a control unit. The holding unit holds an article. The image-capturing unit captures an image of the article in a first direction. The distance measurement sensor measures a distance to the article in a second direction crossing the first direction. The control unit controls the holding unit. The control unit selects a first article to be held based on an imaging result by the image-capturing unit, calculates, based on a measurement result by the distance measurement sensor, a position of a first face of the first article and a position of a second face of the first article, and causes the holding unit to operate in accordance with the calculated position of the first face and the calculated position of the second face to hold the first article.