Intermodal Crane Access Area Monitoring With 3D Lidar
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container loading systems fail to effectively monitor access areas for personnel safety due to limitations in scanning geometry, particularly when dealing with varying transport vehicle lengths and types, leading to potential safety hazards.
Innovation Solution
A container loading system utilizing 3D lidar sensors positioned centrally above access areas, which are rectangular in shape, allowing for comprehensive monitoring and flexible, automated setup to accommodate different vehicle widths, with decentralized data evaluation and independent detection of access areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If 3D laser scanners are positioned in opposite corners and angled to survey L-shaped sub-zones, then the scanning coverage is achieved, but portions of the access area are not captured when transport vehicles have varying lengths or extend beyond the work area
Solution Approach 1:
The access area is divided into multiple rectangular monitoring zones, each independently monitored by 3D lidar sensors. This segmentation ensures that each zone can be independently detected and monitored, eliminating blind spots that occur with L-shaped sub-zone configurations. The rectangular geometry of each monitoring zone aligns with the rectangular access areas between loading positions, ensuring complete coverage regardless of vehicle length or position.
Solution Approach 2:
Each rectangular monitoring zone is equipped with its own 3D lidar sensor positioned above it, providing localized monitoring capability. This local quality approach ensures that each access area segment has dedicated monitoring resources, improving the reliability of personnel detection in specific zones without requiring all sensors to cover the entire work area simultaneously.
2Reliability
If multiple 3D lidar sensors monitor the entire work area, then comprehensive safety monitoring is achieved, but data processing load and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The work area is segmented into distinct rectangular access areas, each with its own monitoring zone. This segmentation allows the control device to process data from multiple sensors independently and in parallel, reducing the computational complexity of analyzing the entire work area as a single continuous space. Each sensor only needs to evaluate its own monitoring zone, simplifying the overall data processing architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring function is extracted from a centralized comprehensive monitoring approach to distributed zone-specific monitoring. Each 3D lidar sensor independently monitors its own rectangular monitoring zone, and only relevant detection results are transmitted to the control device. This extraction reduces the data processing load by eliminating the need to analyze the entire work area simultaneously.
3Reliability
If 3D lidar sensors are positioned above access areas with rectangular geometry, then consistent monitoring of access areas is achieved regardless of vehicle length, but the system requires flexible automated setup to accommodate different vehicle widths
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs automated setup procedures that dynamically adjust to different transport vehicle configurations. The 3D lidar sensors are positioned to monitor rectangular access areas that can accommodate vehicles of varying lengths and widths, and the control device automatically configures the monitoring parameters based on the detected vehicle dimensions, eliminating the need for manual reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The container loading system performs self-configuration by automatically detecting the presence and dimensions of transport vehicles, then autonomously adjusting the monitoring zone parameters and sensor configurations. This self-service capability ensures consistent access area monitoring regardless of vehicle type without requiring external intervention or complex manual setup procedures.
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
Ensures safe, automated container loading operations by consistently monitoring access areas regardless of vehicle length, reducing data processing load and enhancing safety by detecting personnel or obstacles in time to issue warnings or emergency stops.
Implementation Method 1
a 3D lidar sensor (10) which is located above the respective access area (7) and which establishes a monitoring area (9) as part of the access area (7) and detects objects in the monitoring area (9)
Data Source
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AI summary
Container loading facility (1) with a control device (2), a container crane (3), and a work surface (4) below the container crane, wherein the container crane (3) has at least one support element (5) extending over the work surface (4), and wherein the work surface (4) has loading areas (6) and access areas (7), and the loading areas (6) are designed to accommodate transport vehicles (8), in particular rail vehicles (8), for loading or unloading by the container crane (3), in sections, and the access areas (7) are each rectangular between two immediately adjacent loading areas (6), so that persons (11) have access to the loading areas (6), characterized in that a respective access area (7) has a monitoring area (9) which is monitored across its entire width by at least one 3D lidar sensor (10), at least during the loading of the transport vehicles (8).wherein the 3D lidar sensor (10) is arranged above the respective access area (7), preferably centrally, on the support element (5).