Dock Trailer Alignment Sensing with Dynamic 3D Depth Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems fail to accurately and efficiently align trailer trucks with docking bay doors during loading and unloading operations, leading to potential misalignment and safety issues.
Innovation Solution
A 3D camera system mounted above the docking bay, which captures image and depth data to determine the trailer's angular position and lateral offset relative to the docking bay, providing feedback to drivers or autonomous systems to adjust alignment within defined tolerances, and automatically generates alarm signals for misalignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional alignment monitoring methods are used, then the system is simpler, but alignment precision and safety are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical alignment monitoring methods with a vision-based system using 3D cameras and computer algorithms. The system captures images of the trailer and docking bay, processes the image data to extract geometric features, and calculates alignment parameters automatically, eliminating the need for complex mechanical measurement devices while achieving high precision alignment detection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from 2D image analysis to 3D spatial analysis by using depth information from 3D cameras. The system constructs a three-dimensional coordinate system and calculates alignment based on spatial coordinates of key features, enabling accurate measurement of angular position and lateral offset that cannot be achieved with traditional 2D imaging alone
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive image data is processed, then detection accuracy is improved, but processing time and computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential geometric features needed for alignment detection from the comprehensive image data. The system identifies and processes key points such as the trailer rear surface, side surfaces, and docking bay features, ignoring irrelevant details. This selective extraction maintains detection accuracy while significantly reducing computational load and processing time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the image processing task into distinct segments: image acquisition, feature detection, coordinate transformation, and alignment calculation. Each segment handles specific aspects of the data processing pipeline, allowing for optimized computation in each stage and enabling real-time processing feedback to the driver
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for determining an alignment of a trailer relative to a docking bay or a vehicle bay door using dynamic depth filtering. Image data and position data is captured by a 3D camera system with an at least partially downward-facing field of view. When a trailer is approaching the docking bay or door, the captured image data includes a top surface of the trailer. A dynamic height range is determined based on an estimated height of the top surface of the trailer in the image data and a dynamic depth filter is applied to filter out image data corresponding to heights outside of the dynamic height range. An angular position and/or lateral offset of the trailer is determined based on the depth-filtered image data.