Vehicle Load Compartment Grid Imaging for Fast Occupancy Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles' cargo spaces are often underutilized due to a lack of complete information about loading status, and existing load monitoring methods require extensive analysis of camera images to determine occupancy by predefined size units, making it difficult to assess the loading space efficiently during driving.
Innovation Solution
A method using an optical sensor to convert images of the cargo space into grid images, which are displayed on a graphical user interface, allowing for quick and easy assessment of occupancy by dividing the space into easily countable areas, with the grid adaptable to container sizes and capable of showing changes over time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If camera images are captured and complex analysis is performed to determine occupancy by predefined size units, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cargo space is divided into a grid of standardized units (e.g., Euro pallet sizes) that are stored in the computer system. This segmentation allows the system to assess occupancy by counting filled grid units rather than performing complex image analysis, thereby maintaining measurement precision while reducing device complexity and processing time
Solution Approach 2:
A virtual grid model (copy) of the cargo space is created and stored in the computer system. This digital replica allows the system to compare actual cargo placement against the predefined grid without requiring complex real-time analysis of camera images, thus improving efficiency while maintaining accurate occupancy assessment
2Measurement precision
If complex image analysis is performed to determine cargo occupancy, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The grid of standardized units is pre-calculated and stored in the computer system before the loading process begins. This preliminary preparation allows the system to quickly assess occupancy by simply counting filled grid units during loading, eliminating the need for complex real-time image analysis and thereby improving loading productivity while maintaining accurate measurement
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the cargo space into predefined grid units, the system transforms a complex continuous space measurement problem into a simple discrete counting problem, significantly improving processing speed and productivity while maintaining measurement precision
3Loss of information
If detailed camera images are used to assess cargo occupancy, then information completeness is improved, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
A simplified digital representation (copy) of the cargo space in the form of a grid is created and displayed on the graphical user interface. This visual copy provides complete loading status information in an easily interpretable format, allowing operators to quickly assess occupancy without analyzing complex camera images, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining information completeness
Solution Approach 2:
The grid representation acts as an intermediary between the complex camera images and the operator's understanding of cargo occupancy. This intermediate visualization layer translates detailed image data into a simple, intuitive grid display that preserves all necessary information while dramatically improving ease of operation
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for monitoring a load compartment (14) in a vehicle (10) using: an optical sensor (21) installed in the load compartment (14), a computer system with image processing software and a graphical user interface. According to the invention, a grid R of the load compartment is stored in the computer system, an image I (t-1) taken at a time ti by the optical sensor (21) is converted in the computer system into a grid image RI which maps the occupation, non-occupation or change in occupation of the load compartment in accordance with the stored grid R, and the grid image RI is displayed on the graphical user interface.