Loading Bridge Insertion Detection for Uninterrupted Vehicle Unloading

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems fail to accurately detect ongoing loading and unloading processes in transport vehicles, leading to unintentional interruptions due to activation of support winches and height adjustments, and lack of awareness by dispatchers regarding the status of these processes.

Innovation Solution

A method and device utilizing sensor arrays to detect the insertion of a loading bridge into a cargo space, triggering notifications, locking mechanisms, and collision avoidance functions to prevent interruptions and inform remote devices of ongoing processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If support winches and height adjustment are activated during loading/unloading, then the transport vehicle can be repositioned or adjusted, but the loading/unloading process is unintentionally interrupted

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAbility to reposition transport vehicleVSAvoidContinuity of loading/unloading process

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of loading bridge insertion status before allowing activation of support winches or height adjustment. By detecting the presence of the loading bridge in advance, the system prevents operations that would interrupt the loading/unloading process, thus maintaining both operational flexibility and process continuity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the loading bridge status through sensor arrays and provides feedback to control the support winches and height adjustment functions. When the loading bridge is detected, the system automatically restricts activation of these functions, creating a feedback loop that ensures loading/unloading continuity while maintaining operational safety

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If dispatcher is unaware of ongoing loading/unloading processes, then communication overhead is reduced, but operational safety and coordination are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveCommunication system simplicityVSAvoidOperational safety and coordination

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically transmits loading bridge status information to remote devices and dispatchers through communication interfaces. This feedback mechanism ensures that all relevant parties are informed of ongoing loading/unloading processes without requiring manual reporting, thereby maintaining operational safety and coordination while minimizing communication overhead

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The telematics unit automatically generates and transmits status notifications about loading/unloading processes to remote devices and dispatchers. This self-service approach eliminates the need for manual status reporting by operators, ensuring continuous information flow to all stakeholders while reducing communication complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If loading bridge insertion is not detected, then false alarms are avoided, but actual loading/unloading processes may be interrupted

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAccuracy of process detectionVSAvoidUnintentional interruption of loading/unloading

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The detection system is divided into multiple sensor arrays positioned at different locations to detect the loading bridge insertion from multiple perspectives. This segmentation allows the system to accurately determine when the loading bridge is properly inserted, reducing false alarms while ensuring reliable detection of actual loading/unloading processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces manual monitoring of loading bridge insertion with automated sensor arrays and image processing. This substitution provides accurate, continuous detection of the loading bridge status, eliminating human error and ensuring that loading/unloading processes are not unintentionally interrupted while maintaining high detection accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP4678574A1Detection of an ongoing unloading and/or loading process of a transport vehicle

Publication Date: 2026.01.14 SCHMITZ CARGOBULL AG

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AI summary

Among other things, a method is disclosed, comprising: - acquiring (301) loading bridge state information, wherein the loading bridge state information represents a state and/or a change of state that is/was acquired by a sensor arrangement of a transport vehicle (2) and is characteristic that a loading bridge (401) is at least partially inserted into a cargo space (201) of the transport vehicle (2) through a rear opening (205); - determining (304), taking into account the loading bridge state information, that the loading bridge (401) is at least partially inserted into the cargo space (201) of the transport vehicle (2) through the rear opening (205);- if it is determined that the loading bridge (401) is at least partially inserted through the rear opening (205) into the cargo space (201) of the transport vehicle (2), (305, 306) (i) notify a remote device and/or (ii) activate a locking of support winches of the transport vehicle (2) and/or (iii) activate a locking of a height adjustment of the transport vehicle (2) and/or (iv) activate a collision avoidance function.;