Automated Luggage Damage Assessment via Image Comparison

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Solution Overview

Problem

Assessing damage to objects in the possession of third parties is challenging due to the difficulty in determining pre-existing damage, normal wear and tear, and identifying the source of damage, leading to potential false claims and financial losses for service providers like airlines and shipping companies.

Innovation Solution

A method involving digital image capture at two points in time, comparison of images to assess damage, and analysis of historical trends to determine the potential source of damage using a computer system that includes cameras, a comparison unit, database, and analytics engine.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If airlines compensate customers for damaged luggage without adequate evidence, then customer loyalty is maintained, but financial losses occur from false claims

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomer loyaltyVSAvoidfinancial loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system captures images of luggage at check-in before the customer receives it, creating preliminary evidence of the luggage's condition. This preliminary documentation allows the airline to later compare the pre-and post-trip images to objectively determine whether damage occurred during transit or pre-existed, thereby resolving false claims without compromising customer service

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The image comparison system acts as an intermediary between the airline and customer during damage disputes. By providing objective visual evidence and automated damage assessment, the system mediates the disagreement without requiring the airline to directly argue with the customer, maintaining customer loyalty while preventing false claims

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of energy

If airlines require adequate evidence before compensating damaged luggage, then false claims are prevented, but customer satisfaction may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefinancial loss preventionVSAvoidcustomer satisfaction

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service damage assessment by automatically comparing images and determining whether damage occurred during transit. This automated process eliminates the need for lengthy manual investigations and arguments between airline staff and customers, providing quick, objective resolutions that maintain customer satisfaction while preventing false claims

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If damage assessment relies on manual inspection and customer claims, then flexibility is maintained, but measurement precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassessment flexibilityVSAvoiddamage assessment accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual visual inspection with automated image comparison technology. The computer system objectively analyzes pixel-level differences between pre and post-trip images to determine damage, eliminating human subjectivity and bias while maintaining the flexibility to handle various types and severities of damage through programmable analysis criteria

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Measurement precision

If airlines investigate every damage claim thoroughly, then damage source identification improves, but productivity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedamage source identificationVSAvoidclaim processing speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system skips lengthy manual investigations by rapidly comparing images and automatically determining whether damage occurred during transit. For clear-cut cases where the image comparison shows obvious damage, the system quickly processes the claim without requiring extensive manual review, thereby maintaining high productivity while still identifying the damage source through objective evidence

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

Data Source

PatentUS9953412B1System and methodology to prevent false claims to delivered or rented goods

Publication Date: 2018.04.24 WAYFAIR LLC

AI summary

A method and system of assessing damage to an object. A first digital image of an object is taken at a first point in time with a first camera. A second digital image of the object is taken at a second point in time with a second camera, where the second point in time is after the first point in time. The first digital image and the second digital image may are compared to determine if there is damage to the object. In response to a determination that there is damage to the object, a potential source of the damage to the object is determined by analyzing historical trends of damage to historically damaged objects.