Spreader-Mounted Camera System for Automated Container Identification
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current container identification methods in container terminals, such as RFID and OCR-based systems, face challenges like high personnel and time expenditure, increased infrastructure costs, and integration issues with crane systems, leading to inefficient and unreliable container placement.
Innovation Solution
A method using two cameras at the end of a spreader to detect and localize container corners, record alphanumeric identifiers on the container top, and feed them to an optical character recognition device, with a sensor unit determining the distance and enabling easy integration into existing crane systems, allowing for redundant identification and validation of results.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If RFID tags and readers are used for container identification, then automated identification is achieved, but infrastructure costs increase due to need for standardized deployment across all terminals
Solution Approach 1:
The container itself serves as the identification carrier by utilizing its existing alphanumeric identifier markings. The container's own structure and standardized markings are leveraged to provide identification functionality without requiring additional tags or external infrastructure, making the system self-sufficient and avoiding widespread infrastructure deployment costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the RFID electronic field-based identification system with an optical measurement system using cameras and image processing. This substitution eliminates the need for RFID infrastructure by using optical detection of existing container markings, achieving automated identification through a different physical principle that requires minimal additional infrastructure.
2Extent of automation
If cameras are mounted on cranes to protrude beyond crane components for OCR-based identification, then container identifiers can be recorded, but space constraints prevent integration into every crane system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from side-view camera mounting (which requires protruding beyond crane components) to top-view camera mounting on the spreader. By changing the observation dimension from lateral to vertical, the system achieves identification capability within the existing spatial envelope of the crane, eliminating the need for cameras to protrude beyond structural components.
Solution Approach 2:
The spreader, which is a universal component in container crane systems used for lifting and transporting containers, is equipped with the camera system. Since spreaders are standard equipment across all container cranes, this approach enables universal integration of the identification system without requiring modifications to crane-specific structures, making the solution applicable to every crane system.
3Reliability
If manual inspection and entry of container numbers are used, then identification can be performed, but personnel expenditure and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection and handwritten or electronic data entry with an automated optical character recognition system. Cameras capture images of container identifiers, and image processing algorithms automatically recognize and record the alphanumeric markings, eliminating the need for human inspectors and dramatically reducing identification time while maintaining or improving accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary optical character recognition process between the container identifier and the recording system. Instead of direct human observation and entry, the OCR technology acts as an intermediary that automatically translates visual container markings into digital data, streamlining the identification workflow and eliminating manual labor bottlenecks.
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
This method provides a fast, reliable, and cost-effective way to identify containers without additional infrastructure, ensuring accurate placement and reducing handling times by leveraging standard container identifiers and eliminating the need for complex mounting or additional detection systems.
Implementation Method 1
the distance between the spreader and container being determined by a sensor unit
Implementation Method 2
Cameras arranged at the end of a spreader detect and localize the corners of a container
Implementation Method 3
the cameras record alphanumeric container identifiers, which are arranged on the front ends of a container top, and are fed to an optical character recognition device
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~6
AI summary
The method involves detecting the corners of a container (102) by two cameras (103,104) arranged on container-side ends (111,112) of a spreader (101). Alphanumeric container identifiers (121,122), arranged on front ends of a container upper side, are recorded by the cameras and fed to an optical character recognition device (105). The identifiers are arranged in a pre-determined distance between the spreader and container. Independent claims are also included for: (1) a control program for identification of a container in a container crane; and (2) a system for identification of a container in a container crane.