Abstract: Three-dimensional (3D) depth imaging systems and methods are disclosed for use in commercial trailer loading. In various aspects, a 3D-depth camera is configured and oriented in a direction to capture 3D image data of a vehicle storage area. A depth-detection application (app) executing on one more processors determines, based on the 3D image data, a void data region, and a floor data region within the 3D image data. Based on the determination of the void data region and the floor data region, the depth-detection app generates an out-of-range indicator that indicates that a wall (e.g., a package wall) situated at a rear section of the vehicle storage area is not detected. The determination that a package wall is not detected causes a dashboard app to modify a graphical representation of the capacity of the vehicle storage area.

Abstract: An example trailer monitoring system includes a trailer monitoring unit including an image capture arrangement disposed within the trailer monitoring unit to capture first image data. An accelerometer is carried by the trailer monitoring unit is to generate acceleration data of the trailer monitoring unit. The trailer monitoring system also includes one or more processors configured to access the acceleration data and configured to compare the acceleration data to a reference acceleration data range to determine if the acceleration data is within the reference acceleration range. In response to the acceleration data being outside the reference acceleration data range, the one or more processors are to increase a tally of impact events associated with the trailer monitoring unit being impacted. In response to the tally satisfying a threshold, the one or more processors are to generate an alert indicative of the trailer monitoring unit requiring maintenance.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to the field of space dimensioning. In an embodiment, the present invention is a method of dimensioning a container bound by at least a first wall and a second wall opposite the first wall, the space being 3D and definable via height, width, and depth coordinates. The method includes: obtaining, a 3D image of at least a portion of the space; analyzing the image to determine a first and second equations defining first plane and second planes corresponding to the first and second walls; solving the first equation for a first coordinate value; solving the second equation for a second coordinate value, the first coordinate value and the second coordinate value being one of a width coordinate or a height coordinate; and computing a first distance based at least in part on the first coordinate value and the second coordinate value.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting a presence or absence of objects in a trailer are described. A 3D depth-camera is oriented to capture a 3D image. The 3D image includes a plurality of 3D point data defining a portion of a wall, floor, and top of a trailer. The plurality of 3D point data is then analyzed to determine a first, second, and third sub-plurality of points, associated with the portion of the wall, floor, and top, respectively. The first, second, and third sub-pluralities are then removed from the plurality of points to obtain a modified plurality of points, representing a modified 3D image. The modified 3D image is then segmented into a plurality of bins, and the plurality of bins are analyzed to determine one or more points-bin values. A communication is then provided based on whether any of the points-bin values exceeds a threshold value.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to estimating capacity usage of a container. In an embodiment, the present invention is a method of estimating a fullness of a container. The method includes: mounting an image capture apparatus proximate a container-loading area, the image capture apparatus operable to capture three-dimensional images; capturing, via the image capture apparatus, a three-dimensional image representative of a three-dimensional formation, the three-dimensional image having a plurality of points with three-dimensional point data including depth data; generating a histogram of the depth data from the three-dimensional image; and estimating the fullness of the container based at least in part on the histogram.

Abstract: An example trailer monitoring system includes a trailer monitoring unit including an image capture arrangement disposed within the trailer monitoring unit to capture first image data. An accelerometer is carried by the trailer monitoring unit is to generate acceleration data of the trailer monitoring unit. The trailer monitoring system also includes one or more processors configured to access the acceleration data and configured to compare the acceleration data to a reference acceleration data range to determine if the acceleration data is within the reference acceleration range. In response to the acceleration data being outside the reference acceleration data range, the one or more processors are to increase a tally of impact events associated with the trailer monitoring unit being impacted. In response to the tally satisfying a threshold, the one or more processors are to generate an alert indicative of the trailer monitoring unit requiring maintenance.

Abstract: Three-dimensional (3D) imaging systems and methods are disclosed for analyzing idle time duration in a storage area. A 3D-depth camera non-concurrently captures frames having respective 3D image datasets. A 3D data analytics application maintains a plurality of records including a first record, associated with a 3D image dataset of a least-recent frame in a series of frames; a third record, associated with a 3D image dataset of a most-recent frame in the series of frames; and a second record, associated with a 3D image dataset of an intermediate frame captured between the least-recent frame and the most-recent frame. Based on comparisons of the first, second, and third records, an activity status type is determined defining an activity occurring within the storage area during a particular time segment. A cumulative idle time duration is incremented based on the activity status type having a non-loading status type.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) depth imaging system is provided for use in commercial trailer loading applications. A 3D-depth camera may be configured and oriented to capture 3D image data of a vehicle storage area. A depth-detection application executing on one or more processors may determine, based on the 3D image data, at least a wall data region and a non-wall data region. Based on the determination of the wall data and the non-wall data region, the depth-detection application generates a wall indicator that indicates a wall is situated at a discrete depth within the vehicle storage area.

Abstract: Three-dimensional (3D) imaging systems and methods for segmenting and tracking package walls in commercial trailer loading are described. A 3D-depth camera is oriented in a direction to capture 3D image data of a vehicle storage area. A first portion of the 3D image data is captured by the 3D-depth camera during a first time period and a second portion of the 3D image data is captured by the 3D-depth camera during a second time period. A segmentation application (app) determines, based on the 3D image data, a first data wall slice corresponding to a first package wall and a second data wall slice corresponding to a second package wall, where each of the first package wall and the second package wall is defined by a plurality of packages each having a respective similar depth dimension and each packed within the vehicle storage area during a respective time period.

Abstract: Three-dimensional (3D) imaging systems and methods are disclosed for analyzing idle time duration in a storage area. A 3D-depth camera non-concurrently captures frames having respective 3D image datasets. A 3D data analytics application maintains a plurality of records including a first record, associated with a 3D image dataset of a least-recent frame in a series of frames; a third record, associated with a 3D image dataset of a most-recent frame in the series of frames; and a second record, associated with a 3D image dataset of an intermediate frame captured between the least-recent frame and the most-recent frame. Based on comparisons of the first, second, and third records, an activity status type is determined defining an activity occurring within the storage area during a particular time segment. A cumulative idle time duration is incremented based on the activity status type having a non-loading status type.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for using a three-dimensional (3D) depth imaging system for use in commercial trailer loading is disclosed. The method and apparatus may be configured to determine a load-efficiency score for a trailer in a variety of ways. In one embodiment, the method and apparatus may determine the score by receiving a set of point cloud data based on 3D image data, analyzing the set of point cloud data, generating a set of data slices based on the set of point cloud data each data slice corresponding to a portion of the 3D image data, estimating a set of missing data points in each data slice in the set of data slices, and calculating a load-efficiency score based on the generated set of data slices and estimated set of missing data points.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to trailer loading analytics. In an embodiment, the present invention is a method for detecting a trailer door status. The method includes: capturing a 3D image representative of a 3D formation; analyzing respective depth values of a first sub-plurality of the plurality of points of the 3D image to determine whether the formation is within a first predetermined distance threshold from a location; and when the formation is within the first predetermined distance threshold, analyzing respective depth values of a second sub-plurality of the plurality of points to determine whether the 3D formation is substantially flat, a determination of the three-dimensional formation being substantially flat being indicative of the trailer door being closed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to system and methods for estimating the time associated with completion of loading and/or unloading of a container. In an embodiment, the present invention is a method of estimating an estimated time to completion (ETC) of loading a container. The method includes: capturing, via an image capture apparatus, a three-dimensional image representative of a three-dimensional formation, the three-dimensional image having a plurality of points with three-dimensional point data; based at least in part on a first sub-plurality of the points, determining an active load time for the container; based at least in part on a second sub-plurality of the points, determining a fullness of the container; and estimating, by a controller, the ETC based on the active load time and on the fullness.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to the field of space dimensioning. In an embodiment, the present invention is a method of dimensioning a container bound by at least a first wall and a second wall opposite the first wall, the space being 3D and definable via height, width, and depth coordinates. The method includes: obtaining, a 3D image of at least a portion of the space; analyzing the image to determine a first and second equations defining first plane and second planes corresponding to the first and second walls; solving the first equation for a first coordinate value; solving the second equation for a second coordinate value, the first coordinate value and the second coordinate value being one of a width coordinate or a height coordinate; and computing a first distance based at least in part on the first coordinate value and the second coordinate value.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to estimating capacity usage of a container. In an embodiment, the present invention is a method of estimating a fullness of a container. The method includes: mounting an image capture apparatus proximate a container-loading area, the image capture apparatus operable to capture three-dimensional images; capturing, via the image capture apparatus, a three-dimensional image representative of a three-dimensional formation, the three-dimensional image having a plurality of points with three-dimensional point data including depth data; generating a histogram of the depth data from the three-dimensional image; and estimating the fullness of the container based at least in part on the histogram.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for using a three-dimensional (3D) depth imaging system for use in commercial trailer loading is disclosed. The method and apparatus may be configured to determine a load-efficiency score for a trailer in a variety of ways. In one embodiment, the method and apparatus may determine the score by receiving a set of point cloud data based on 3D image data, analyzing the set of point cloud data, generating a set of data slices based on the set of point cloud data each data slice corresponding to a portion of the 3D image data, estimating a set of missing data points in each data slice in the set of data slices, and calculating a load-efficiency score based on the generated set of data slices and estimated set of missing data points.

Abstract: Three-dimensional (3D) imaging systems and methods for segmenting and tracking package walls in commercial trailer loading are described. A 3D-depth camera is oriented in a direction to capture 3D image data of a vehicle storage area. A first portion of the 3D image data is captured by the 3D-depth camera during a first time period and a second portion of the 3D image data is captured by the 3D-depth camera during a second time period. A segmentation application (app) determines, based on the 3D image data, a first data wall slice corresponding to a first package wall and a second data wall slice corresponding to a second package wall, where each of the first package wall and the second package wall is defined by a plurality of packages each having a respective similar depth dimension and each packed within the vehicle storage area during a respective time period.

Abstract: Three-dimensional (3D) depth imaging systems and methods are disclosed for use in commercial trailer loading. In various aspects, a 3D-depth camera is configured and oriented in a direction to capture 3D image data of a vehicle storage area. A depth-detection application (app) executing on one more processors determines, based on the 3D image data, a void data region, and a floor data region within the 3D image data. Based on the determination of the void data region and the floor data region, the depth-detection app generates an out-of-range indicator that indicates that a wall (e.g., a package wall) situated at a rear section of the vehicle storage area is not detected. The determination that a package wall is not detected causes a dashboard app to modify a graphical representation of the capacity of the vehicle storage area.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) depth imaging system is provided for use in commercial trailer loading applications. A 3D-depth camera may be configured and oriented to capture 3D image data of a vehicle storage area. A depth-detection application executing on one or more processors may determine, based on the 3D image data, at least a wall data region and a non-wall data region. Based on the determination of the wall data and the non-wall data region, the depth-detection application generates a wall indicator that indicates a wall is situated at a discrete depth within the vehicle storage area.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to trailer loading analytics. In an embodiment, the present invention is a method for detecting a trailer door status. The method includes: capturing a 3D image representative of a 3D formation; analyzing respective depth values of a first sub-plurality of the plurality of points of the 3D image to determine whether the formation is within a first predetermined distance threshold from a location; and when the formation is within the first predetermined distance threshold, analyzing respective depth values of a second sub-plurality of the plurality of points to determine whether the 3D formation is substantially flat, a determination of the three-dimensional formation being substantially flat being indicative of the trailer door being closed.