Abstract: A method is for detecting a cargo within a cargo compartment. The interior of the compartment containing the cargo is captured via a camera. The captured image information is subjected to automatic image processing. The algorithm underlying the image processing contains a program part or operator for edge detection, which determines edges of the cargo that are recognizable from the image information by the camera. Via the algorithm, the model of the cargo described by the current edge configuration of the cargo is then fitted into a model described by the edges of the compartment, namely by performing a comparison of the recognizable edges of the cargo and their edge lengths with the edges of the unladen compartment and their edge lengths, or with the edges of the compartment in a previous loaded state and the associated edge lengths. From this, the space occupied by the cargo is determined.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a load compartment (14) in a vehicle (10) uses an optical sensor (21) installed in the load compartment (14), a computer system with software for image processing and a graphical user interface. According to the method, a grid R of the cargo load compartment is stored in the computer system. An image I(t1) captured by the optical sensor (21) at a time t1 is converted in the computer system into a grid image RI which shows the occupancy, non-occupancy or change of occupancy of the load compartment according to the stored grid R. The grid image RI is displayed on the graphical user interface.