Concepts for locating assets utilizing light detection and ranging

• US 10,007,888 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2015
• Issued: 06/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Siris, Marc David
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Phuong
• Application Number:
  US14/973,025
• Publication Number:
  US 20160180289A1
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/06 Systems determining position data of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/88 Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/51 Display arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking

Abstract

Various embodiments are directed to systems and methods for utilizing Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) sensors to facilitate loading and unloading of assets into receptacles. The LIDAR sensors may be configured to detect the location of various surfaces (e.g., asset surfaces) within a receptacle such that mapping data indicative of the location of the detected surfaces may be generated. This mapping data may facilitate a determination of a total volume of unoccupied space within the receptacle and/or the identification of an unoccupied volume sufficient to accommodate an item having defined dimensions. The mapping data may additionally be indicative of the location of asset identifiers disposed on one or more detected surfaces to facilitate locating a particular asset associated with a provided asset identifier.

Claims

1. A method of determining an amount of unoccupied volume in a receptacle, the method comprising:

providing one or more sensors configured to detect the location of tangible surfaces within the receptacle and to generate location data indicative of the location of detected tangible surfaces;

receiving location data indicative of the location of the tangible surfaces within the receptacle from the one or more sensors;

generating mapping data indicative of the location of the detected tangible surfaces within the receptacle; and

determining, based at least in part on the mapping data, the amount of unoccupied volume between detected surfaces within the receptacle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a Light Detection and Ranging sensor.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, based at least in part on the mapping data, the amount of occupied volume within the receptacle;

comparing the amount of occupied volume against data indicative of the total volume of the receptacle; and

determining a utilization rate of the receptacle based on the amount of occupied volume and the total volume of the receptacle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the location data is received from a plurality of sensors and wherein generating mapping data comprises logically overlaying the location data received from each of the plurality of sensors.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating an alert upon a determination that the amount of unoccupied space exceed a predetermined threshold.

6. A method of determining an optimal asset placement within a receptacle, the method comprising:

providing a sensor configured to detect the location of tangible surfaces within the receptacle and to generate data indicative of the location of detected tangible surfaces;

receiving location data indicative of the location of the tangible surfaces within the receptacle from the sensor;

generating mapping data indicative of the location of the detected tangible surfaces within the receptacle;

receiving asset data comprising data indicative of physical dimensions of an asset;

comparing the asset data and the mapping data to identify one or more unoccupied volumes existing between detected tangible surfaces having a size sufficient to accommodate the physical dimensions of the asset; and

activating an indicator to indicate the location of one or more of the identified unoccupied volumes.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein activating an indicator comprises directing a light source onto at least one of the identified unoccupied volumes.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the asset data further comprises data indicative of an asset weight;

and wherein the method further comprises;

identifying, based at least in part on the asset weight, one or more of the identified unoccupied volumes as eligible to receive the asset.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the asset data is received from one or more sensors collectively configured to measure the physical dimensions of the asset.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising receiving updated location data indicative of the location of the tangible surfaces within the receptacle from the sensor after the asset has been placed within the receptacle.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising comparing the updated location data and the previously received location data to determine the location of the asset placed within the receptacle;

and

storing data indicative of the location of the asset placed within the receptacle in association with the asset data.

12. A method of locating an asset positioned within a receptacle, the method comprising:

providing one or more sensors collectively configured to;

detect the location of tangible surfaces within the receptacle;

detect the location of an asset identifier disposed on one or more of the detected tangible surfaces with the receptacle; and

generate data indicative of the location of detected tangible surfaces and indicative of the location of the detected asset identifiers;

associating the detected asset identifiers with one or more of the detected tangible surfaces based at least in part on the detected location of the tangible surfaces and the location of the detected asset identifiers;

generating mapping data comprising data indicative of the location of the one or more detected tangible surfaces and the corresponding asset identifiers;

receiving a request to locate a particular asset having a corresponding asset identifier;

comparing the request and the mapping data to determine the location of the asset having the corresponding asset identifier; and

activating an indicator to indicate the location of the asset having the corresponding asset identifier.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more sensors comprises at least one Light Detection and Ranging sensor.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the asset identifier comprises a bar code printed on a surface of an asset.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein

a first set of sensors are configured to detect the location of the tangible surfaces within the receptacle;

a second set of sensors are configured to detect the location of the asset identifier disposed on one or more of the detected tangible surfaces within the receptacle; and

associating the detected asset identifiers with one or more of the detected tangible surfaces comprises logically overlaying the data received from the first set of sensors and the data received from the second set of sensors.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the request to locate the particular asset is received from a mobile device.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein activating an indicator comprises illuminating one or more lights positioned proximate the determined location of the asset having the corresponding asset identifier.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein generating the mapping data is performed in response to receipt of the request to locate the particular asset.