METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MONITORING LOGISTICS FACILITIES

• US 20160165190A1
• Filed: 12/03/2015
• Published: 06/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jungheinrich AG
• Original Assignee: Jungheinrich AG
• Inventors: Beckhaus, Kai, Preisker, Manuel
• Granted Patent: US 10,055,647 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/13 Satellite images
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/17 taken from planes or by drones
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/52 Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for monitoring processes and/or operating states in logistics facilities, in particular in roofed logistics facilities, comprising: providing a system which comprises at least one unmanned aerial vehicle (20), having at least one sensor, and comprises at least one data processing machine and at least one output device, detecting a current state of at least one characteristic in the logistics facility by means of the at least one sensor of the at least one aerial vehicle and transmitting the data representing the current state to the data processing machine, processing the data representing the current state by the data processing machine, wherein at least one processing result is obtained, and transmitting the at least one processing result to the output device, outputting the processing result by the output device, wherein the processing of the data transmitted by the at least one sensor comprises comparing the detected current state with a predetermined target state.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring processes and/or operating states in logistics facilities, in particular in roofed logistics facilities, comprising:

providing a system, the system comprising;

at least one unmanned aerial vehicle having at least one sensor;

at least one data processing machine;

at least one output device;

detecting a current state of at least one characteristic in the logistics facility by means of the at least one sensor of the at least one aerial vehicle and transmitting the data representing the current state to the data processing machine;

processing the data representing the current state by the data processing machine, at least one processing result being obtained, and transmitting the at least one processing result to the output device;

outputting the processing result by the output device;

wherein the processing of the data transmitted by the at least one sensor comprises comparing the detected current state with a predetermined target state.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, if a difference is determined, the comparison of the current state with the target state further comprises evaluating the difference, and the processing result comprises information on the result of the evaluation.

3. The method according to either claim 1, wherein the output device outputs the processing result to a management system, which runs predefined processes on the basis of the processing result.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the output device optically displays the processing result to a user and/or optionally notifies said user by means of an acoustic signal if the processing result satisfies a predetermined condition.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the detection of the current state comprises recording three-dimensional information by the at least one sensor.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one aerial vehicle flies autonomously.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic includes a characteristic from:

a clear object identifier, an object position, an object condition, a person'"'"'s authorisation, a person'"'"'s equipment.

8. A system for monitoring processes and/or operating states in logistics facilities, in particular in roofed logistics facilities, comprising:

at least one unmanned aerial vehicle which comprises at least one sensor and is designed to detect a current state of at least one characteristic in the logistics facility by means of the at least one sensor;

at least one data processing machine which is or can be coupled for communication with the at least one sensor of the aerial vehicle in order to receive data representing the current state from the at least one sensor, and is also designed to process the data representing the current state, at least one processing result being obtained;

at least one output device which is or can be coupled for communication with the data processing machine in order to receive the processing result and is also designed to output the processing result;

wherein the data processing machine comprises a memory and/or operatively communicates with a memory device, in which data representing a predefine target state are stored, and is also designed to compare the detected current state with the at least one predetermined target state when processing the data received from the at least one sensor.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the system further comprises a management system and/or communicates with an external management system which is designed to receive the processing result output by the output device and to run predefined processes on the basis of the processing result.

10. The system according to either claim 8, wherein the output device comprises means for optically displaying the processing result and/or means for acoustically notifying a user if the processing result satisfies a predetermined condition.

11. The system according to any of claim 8, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a device for acquiring three-dimensional information, for example a PMD camera, a laser scanner and/or an ultrasonic apparatus.

12. The system according to any of claim 8, wherein the at least one aerial vehicle is designed to fly autonomously.

13. The system according to any of claim 8, wherein the data processing machine is provided in the at least one aerial vehicle.

14. The system according to any of claim 8, wherein the data processing machine is formed separately from the at least one aerial vehicle and is wirelessly connected to the sensor of the at least one aerial vehicle for data transmission.