LOAD RECOMMENDATIONS AND LOAD SECURING RECOMMENDATION FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20170017502A1
• Filed: 07/14/2016
• Published: 01/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: GROSS, Philipp, OSTER, Lutz
• Granted Patent: US 10,528,212 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10004 Still image; Photographic image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30252 Vehicle exterior; Vicinity of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/60 Analysis of geometric attributes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/60 Control of cameras or camera modules

Abstract

A method for determining a loading recommendation for a vehicle. The method involves object dimensions of objects with which the vehicle needs to be loaded being determined automatically using an optical capture apparatus, and an arrangement of the objects in a cargo space of the vehicle being determined on the basis of the object dimensions of the objects and a cargo space dimension of the cargo space. The arrangement of the objects in the cargo space is output as a loading recommendation.

Claims

1. A method for determining a loading recommendation for a vehicle, the method comprising:

determining object dimensions of objects with which the vehicle needs to be loaded;

determining an arrangement of the objects in a cargo space of the vehicle based on the object dimensions of the objects and at least one cargo space dimension of the cargo space; and

outputting the arrangement of the objects in the cargo space as a loading recommendation,

wherein the object dimensions of the objects are determined automatically using an optical capture apparatus.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of the object dimensions of the objects with which the vehicle needs to be loaded comprises:

capturing an image of an object from the objects using the optical capture apparatus; and

determining the dimensions of the object from the captured image.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of the object dimensions of the objects with which the vehicle needs to be loaded comprises:

capturing an image of an object from the objects together with a determined reference object using the optical capture apparatus, wherein the reference object has a known dimension; and

determining the dimensions of the object from the image of the object and the reference object.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of the object dimensions of the objects with which the vehicle needs to be loaded comprises:

capturing an optical code that is affixed to an object from the objects using the optical capture apparatus; and

determining the dimensions of the object based on the optical code.

5. A method for determining a load securing recommendation for a vehicle, the method comprising:

determining object dimensions of objects with which the vehicle needs to be loaded; and

determining an arrangement of the objects in a cargo space of the vehicle based on the object dimensions of the objects and a cargo space dimension of the cargo space,

the method further comprising;

determining a securing element for the objects arranged in the cargo space based on the arrangement of the objects in the cargo space, wherein the securing element restricts a movement of the objects in the cargo space; and

outputting the securing element for the objects as a load securing recommendation.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein determining the securing element for the objects arranged in the cargo space comprises:

capturing a vehicle identification attribute of the vehicle;

determining securing options in the cargo space of the vehicle based on the vehicle identification attribute; and

determining the securing element for the objects arranged in the cargo space additionally based on the determined securing options.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining weights of the objects with which the vehicle needs to be loaded; and

determining the arrangement of the objects in the cargo space additionally based on the weights of the objects.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining weights of the objects with which the vehicle needs to be loaded; and

determining a setting for a headlamp orientation of the vehicle based on the weights of the objects and the arrangement of the objects in the cargo space.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining centers of gravity of the objects with which the vehicle needs to be loaded; and

determining the arrangement of the objects in the cargo space additionally based on the centers of gravity of the objects.

10. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining a loading order in which the objects need to be loaded into the cargo space; and

outputting the determined loading order.

11. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

capturing a vehicle identification attribute of the vehicle; and

determining the cargo space dimension of the cargo space of the vehicle based on the vehicle identification attribute.

12. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

capturing a seat configuration of the vehicle; and

determining the cargo space dimension of the cargo space of the vehicle based on the seat configuration.

13. An apparatus for determining a loading recommendation for a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

an optical capture apparatus;

a graphical user interface; and

a processing apparatus designed

to determine object dimensions of objects with which the vehicle needs to be loaded,

to determine an arrangement of the objects in a cargo space of the vehicle based on the object dimensions of the objects and a cargo space dimension of the cargo space, and

to output the arrangement of the objects in the cargo space as a loading recommendation via the graphical user interface,

wherein the processing apparatus is further designed to determine the object dimensions of the objects automatically using the optical capture apparatus.

14. An apparatus for determining a load securing recommendation for a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a graphical user interface; and

a processing apparatus designed

to determine object dimensions of objects with which the vehicle needs to be loaded, and

to determine an arrangement of the objects in a cargo space of the vehicle based on the object dimensions of the objects and a cargo space dimension of the cargo space,

wherein the processing apparatus is further designed to determine a securing element for the objects arranged in the cargo space based on the arrangement of the objects in the cargo space, wherein the securing element restricts a movement of the objects in the cargo space, and to output the securing element for the objects as a load securing recommendation via the graphical user interface.

15. A computer program product that comprises a program and is loadable directly into a memory of a programmable apparatus, having software program code to perform operations when the program is executed in the programmable apparatus, the operations including:

determining object dimensions of objects with which the vehicle needs to be loaded;

determining an arrangement of the objects in a cargo space of the vehicle based on the object dimensions of the objects and at least one cargo space dimension of the cargo space; and

outputting the arrangement of the objects in the cargo space as a loading recommendation,

wherein the object dimensions of the objects are determined automatically using an optical capture apparatus.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the determination of the object dimensions of the objects with which the vehicle needs to be loaded comprises:

capturing an image of an object from the objects using the optical capture apparatus; and

determining the dimensions of the object from the captured image.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the determination of the object dimensions of the objects with which the vehicle needs to be loaded comprises:

capturing an image of an object from the objects together with a determined reference object using the optical capture apparatus, wherein the reference object has a known dimension; and

determining the dimensions of the object from the image of the object and the reference object.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the determination of the object dimensions of the objects with which the vehicle needs to be loaded comprises:

capturing an optical code that is affixed to an object from the objects using the optical capture apparatus; and

determining the dimensions of the object based on the optical code.

26. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

capturing a seat configuration of the vehicle; and

determining the cargo space dimension of the cargo space of the vehicle based on the seat configuration.

19. A computer program product that comprises a program and is loadable directly into a memory of a programmable apparatus, having software program code to perform operations when the program is executed in the programmable apparatus, the operations including:

determining object dimensions of objects with which the vehicle needs to be loaded; and

determining an arrangement of the objects in a cargo space of the vehicle based on the object dimensions of the objects and a cargo space dimension of the cargo space,

determining a securing element for the objects arranged in the cargo space based on the arrangement of the objects in the cargo space, wherein the securing element restricts a movement of the objects in the cargo space; and

outputting the securing element for the objects as a load securing recommendation.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein determining the securing element for the objects arranged in the cargo space comprises:

capturing a vehicle identification attribute of the vehicle;

determining securing options in the cargo space of the vehicle based on the vehicle identification attribute; and

determining the securing element for the objects arranged in the cargo space additionally based on the determined securing options.

21. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the operations further comprises:

determining weights of the objects with which the vehicle needs to be loaded; and

determining the arrangement of the objects in the cargo space additionally based on the weights of the objects.

22. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining weights of the objects with which the vehicle needs to be loaded; and

determining a setting for a headlamp orientation of the vehicle based on the weights of the objects and the arrangement of the objects in the cargo space.

23. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining centers of gravity of the objects with which the vehicle needs to be loaded; and

determining the arrangement of the objects in the cargo space additionally based on the centers of gravity of the objects.

24. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining a loading order in which the objects need to be loaded into the cargo space; and

outputting the determined loading order.

25. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the operations further comprise:

capturing a vehicle identification attribute of the vehicle; and

determining the cargo space dimension of the cargo space of the vehicle based on the vehicle identification attribute.