System and method of allocating objects within storage bins

• US 9,869,574 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2016
• Issued: 01/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Nicks, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Randazzo, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US15/155,768
• Publication Number:
  US 20170328759A1
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/003 Stowage devices for passengers' personal luggage
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/18 for measuring depth
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/20 for measuring contours or curvatures, e.g. determining profile
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/28 for measuring areas
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 17/00 Methods or apparatus for determining the capacity of containers or cavities, or the volume of solid bodies measuring linear dimensions to determine volume G01B
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083

Abstract

A method of allocating objects within a plurality of storage bins including monitoring motion within the plurality of storage bins, wherein each storage bin of the plurality of storage bins includes a profile sensor coupled therein, and activating the profile sensor coupled within a first storage bin. The profile sensor activated based on detection of motion within the first storage bin. The method also includes determining, with the profile sensor, an available capacity within the first storage bin, and transmitting an indication of the available capacity within the first storage bin.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a passenger cabin;

a plurality of storage bins coupled within said passenger cabin, said plurality of storage bins comprising at least a first storage bin and a second storage bin; and

an object allocation system comprising;

a motion sensor coupled within each storage bin of said plurality of storage bins, said motion sensor configured to monitor motion within said plurality of storage bins;

a profile sensor coupled within said each storage bin, said profile sensor configured to determine an available capacity within said plurality of storage bins; and

a controller configured to;

determine a boarding status of the vehicle;

activate said motion sensor from a sleep mode state based on the boarding status of the vehicle;

activate said profile sensor coupled within said first storage bin, said profile sensor activated based on detection of motion within said first storage bin;

activate said profile sensor coupled within said second storage bin, said profile sensor activated based on detection of motion within said second storage bin;

transmit an indication of the available capacity within said first storage bin; and

determine a rearrangement recommendation for objects within said first storage bin and said second storage bin based on the available capacity within said first storage bin and said second storage bin.

2. The vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said object allocation system further comprises a display device configured to receive the indication of the available capacity within said first storage bin, and to display the available capacity, wherein said display device is positioned at said first storage bin.

3. The vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said object allocation system further comprises a display device configured to receive the indication of the available capacity within said first storage bin, and to display the available capacity, wherein said display device is positioned remotely from said first storage bin.

4. The vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to activate said profile sensor at a preset time after motion within said first storage bin is no longer detected.

5. The vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said profile sensor is further configured to determine a shape of the objects within said first storage bin and said second storage bin, said controller further configured to:

determine the rearrangement recommendation for the objects within said first storage bin and said second storage bin based on the shape of the objects within said first storage bin and said second storage bin.

6. The vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to

activate said motion sensor when the vehicle is boarding.

7. The vehicle in accordance with claim 6, wherein said controller is further configured to deactivate said motion sensor for entry into the sleep mode state when motion is no longer detected in said first storage bin for an amount of time greater than a preset time.

8. The vehicle in accordance with claim 6, wherein said controller is further configured to determine the boarding status of the vehicle with a periodic check of the boarding status of the vehicle.

9. A method of allocating objects within a plurality of storage bins in a vehicle, said method comprising:

determining a boarding status of the vehicle;

monitoring motion within the plurality of storage bins with a motion sensor coupled therein, wherein the motion sensor is activated from a sleep mode state based on the boarding status of the vehicle, and wherein each storage bin of the plurality of storage bins includes a profile sensor coupled therein;

activating the profile sensor coupled within a first storage bin, the profile sensor activated based on detection of motion within the first storage bin;

activating the profile sensor coupled within a second storage bin, the profile sensor activated based on detection of motion within the second storage bin;

determining, with the profile sensor, an available capacity within the first storage bin;

determining, with the profile sensor coupled within the second storage bin, an available capacity within the second storage bin;

transmitting an indication of the available capacity within the first storage bin; and

determining a rearrangement recommendation for objects within the first storage bin and the second storage bin based on the available capacity within the first storage bin and the second storage bin.

10. The method in accordance with claim 9, wherein activating the profile sensor comprises activating the profile sensor at a preset time after motion within the first storage bin is no longer detected.

11. The method in accordance with claim 9, wherein transmitting an indication comprises transmitting the indication to a display device positioned at the first storage bin.

12. The method in accordance with claim 9, wherein transmitting an indication comprises transmitting the indication to a display device positioned remotely from the first storage bin.

13. The method in accordance with claim 9 further comprising:

determining, with the profile sensor coupled within the first storage bin, a shape of the objects within the first storage bin;

determining, with the profile sensor coupled within the second storage bin, a shape of the objects within the second storage bin; and

determining the rearrangement recommendation for the objects within the first storage bin and the second storage bin based on the shape of the objects within the first storage bin and the second storage bin.

14. A system for use in allocating objects within a plurality of storage bins in a vehicle, said system comprising:

a motion sensor coupled within each storage bin of the plurality of storage bins, said motion sensor configured to monitor motion within the plurality of storage bins, and said motion sensor configured for activation from a sleep mode state based on a boarding status of the vehicle;

a profile sensor coupled within each storage bin, said profile sensor configured to determine an available capacity within the plurality of storage bins; and

a controller configured to;

activate said profile sensor coupled within a first storage bin of the plurality of storage bins, said profile sensor activated based on detection of motion within the first storage bin;

activate said profile sensor coupled within a second storage bin of the plurality of storage bins, said profile sensor activated based on detection of motion within the second storage bin;

transmit an indication of the available capacity within the first storage bin; and

determine a rearrangement recommendation for objects within the first storage bin and the second storage bin based on the available capacity within the first storage bin and the second storage bin.

15. The system in accordance with claim 14 further comprising a display device configured to receive the indication of the available capacity, and to display the available capacity, wherein said display device is positioned remotely from the first storage bin.

16. The system in accordance with claim 14, wherein said controller is further configured to activate said profile sensor at a preset time after motion within the first storage bin is no longer detected.

17. The system in accordance with claim 14, wherein said profile sensor is further configured to determine a shape of the objects within the first storage bin and the second storage bin, said controller further configured to:

determine the rearrangement recommendation for the objects within the first storage bin and the second storage bin based on the shape of the objects within the first storage bin and the second storage bin.