Fill level indicator for an automated unloading system
AssigneesDeere & Company, Carnegie Mellon University
InventorsZachary T. Bonefas, Herman Herman, Joan Campoy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
First imaging device collects first image data, whereas second imaging device collects second image data of a storage portion. An image processing module identifies a rim of a container in either the first image data or the second image data. The image processing module then overlays an outline of the rim in an image presented on a display to an operator of a transferring vehicle. The image processing module further identifies the fill level of material in a receiving vehicle container and overlays this information in the image presented on the display.
Claims14
A method of displaying on a user interface a level of agricultural material in a container, the method comprising:
- obtaining stereo image data from at least one imaging device facing the container;
- identifying a perimeter of an opening of the container from the image data using an image processing module;
- determining a reliability of an edge identified in the perimeter of the opening of the container using an edge detector,
- wherein the edge detector identifies and locates discontinuities between pixels in the image data;
- dividing the opening into a matrix of cells,
- wherein each cell of the matrix of cells spans a width of the container;
- determining an average height of pixels in the stereo image data for each cell in the matrix of cells,
- wherein the height of the pixels corresponds to a height of the agricultural material in the container;
- displaying on a user interface first augmented image data relating to the height of the agricultural material in each cell in the matrix of cells relative to a height of the container where the perimeter of the opening of the container intersects a boundary of each cell in the matrix of cells;
- displaying on a user interface second augmented image data relating to the perimeter of the opening of the container,
- wherein the first augmented image data and the second augmented image data are overlaid on the image data of the container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.