Camera array system and method to detect a load status of a semi-trailer truck

An apparatus for monitoring a cargo area within an interior cavity of a cargo transport trailer, the apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of imaging devices distributed along a length of the interior cavity of the cargo transport trailer, each of the imaging devices having a field of view encompassing at least a portion of one or more projection areas of the cargo area, wherein each projection area comprises a portion of the cargo area within the interior cavity, the imaging devices positioned such that the field of view of one or more of the imaging devices overlaps a field of view of at least one adjacent imaging device within at least one of the projection areas, each imaging device operable to generate an image corresponding to its field of view;
• one or more computer processors that are operable to receive the images generated by the plurality of imaging devices and execute instructions for processing data associated with the images, the instructions including:
• instructions for processing an overlapping distortion present in one or more of the images in which the field of view of one imaging device overlaps the field of view of an adjacent imaging device, wherein the overlapping distortion provides information regarding the presence of cargo within the projection area in which the fields of view overlap;
• instructions for determining, based on the overlapping distortion, a number of the projection areas in which cargo is present;
• and
• instructions for determining, based on the number of the projection areas in which cargo is present, a percent load value indicating a percentage of the cargo area of the interior cavity that contains cargo.