Load scanning apparatus
AssigneeRobotics Plus Limited
InventorsAlistair John Scarfe, Florian Thomas Roeske
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A load scanning apparatus for taking physical measurements from a load. The load scanning apparatus has a scanning robot including a plurality of sensors arranged in an array spanning substantially across at least one load dimension in a first direction. The array of sensors moves together in a second direction, in a scanning plane. The plurality of sensors are configured to take images of the load from the scanning plane, and are configured to capture distance information about the distance of said load from the scanning plane.
Claims19
A load scanning apparatus for taking physical measurements from a load of a vehicle having load dimensions of load length, load width and load height, the load scanning apparatus comprising:
- a scanning robot comprising:
- a plurality of sensors arranged in an array spanning across at least one of said load dimensions in a first direction, and
- a cross member such that the plurality of sensors are fixed on the cross member;
- and
- a processor configured to process a collection of images taken by the plurality of sensors and stitch the collection of images together to generate a 3D representation of said load, wherein:
- the array of sensors are fixed relative to each other in the first direction and moves together in a second direction, in a scanning plane,
- the plurality of sensors are positioned to have a line of sight perpendicular to the scanning plane,
- said plurality of sensors are configured to capture the collection of images of said load from said scanning plane, and configured to capture distance information about the distance of said load from said scanning plane, and
- at least one of:
- the cross member moves between a raised position and a lowered position on the scanning robot to scan the load, and
- the cross member has a width configured to fit in gaps between packets of logs comprised in the load.
A method for taking physical measurements from a load of a vehicle having load dimensions of load length, load width and load height, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a load scanning apparatus, the load scanning apparatus comprising:
- (i) a scanning robot comprising:
- a plurality of sensors arranged in an array spanning across at least one of said load dimensions in a first direction, and
- a cross member such that the plurality of sensors are fixed on the cross member;
- and
- (ii) a processor for processing a collection of images taken by the plurality of sensors and stitching the collection of images together to generate a 3D representation of said load, wherein:
- the array of sensors are fixed relative to each other in the first direction and moves together in a second direction, in a scanning plane,
- the plurality of sensors are positioned to have a line of sight perpendicular to the scanning plane, and
- said plurality of sensors are configured to capture the collection of images of said load from said scanning plane, and configured to capture distance information about the distance of said load from said scanning plane, and
- at least one of:
- the cross member moves between a raised position and a lowered position on the scanning robot to scan the load, and
- the cross member has a width configured to fit in gaps between packets of logs comprised in the load;
- (b) positioning the load in a load receiving bay of the load scanning apparatus;
- (c) moving the array of sensors together;
- and
- (d) taking a collection of images from the load to determine physical measurements.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.