Automatic generation of incremental load design

Abstract

A method including obtaining information about a trailer that has been partially loaded with preloaded stacks in a manner that deviates from an original load design. The trailer is loaded with stacks of pallets including (i) the preloaded stacks that have already been loaded in the trailer and (ii) unloaded stacks that have not yet been loaded into the trailer. The method also can include determining positions of empty floor spots remaining in the trailer. The method additionally can include determining a first portion of an incremental load design for the unloaded stacks using a gap-filling pattern behind an uneven rear edge of the preloaded stacks in the trailer. The method further can include determining a second portion of the incremental load design. The method additionally can include updating the incremental load design based on an overall load design of the trailer using a first simulated annealing using a first neighborhood defined by separate rows within a delivery group that does not include the preloaded stacks. The method further can include outputting at least the incremental load design, as updated, to cause the unloaded stacks to be loaded in the trailer according to the incremental load design while the preloaded stacks remain in the trailer. The incremental load design specifies a respective floor spot assignment for each of the unloaded stacks. Other embodiments are described.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.