Sensor device, automated transportation system and operating method for the same

An automated transportation system, comprising:

• one or more cages, in which a thermal sensor array is disposed in each cage, and each cage is driven by a transportation drive circuit;
• a data processor receiving a status data rendered by a status of a sensing zone from a sensor device and generating a control signal according to a scenario responsive to the status;
• and
• a control circuit, electrically connected with the data processor and the transportation drive circuit with respect to each cage, receiving the control signal, and used to control an operation of the cage via the corresponding transportation drive circuit;
• wherein the sensor device comprises:
• one or more thermal sensor arrays disposed inside the one or more cages, and every thermal sensor array is used to capture a two-dimensional thermographic image within one cage;
• and
• a processing circuit, electrically connected to the one or more thermal sensor arrays, used to process the two-dimensional thermographic image captured by every thermal sensor array so as to obtain a thermal distribution within the cage, and determine the status of the cage according to the thermal distribution;
• wherein, in the sensor device, the thermal distribution is an image that depicts a distribution of one or more thermal sources, and the status within the cage is capable of indicating a number of people within the cage and at least one personal status analyzed from the one or more thermal sources;
• wherein the sensor device further includes a database recording a plurality of shape samples that are used to screen the distribution of one or more thermal sources for determining the number of people and the at least one personal status.

An operating method for an automated transportation system, comprising:

• obtaining a two-dimensional thermographic image captured by a thermal sensor array within a sensing zone of the automated transportation system;
• obtaining a thermal distribution within the sensing zone and determining a status of the sensing zone according to the thermal distribution;
• receiving a status data rendered by the status of the sensing zone and generating a control signal according to a scenario responsive to the status;
• and
• driving a cage of the automated transportation system in response to the control signal via a corresponding transportation drive circuit;
• wherein the thermal sensor array essentially consists of a plurality of infrared sensors arranged in an array form, and the thermal distribution is an image that depicts a distribution of one or more thermal sources taken by the terminal sensor array, in which the status of the sensing zone is capable of indicating a number of people within the sensing zone and at least one personal status analyzed from the one or more thermal sources;
• wherein the sensor device further includes a database recording a plurality of shape samples that are used to screen the distribution of one or more thermal sources for determining the number of people and the at least one personal status.