Systems, apparatus, and methods for quantifying space within a container using a removable scanning sensor node

A removable scanning sensor apparatus disposed within a container to quantify space within the container, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing configured to mount to an interior roof surface within the container;
• a processing unit disposed within the housing;
• a memory disposed within the housing, the memory being operatively coupled to the processing unit and maintaining at least a scanning program code section for execution by the processing unit;
• a depth sensor operatively coupled to the processing unit, wherein the depth sensor is disposed and oriented to scan the space within the container below the interior roof surface;
• a wireless communication interface disposed within the housing and operatively coupled to the processing unit;
• and
• a power source that provides electrical power to at least the processing unit, the memory, the depth sensor, and the wireless communication interface;
• wherein the processing unit, when executing the scanning program code section, is operative to identify a type of the container and baseline dimensional information related to the space within the identified type of the container,
• store the baseline dimensional information in the memory,
• cause the depth sensor to scan the space within the container below the interior roof surface,
• receive, from the depth sensor, scan data generated during the scan, and
• determine an unoccupied amount of the space within the container as the container is being loaded with material occupying the space within the container, the determination of the unoccupied space depending on the baseline dimensional information and the scan data representing a current status of the space within the container below the interior roof surface.

A system to quantify space within a container as the container is loaded, the system comprising:

• a portable scanning sensor apparatus disposed within the container, the portable scanning sensor apparatus further comprising:
• a housing configured to be mounted to an interior roof surface within the container;
• a processing unit disposed within the housing;
• a memory disposed within the housing, the memory operatively coupled to the processing unit and maintaining at least a scanning program code section for execution by the processing unit;
• a depth sensor operatively coupled to the processing unit, wherein the depth sensor is disposed below the interior roof surface and oriented to scan the space within the container below the interior roof surface;
• a wireless communication interface disposed within the housing and operatively coupled to the processing unit;
• and
• a power source providing electrical power to at least the processing unit, the memory, the depth sensor, and the wireless communication interface;
• and
• an external node disposed outside the container and in communication with the portable scanning sensor apparatus via the wireless communication interface;
• wherein the processing unit of the portable scanning sensor apparatus, when executing the scanning program code section, is operative to
• identify a type of the container and baseline dimensional information related to the space within the identified type of the container,
• store the baseline dimensional information in the memory,
• cause the depth sensor to scan the space within the container below the interior roof surface,
• receive, from the depth sensor, scan data generated during the scan,
• determine an unoccupied amount of the space within the container as the container is being loaded with material occupying the space within the container, the determination of the unoccupied amount of the space depending on the baseline dimensional information and the scan data representing a current status of the space within the container below the interior roof surface, and
• cause the wireless communication interface to transmit a container status update message to the external node, wherein the container status update message reflects the determined unoccupied amount of the space within the container;
• and
• wherein the external node receives the container status update message from the wireless communication interface and provides an indication associated with the determined unoccupied amount of the space within the container.