IP Library Granted Patent US 10,054,953
Granted Patent B2
US 10,054,953 · App. 15/865,320 · Granted Aug 21, 2018

Cargo-based vehicle control

Inventors: Evelyn R. Anderson (Houston, TX); Michael Bender (Rye Brook, NY); Michael Boone (Lutz, FL); Rhonda L. Childress (Austin, TX)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
G05D1/0291G08G1/20G05D2201/0213
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,054,953
App. No.
15/865,320
Granted
Aug 21, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method, system, and/or computer program product controls operations of a vehicle based on a condition of cargo being transported. One or more processors receive output from vehicle sensors on a first cargo vehicle, wherein the output from the vehicle sensors describes a movement of the first cargo vehicle. The processor(s) determine that the movement of the first cargo vehicle has caused cargo in the first cargo vehicle to shift beyond a predetermined amount, and instruct a second cargo vehicle to adjust operations of the second cargo vehicle based on determining that the movement of the first cargo vehicle has caused the cargo to shift beyond the predetermined amount in the first cargo vehicle.

Claims (32)

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by one or more processors, output from vehicle sensors on a first cargo vehicle, wherein the output from the vehicle sensors describes a movement of the first cargo vehicle;

determining, by one or more processors, that the movement of the first cargo vehicle has caused cargo in the first cargo vehicle to shift beyond a predetermined amount; and

transmitting, by one or more processors, instructions to a second cargo vehicle to adjust operations of the second cargo vehicle based on determining that the movement of the first cargo vehicle has caused the cargo to shift beyond the predetermined amount in the first cargo vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 , where in an amount of cargo shifting is determined by comparing different point in time photos of the cargo.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle sensors capture cargo vibration during transport by the first cargo vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1 , where the vehicle sensors capture inclines of the cargo during transport by the first cargo vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first cargo vehicle and the second cargo vehicle are a same cargo vehicle, and wherein the instructions to the same cargo vehicle instruct an operator of the same cargo vehicle to reposition the cargo in the same cargo vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first cargo vehicle and the second cargo vehicle are different vehicles, and wherein the instructions to the second cargo vehicle instruct an operator of the second cargo vehicle to reposition the cargo in the second cargo vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first cargo vehicle is taking a first route, wherein the second cargo vehicle is taking a second route that is different from the first route, and wherein the method further comprises:

collecting, from sensors within the first cargo vehicle, data about road conditions and characteristics for the first route;

collecting, from sensors within the second cargo vehicle, data about road conditions and characteristics for the second route; and

receiving, by a vehicle controller, the data about the road conditions and characteristics for the first route and the second route.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first cargo vehicle and the second cargo vehicle are different vehicles, and wherein the instructions to the second cargo vehicle instruct an operator of the second cargo vehicle to take a different route than a route taken by the first cargo vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first cargo vehicle and the second cargo vehicle are a same cargo vehicle, wherein the same cargo vehicle is a self-driving vehicle, and wherein the instructions to the same cargo vehicle instruct an on-board computer to direct an on-board cargo repositioning device to reposition the cargo in the first cargo vehicle.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first cargo vehicle and the second cargo vehicle are different vehicles, wherein the second cargo vehicle is a self-driving vehicle, and wherein the instructions to the second cargo vehicle instruct an on-board computer on the second cargo vehicle to direct an on-board cargo repositioning device to reposition the cargo in the second cargo vehicle.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first cargo vehicle and the second cargo vehicle are different vehicles, wherein the second cargo vehicle is a self-driving vehicle, and wherein the instructions to the second cargo vehicle instruct an on-board computer on the second cargo vehicle to send instructions to self-driving vehicle vehicular physical control mechanisms on the self-driving vehicle to take a different route than a route taken by the first cargo vehicle.

12. A computer program product comprising one or more computer readable storage mediums, and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more storage mediums, the stored program instructions comprising:

program instructions to receive output from vehicle sensors on a first cargo vehicle, wherein the output from the vehicle sensors describes a movement of the first cargo vehicle;

program instructions to determine that the movement of the first cargo vehicle has caused cargo in the first cargo vehicle to shift beyond a predetermined amount; and

program instructions to transmit instructions to a second cargo vehicle to adjust operations of the second cargo vehicle based on determining that the movement of the first cargo vehicle has caused the cargo to shift beyond the predetermined amount in the first cargo vehicle.

13. The computer program product of claim 12 , wherein an amount of cargo shifting is determined by comparing different point in time photos of the cargo.

14. The computer program product of claim 12 , wherein the vehicle sensors capture cargo vibration during transport by the first cargo vehicle.

15. The computer program product of claim 12 , where the vehicle sensors capture inclines of the cargo during transport by the first cargo vehicle.

16. The computer program product of claim 12 , wherein the first cargo vehicle and the second cargo vehicle are different vehicles, and wherein the instructions to the second cargo vehicle instruct an operator of the second cargo vehicle to reposition the cargo in the second cargo vehicle.

17. The computer program product of claim 12 , wherein the first cargo vehicle and the second cargo vehicle are a same cargo vehicle, wherein the same cargo vehicle is a self-driving vehicle, and wherein the instructions to the same cargo vehicle instruct an on-board computer to direct an on-board cargo repositioning device to reposition the cargo in the first cargo vehicle.

18. The computer program product of claim 12 , wherein the first cargo vehicle and the second cargo vehicle are different vehicles, wherein the second cargo vehicle is a self-driving vehicle, and wherein the instructions to the second cargo vehicle instruct an on-board computer on the second cargo vehicle to direct an on-board cargo repositioning device to reposition the cargo in the second cargo vehicle.

19. The computer program product of claim 12 , wherein the first cargo vehicle and the second cargo vehicle are different vehicles, wherein the second cargo vehicle is a self-driving vehicle, and wherein the instructions to the second cargo vehicle instruct an on-board computer on the second cargo vehicle to send instructions to self-driving vehicle vehicular physical control mechanisms on the self-driving vehicle to take a different route than a route taken by the first cargo vehicle.

20. A computer system comprising one or more processors, one or more computer readable memories, and one or more computer readable storage mediums, and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more storage mediums for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, the stored program instructions comprising:

program instructions to receive output from vehicle sensors on a first cargo vehicle, wherein the output from the vehicle sensors describes a movement of the first cargo vehicle;

program instructions to determine that the movement of the first cargo vehicle has caused cargo in the first cargo vehicle to shift beyond a predetermined amount; and

program instructions to transmit instructions to a second cargo vehicle to adjust operations of the second cargo vehicle based on determining that the movement of the first cargo vehicle has caused the cargo to shift beyond the predetermined amount in the first cargo vehicle.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 9, 2018
From: ANDERSON, EVELYN R.; BENDER, MICHAEL; BOONE, MICHAEL; CHILDRESS, RHONDA L.
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 044567/0727 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 15173891 · Jun 6, 2016
Related Publication 20180129222A1 · May 10, 2018