IP Library Granted Patent US 11,436,835
Granted Patent B2
US 11,436,835 · App. 16/788,522 · Granted Sep 6, 2022

Method for detecting trailer status using combined 3D algorithms and 2D machine learning models

Inventors: Justin F. Barish (Kings Park, NY); Jyotsna Prasad (Dallas, TX); Adithya H. Krishnamurthy (Hicksville, NY)
Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
G06V20/52G06N20/00G06T7/11G06T7/60G06T2207/10028G06T2207/30232G06T2210/22
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,436,835
App. No.
16/788,522
Granted
Sep 6, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods for determining a trailer status are disclosed herein. An example method includes capturing a three-dimensional image and a two-dimensional image. The three-dimensional image may comprise three-dimensional image data, and the two-dimensional image may comprise two-dimensional image data. The example method may further include determining a first trailer status based on the three-dimensional image data, and determining a second trailer status based on the two-dimensional image data. The example method may further include comparing the first trailer status to the second trailer status to determine a final trailer status.

Claims (58)

1. A method for determining a trailer status, comprising:

capturing a three-dimensional image and a two-dimensional image, the three-dimensional image comprising three-dimensional image data, and the two-dimensional image comprising two-dimensional image data;

determining a first trailer status based on the three-dimensional image data;

determining a second trailer status based on the two-dimensional image data; and

comparing the first trailer status to the second trailer status to determine a final trailer status

wherein determining the second trailer status further comprises:

training a first machine learning model based on (i) a first set of prior two-dimensional image data and (ii) a first set of corresponding trailer statuses, and a second machine learning model based on (i) a second set of prior two-dimensional image data and (ii) a second set of corresponding trailer statuses;

applying the first machine learning model to the two-dimensional image data to generate a preliminary trailer status, wherein the preliminary trailer status indicates one of (i) a closed trailer door, (ii) an other trailer status, or (iii) an unknown trailer status; and

in response to generating a preliminary trailer status indicating the other trailer status, applying the second machine learning model to the two-dimensional image data to generate the second trailer status.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

in response to generating the preliminary trailer status indicating the other trailer status, cropping the two-dimensional image data; and

applying the second machine learning model to the cropped two-dimensional image data to generate the second trailer status.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first set of corresponding trailer statuses includes indications that a respective image in the first set of prior two-dimensional image data represents at least one of (i) the closed trailer door, (ii) the other trailer status, or (iii) the unknown trailer status;

wherein the second set of prior two-dimensional image data is a set of prior cropped two-dimensional data; and

wherein the second set of corresponding trailer statuses includes indications that a respective image in the set of prior cropped two-dimensional image data represents at least one of (i) an ajar trailer door, (ii) an open trailer door, or (iii) a parking lot.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein comparing the first trailer status to the second trailer status to determine the final trailer status further comprises determining whether the first trailer status is substantially similar to the second trailer status; and

responsive to determining that the first trailer status is substantially similar to the second trailer status, determining the final trailer status based on either the first trailer status or the second trailer status; and

responsive to determining that the first trailer status is not substantially similar to the second trailer status, determining the final trailer status based on a set of tested values indicating which of the first trailer status and the second trailer status is more accurate.

5. An apparatus for determining a trailer status, comprising:

a housing;

an imaging assembly at least partially within the housing and configured to capture a three-dimensional image and a two-dimensional image, the three-dimensional image comprising three-dimensional image data, and the two-dimensional image comprising two-dimensional image data; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the imaging assembly, the controller having a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the controller to:

determine a first trailer status based on the three-dimensional image data;

determine a second trailer status based on the two-dimensional image data; and

compare the first trailer status to the second trailer status to determine a final trailer status

wherein the instructions further cause the controller to:

train a first machine learning model based on (i) a first set of prior two-dimensional image data and (ii) a first set of corresponding trailer statuses, and a second machine learning model based on (i) a second set of prior two-dimensional image data and (ii) a second set of corresponding trailer statuses;

apply the first machine learning model to the two-dimensional image data to generate a preliminary trailer status, wherein the preliminary trailer status indicates one of (i) a closed trailer door, (ii) an other trailer status, or (iii) an unknown trailer status; and

in response to generating a preliminary trailer status indicating the other trailer status, apply the second machine learning model to the two-dimensional image data to generate the second trailer status.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the instructions further cause the controller to:

in response to generating the preliminary trailer status indicating the other trailer status, crop the two-dimensional image data; and

apply the second machine learning model to the cropped two-dimensional image data to generate the second trailer status.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the first set of corresponding trailer statuses includes indications that a respective image in the first set of prior two-dimensional image data represents at least one of (i) the closed trailer door, (ii) the other trailer status, or (iii) the unknown trailer status;

wherein the second set of prior two-dimensional image data is a set of prior cropped two-dimensional data; and

wherein the second set of corresponding trailer statuses includes indications that a respective image in the set of prior cropped two-dimensional image data represents at least one of (i) an ajar trailer door, (ii) an open trailer door, or (iii) a parking lot.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the instructions further cause the controller to:

compare the first trailer status to the second trailer status to determine the final trailer status by determining whether the first trailer status is substantially similar to the second trailer status;

responsive to determining that the first trailer status is substantially similar to the second trailer status, determine the final trailer status based on either the first trailer status or the second trailer status; and

responsive to determining that the first trailer status is not substantially similar to the second trailer status, determine the final trailer status based on a set of tested values indicating which of the first trailer status and the second trailer status is more accurate.

9. A system for determining a trailer status, comprising:

a user interface;

a trailer monitoring unit (TMU) mounted proximate a loading bay and communicatively connected with the user interface, the TMU including:

a housing; and

an imaging assembly at least partially within the housing and configured to capture a three-dimensional image and a two-dimensional image, the three-dimensional image comprising three-dimensional image data, and the two-dimensional image comprising two-dimensional image data;

wherein the TMU is configured to:

determine a first trailer status based on the three-dimensional image data;

determine a second trailer status based on the two-dimensional image data; and

compare the first trailer status to the second trailer status to determine a final trailer status

wherein the TMU is further configured to:

train a first machine learning model based on (i) a first set of prior two-dimensional image data and (ii) a first set of corresponding trailer statuses, and a second machine learning model based on (i) a second set of prior two-dimensional image data and (ii) a second set of corresponding trailer statuses;

apply the first machine learning model to the two-dimensional image data to generate a preliminary trailer status, wherein the preliminary trailer status indicates one of (i) a closed trailer door, (ii) an other trailer status, or (iii) an unknown trailer status; and

in response to generating a preliminary trailer status indicating the other trailer status, apply the second machine learning model to the two-dimensional image data to generate the second trailer status.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the TMU is further configured to:

in response to generating the preliminary trailer status indicating the other trailer status, crop the two-dimensional image data; and

apply the second machine learning model to the cropped two-dimensional image data to generate the second trailer status.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first set of corresponding trailer statuses includes indications that a respective image in the first set of prior two-dimensional image data represents at least one of (i) the closed trailer door, (ii) the other trailer status, or (iii) the unknown trailer status;

wherein the second set of prior two-dimensional image data is a set of prior cropped two-dimensional data; and

wherein the second set of corresponding trailer statuses includes indications that a respective image in the set of prior cropped two-dimensional image data represents at least one of (i) an ajar trailer door, (ii) an open trailer door, or (iii) a parking lot.

Assignments (4)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 12, 2021
From: ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 056472/0063 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST - 364 - DAY Recorded Mar 5, 2021
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; LASER BAND, LLC; TEMPTIME CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 056036/0590 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 1, 2020
From: ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; LASER BAND, LLC; TEMPTIME CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053841/0212 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 2, 2020
From: BARISH, JUSTIN F.; PRASAD, JYOTSNA; KRISHNAMURTHY, ADITHYA H.
To: ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 051982/0614 →