METHOD FOR MONITORING THE LOAD COMPARTMENT IN A VEHICLE
A method for monitoring a load compartment ( 14 ) in a vehicle ( 10 ) uses an optical sensor ( 21 ) installed in the load compartment ( 14 ), a computer system with software for image processing and a graphical user interface. According to the method, a grid R of the cargo load compartment is stored in the computer system. An image I(t 1 ) captured by the optical sensor ( 21 ) at a time t 1 is converted in the computer system into a grid image RI which shows the occupancy, non-occupancy or change of occupancy of the load compartment according to the stored grid R. The grid image RI is displayed on the graphical user interface.
1 . A method for monitoring a load compartment ( 14 ) in a vehicle ( 10 ), using an optical sensor ( 21 ) installed in the load compartment ( 14 ), a computer system with software for image processing and a graphical user interface (GUI), the method comprising the following steps:
storing a grid R of the load compartment ( 14 ) in the computer system,
storing an image I(t 1 ) captured by the optical sensor ( 21 ) at a time t 1 ;
converting the image I(t 1 ) t 1 is in the computer system into a grid image RI which shows an occupancy, non-occupancy or change in occupancy of the load compartment ( 14 ) according to the stored grid R, and
displaying the grid image RI on the graphical user interface (GUI).
2 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the grid R is adapted to a size and shape of containers or pallets.
3 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the grid R is two-dimensional.
4 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the grid R is three-dimensional.
5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the conversion of the image into the grid image is performed by comparing the image I(t 1 ) in the computer system with a stored image I(t 0 ) captured at an earlier time t 0 , that a difference image I(t 1 −t 0 ) is generated and is converted into a grid image RI(t 1 −t 0 ) and that the grid image RI(t 1 −t 0 ) is displayed on the graphical user interface.
6 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of comparing the grid image RI(t 1 ) with a stored grid image RI(t 0 ) generated at an earlier time t 0 ,
generating a grid image RI(t 1 −t 0 ) from the comparison, and
displaying the grid image RI(t 1 −t 0 ) on the graphical user interface (GUI).
7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the grid image (RI) is generated incrementally by wherein
capturing an image I(t 0 ) at a time t 0 ,
capturing the image I(t 1 ) at the time t 1 , and
capturing an image I(t 2 ) at a time t 2 ,
generating a difference image (t 1 −t 0 ) or a grid image RI(t 1 −t 0 ) from the images I(t 0 ) and I(t 1 ), and
finally generating a grid image RI(t 2 −t 0 ) by processing the image I(t 2 ).
8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the grid image RI is calculated from images of multiple optical sensors ( 21 ) installed in the load compartment ( 14 ).
9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein an artificial light source illuminates the load compartment during the capture of the image I.
10 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the capture of the image I is triggered by an event detected by sensors.
11 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the display of the grid image RI on the graphical user interface (GUI) is triggered by an event detected by sensors.
12 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the grid image RI is only stored by the computer system as a valid grid image or further processed after the grid image RI has been displayed in the graphical user interface (GUI) and confirmed by an input into a user interface.
13 . A control unit comprising interfaces for an optical sensor and a graphical user interface (GUI), and with software for carrying out a method according to claim 1 .
14 . A vehicle comprising a control unit as claimed in claim 13 .