Container load state detection
A method and device for container load state detection are disclosed herein. A device processor controls a sensor assembly to capture successive sets of sensor data depicting an interior of the container during a load process for the container. The processor, for successive sets of the sensor data, detects items placed in the container interior, and determines, based on the detected items, respective fullness indicators for the container interior. The processor detects, based on the fullness indicators, an idle time period for the container interior. Responsive to determining that the idle time period exceeds an inactivity threshold, the processor, when a current fullness indicator does not meet a target, sends a first notification to a client device associated with the container load, and when the current fullness indicator meets the target, sends a second notification to the client device, and monitors the sensor data for a container door closure event.
1. A method of state detection for a container load, the method comprising:
during a load process for a container at a load bay, controlling a sensor assembly disposed at the load bay to capture successive sets of sensor data depicting an interior of the container;
at a computing device communicatively coupled to the sensor assembly:
for successive sets of the sensor data, (i) detecting items placed in the container interior, and (ii) determining, based on the detected items, respective fullness indicators for the container interior;
detecting, based on the fullness indicators, an idle time period for the container interior;
in response to determining that the idle time period exceeds an inactivity threshold:
(i) when a current fullness indicator does not meet a target fullness, sending a first notification to a client computing device associated with the container load; and
(ii) when the current fullness indicator meets the target fullness, sending a second notification to the client computing device, and monitoring the sensor data for a container door closure event.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fullness indicators represent fractions of a volume of the container.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the idle time period includes determining that a difference between successive fullness indicators is smaller than a detection threshold.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
prior to determining that the idle time period exceeds the inactivity threshold, determining that the idle time period exceeds an alert threshold smaller than the inactivity threshold; and
transmitting an alert to the client computing device.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, when the current fullness indicator does not meet the target fullness, continuing to monitor the sensor data to detect further idle time periods.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, when the current fullness indicator meets the target, ceasing monitoring of the sensor data to detect further idle time periods.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, when the current fullness indicator meets the target, continuing monitoring of the sensor data to determine further fullness indicators for the container interior.
8. A computing device for container load state detection, the computing device comprising:
a communications interface communicatively coupling the computing device with an indicator device; and
a processor configured to:
during a load process for a container at a load bay, control a sensor assembly disposed at the load bay to capture successive sets of sensor data depicting an interior of the container;
for successive sets of the sensor data, (i) detect items placed in the container interior, and (ii) determining, based on the detected items, respective fullness indicators for the container interior;
detect, based on the fullness indicators, an idle time period for the container interior;
in response to determining that the idle time period exceeds an inactivity threshold:
(i) when a current fullness indicator does not meet a target fullness, send a first notification to a client computing device associated with the container load; and
(ii) when the current fullness indicator meets the target fullness, send a second notification to the client computing device, and monitor the sensor data for a container door closure event.
9. The computing device of claim 8 , wherein the fullness indicators represent fractions of a volume of the container.
10. The computing device of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured, to detect the idle time period, to determine that a difference between successive fullness indicators is smaller than a detection threshold.
11. The computing device of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
prior to determining that the idle time period exceeds the inactivity threshold, determine that the idle time period exceeds an alert threshold smaller than the inactivity threshold; and
transmit an alert to the client computing device.
12. The computing device of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
when the current fullness indicator does not meet the target fullness, continue to monitor the sensor data to detect further idle time periods.
13. The computing device of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
when the current fullness indicator meets the target, cease monitoring of the sensor data to detect further idle time periods.
14. The computing device of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
when the current fullness indicator meets the target, continue monitoring of the sensor data to determine further fullness indicators for the container interior.
15. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor of a computing device to:
during a load process for a container at a load bay, control a sensor assembly disposed at the load bay to capture successive sets of sensor data depicting an interior of the container;
for successive sets of the sensor data, (i) detect items placed in the container interior, and (ii) determining, based on the detected items, respective fullness indicators for the container interior;
detect, based on the fullness indicators, an idle time period for the container interior;
in response to determining that the idle time period exceeds an inactivity threshold:
(i) when a current fullness indicator does not meet a target fullness, send a first notification to a client computing device associated with the container load; and
(ii) when the current fullness indicator meets the target fullness, send a second notification to the client computing device, and monitor the sensor data for a container door closure event.
16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to detect the idle time period by determining that a difference between successive fullness indicators is smaller than a detection threshold.
17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:
prior to determining that the idle time period exceeds the inactivity threshold, determine that the idle time period exceeds an alert threshold smaller than the inactivity threshold; and
transmit an alert to the client computing device.
18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:
when the current fullness indicator does not meet the target fullness, continue to monitor the sensor data to detect further idle time periods.
19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:
when the current fullness indicator meets the target, cease monitoring of the sensor data to detect further idle time periods.
20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:
when the current fullness indicator meets the target, continue monitoring of the sensor data to determine further fullness indicators for the container interior.