IP Library Granted Patent US 12,734,995
Granted Patent B2
US 12,734,995 · App. 18/595,607 · Granted Sep 15, 2026

System and method for detecting internal cargo loss using sensor data

Inventors: Akshay Pai Raikar (Blacksburg, VA); William Davis (Blacksburg, VA); Armenio Rivero (Blacksburg, VA); Pablo Smith (Blacksburg, VA); Joseph R. Fox-Rabinovitz (Blacksburg, VA)
Assignee: Torc Robotics, Inc.
B60R25/34G01V8/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,734,995
App. No.
18/595,607
Granted
Sep 15, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for detecting and reporting cargo lost from a vehicle is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of sensors, and a cargo loss detection system including a processor and a memory device storing instructions that when executed by the processor configure the processor to: (i) receive, from the plurality of sensors, sensor data representing a plurality of cargo loss-related conditions; (ii) determine a cargo loss event has occurred based on a combination of more than one cargo loss-related conditions of the plurality of cargo loss-related conditions; and (iii) transmit a lost cargo detection signal to an external receiver.

Claims (47)

1 . A system for detecting and reporting cargo lost from a vehicle, the system comprising:

a plurality of sensors; and

a cargo loss detection system comprising a processor and a memory device, the memory device storing instructions that when executed by the processor configure the processor to:

receive, from the plurality of sensors, sensor data representing a plurality of cargo loss-related conditions;

determine a cargo loss event has occurred based on a combination of two or more cargo loss-related conditions of the plurality of cargo loss-related conditions, wherein one of the two or more cargo loss-related conditions includes movement of a cargo across a boundary line inside the vehicle; and

transmit a lost cargo detection signal to an external receiver,

wherein determining the cargo loss event has occurred is based on a sequence of the two or more cargo loss-related conditions.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors includes one or more magnetic sensors, one or more electrical contact sensors, one or more infrared sensors, one or more cameras, one or more proximity sensors, one or more presence detection sensors, one or more location sensors, or one or more light sensors.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle includes a trailer having at least one trailer door and oriented longitudinally front to back, and wherein the plurality of cargo-loss related conditions includes longitudinal movement of the cargo inside the trailer, an open trailer door, or absence of the cargo.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the longitudinal movement of the cargo inside the trailer is detected using one or more infrared sensors.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the one or more infrared sensors are positioned proximate to the at least one trailer door.

6 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the open trailer door is detected using one or more electrical contact sensors, or one or more magnetic sensors.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the one or more magnetic sensors or the one or more electrical contact sensors are positioned on the at least one trailer door.

8 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the absence of the cargo is detected using one or more proximity sensors, one or more presence detection sensors, or one or more location sensors.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the one or more proximity sensors, the one or more presence detection sensors, or the one or more location sensors are positioned on the cargo that is nearest to the at least one trailer door.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle includes a trailer having at least one trailer door and oriented longitudinally front to back, and wherein determining the cargo loss event has occurred is based on the combination including an open trailer door and absence of the cargo.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle includes a trailer having at least one trailer door and oriented longitudinally front to back, and wherein determining the cargo loss event has occurred is based on a sequence of cargo loss-related conditions including an open trailer door followed by longitudinal movement of the cargo inside the trailer.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle includes a trailer having at least one trailer door and oriented longitudinally front to back, and wherein determining the cargo loss event has occurred is based on a sequence including longitudinal movement of the cargo inside the trailer followed by an open trailer door.

13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle includes a trailer having at least one trailer door and oriented longitudinally front to back, and wherein determining the cargo loss event has occurred is based on the combination including an open trailer door and the longitudinal movement of the cargo inside the trailer.

14 . A method of detecting and reporting cargo lost from a vehicle including a trailer, the method comprising:

receiving, from a plurality of sensors, sensor data representing a plurality of cargo loss-related conditions;

determining a cargo loss event has occurred based on a combination of two or more cargo loss-related conditions of the plurality of cargo loss-related conditions, wherein one of the two or more cargo loss-related conditions includes movement of a cargo across a boundary line inside the trailer; and

transmitting a lost cargo detection signal to an external receiver,

wherein determining the cargo loss event has occurred is based on a sequence of the two or more cargo loss-related conditions.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein:

the plurality of sensors includes one or more infrared sensors positioned proximate to at least one trailer door;

the plurality of cargo-loss related conditions includes longitudinal movement of a cargo inside the trailer; and

determining the cargo loss event has occurred includes detecting the longitudinal movement of the cargo inside the trailer using the one or more infrared sensors.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein:

the plurality of sensors includes one or more magnetic sensors or one or more electrical contact sensors positioned on at least one trailer door;

the plurality of cargo-loss related conditions includes an open trailer door; and

determining the cargo loss event has occurred includes detecting the at least one trailer door is the open trailer door using the one or more electrical contact sensors or one or more magnetic sensors.

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein determining the cargo loss event has occurred is based on the combination including an open trailer door and absence of the cargo, or an open trailer door and longitudinal movement of the cargo inside the trailer.

18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein determining the cargo loss event has occurred is based on a sequence including an open trailer door followed by longitudinal movement of the cargo inside the trailer, or a sequence including longitudinal movement of the cargo inside the trailer followed by an open trailer door.

19 . A vehicle comprising:

a tractor;

a trailer connectable to the tractor;

a plurality of sensors;

a processor; and

a memory device storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, configure the processor to:

receive, from the plurality of sensors, sensor data representing a plurality of cargo loss-related conditions;

determine a cargo loss event has occurred based on a combination of two or more cargo loss-related conditions of the plurality of cargo loss-related conditions, wherein one of the two or more cargo loss-related conditions includes movement of a cargo across a boundary line inside the trailer; and

transmit a lost cargo detection signal to an external receiver,

wherein determining the cargo loss event has occurred is based on a sequence of the two or more cargo loss-related conditions.

20 . The vehicle of claim 19 , wherein:

the plurality of sensors includes one or more magnetic sensors, one or more electrical contact sensors, one or more infrared sensors, one or more cameras, one or more proximity sensors, one or more presence detection sensors, one or more location sensors, or one or more light sensors; and

the plurality of cargo-loss related conditions includes longitudinal movement of the cargo inside the trailer, open or close trailer doors, or presence or absence of the cargo.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 5, 2024
From: RAIKAR, AKSHAY PAI; DAVIS, WILLIAM; RIVERO, ARMENIO; SMITH, PABLO; FOX-RABINOVITZ, JOSEPH R.
To: TORC ROBOTICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 066648/0303 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250282324A1 · Sep 11, 2025
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