Systems and methods for automatically controlling loading dock equipment
Systems and methods for automatically controlling loading dock equipment, such as in response to a trailer approaching and docking at a docking station, are disclosed. The systems and methods can provide scanning devices and scanning operations which assist with, for example, properly aligning a trailer at a docking station and/or checking an interior area in front of the dock door for obstructions. The systems and methods can also transmit messages between components of the system and/or to users of the system regarding the status of components of the systems and/or the status of the overall docking process.
1. An automated docking system for use with a loading dock station, the loading dock station including a vehicle restraint system, a loading dock door opening system, and/or a dock leveler, the automated docking system comprising:
a sensor system configured to detect the presence of a vehicle in an exterior area proximate a loading dock door; and
a control unit communicatively coupled with the sensor system, the control unit being programmed with computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the control unit to:
automatically request a readiness status indicative of whether obstructions are present in an interior area proximate the loading dock door when the control unit receives a first signal from the sensor system indicating that a vehicle is present in the exterior area; and
automatically enable operation of at least a portion of the loading dock station when, in response to requesting the readiness status, the control unit receives a second signal indicating that no obstructions have been detected in the interior area, wherein automatically enabling operation of at least a portion of the loading dock station includes—
automatically enabling operation of the vehicle restraint;
automatically enabling operation of the loading dock door opening system; and/or
automatically enabling operation of the dock leveler.
2. The automated docking system of claim 1 , wherein:
the sensor system is a first sensor system, and
the automated docking system further comprises a second sensor system configured to detect obstructions in the interior area, wherein the control unit is configured to receive the second signal from the second sensor system.
3. The automated docking system of claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the second sensor system is operably coupled to an Automatic Guided Vehicle (AGV).
4. The automated docking system of claim 2 , wherein the second sensor system is communicatively coupled to a warehouse management system configured to receive information from the second sensor system related to the readiness status, and wherein the warehouse management system is configured to transmit the second signal to the control unit.
5. The automated docking system of claim 1 , wherein automatically requesting the readiness status includes transmitting a third signal to a remote unit of the loading dock station prompting an operator to observe whether obstructions are present in the internal area.
6. The automated docking system of claim 5 , wherein, if no obstructions are observed in the interior area, operator interaction with the remote unit transmits the second signal via the remote unit to the control unit.
7. The automated docking system of claim 6 , wherein the remote unit is a display screen proximate the loading dock station, a display screen remote to the loading dock station, a hand-held device, or a smartphone.
8. The automated docking system of claim 1 , wherein automatically enabling operation of at least a portion of the loading dock station includes automatically enabling operation of the vehicle restraint system to engage the vehicle.
9. The automated docking system of claim 1 , wherein automatically enabling operation of at least a portion of the loading dock station includes automatically enabling operation of the loading dock door opening system to open the loading dock door.
10. The automated docking system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor system comprises infrared sensors, laser sensors, microwave sensors, inductive loop sensors, photo sensors, pressure sensors, ultrasonic sensors, sonar sensors, thermal sensors, optical sensors, magnetic sensors, camera analytics sensors, or combinations thereof.
11. The automated docking system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor system is further configured to assist with aligning the vehicle with the loading dock door.
12. The automated docking system of claim 11 , wherein the sensor system comprises a sensor located at a side of the loading dock door, and wherein the sensor scans an area extending perpendicularly away from the loading dock door.
13. The automated docking system of claim 11 , wherein the sensor system comprises a first sensor located at one side of the loading dock door and a second sensor located at an opposite side of the loading dock door, and wherein the first sensor scans a first area extending perpendicularly away from the loading dock door and the second sensor scans a second area extending perpendicularly away from the loading dock door.
14. The automated docking system of claim 13 , wherein the first sensor further scans an area extending parallel to the loading dock door and towards the second sensor for the presence of the vehicle within the area.
15. The automated docking system of claim 11 , further comprising a communication light located exterior to the loading dock door, and wherein the control unit is further programmed with computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the control unit to:
instruct the communication light to transmit a first warning message when the vehicle is not aligned with the loading dock door.
16. The automated docking system of claim 15 , the control unit is further programmed with computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the control unit to:
instruct the communication light to transmit a second warning message when an obstruction is detected in the interior area.
17. An automated docking system for use with a loading dock station, comprising:
a first sensor system configured to detect the presence of a vehicle in an exterior area proximate a loading dock door;
a second sensor system configured to detect obstructions in an interior area proximate the loading dock door, wherein at least a portion of the second sensor system is operably coupled to an Automatic Guided Vehicle (AGV); and
a control unit communicatively coupled with the first sensor system and the second sensor system, the control unit being programmed with computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the control unit to:
automatically request a readiness status indicative of whether obstructions are present the interior area when the control unit receives a first signal from the first sensor system indicating that a vehicle is present in the exterior area; and
automatically enable operation of at least a portion of the loading dock station when, in response to requesting the readiness status, the control unit receives a second signal from the second sensor system indicating that no obstructions have been detected in the interior area, wherein the second sensor system transmits the second signal via the AGV to the control unit.
18. An automated docking system for use with a loading dock station, the loading dock station including a vehicle restraint system, a loading dock door opening system, and/or a dock leveler, the automated docking system comprising:
a sensor system configured to detect the presence of a vehicle in an exterior area proximate a loading dock door; and
a control unit communicatively coupled with the sensor system, the control unit being programmed with computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the control unit to:
receive a first signal from the sensor system indicating that a vehicle is present in the exterior area;
automatically transmit a second signal to a warehouse management system requesting a readiness status indicative of whether obstructions are present in an interior area proximate the loading dock door;
receive a third signal from the warehouse management system with information related to the readiness status; and
automatically enable operation of at least a portion of the loading dock station if the third signal indicates that no obstructions have been detected in the interior area, wherein automatically enabling operation of at least a portion of the loading dock station includes—
automatically enabling operation of the vehicle restraint system;
automatically enabling operation of the loading dock door opening system; and/or
automatically enabling operation of the dock leveler.
19. The automated docking system of claim 18 , wherein:
the sensor system is a first sensor system, and
the automated docking system further comprises a second sensor system configured to detect obstructions in the interior area.
20. The automated docking system of claim 19 , wherein the second sensor system is communicatively coupled to the warehouse management system, and wherein the warehouse management system transmits the third signal based on information received from the second sensor system related to the readiness status.
21. The automated docking system of claim 20 , wherein at least a portion of the second sensor system is operably coupled to an Automatic Guided Vehicle (AGV).
22. The automated docking system of claim 19 , wherein the first sensor system and the second sensor system each comprise infrared sensors, laser sensors, microwave sensors, inductive loop sensors, photo sensors, pressure sensors, ultrasonic sensors, sonar sensors, thermal sensors, optical sensors, magnetic sensors, camera analytics sensors, or combinations thereof.
23. The automated docking system of claim 18 , wherein, upon receiving the second signal, the warehouse management system is programmed with computer readable instructions that, when executed cause the warehouse management system to transmit a fourth signal to a remote unit of the loading dock station prompting an operator to check for obstructions in the internal area.
24. The automated docking system of claim 23 , wherein operator interaction with the remote unit transmits information related to the readiness status of the interior area via the remote unit to the warehouse management system.
25. The automated docking system of claim 18 , wherein automatically enabling operation of at least a portion of the loading dock station includes automatically enabling operation of the vehicle restraint system to engage the vehicle.
26. The automated docking system of claim 18 , wherein automatically enabling operation of at least a portion of the loading dock station includes automatically enabling operation of the loading dock door opening system to open the loading dock door.
27. The automated docking system of claim 18 , further comprising a communication light located exterior to the loading dock door, and wherein the control unit is further programmed with computer readable instructions that, when executed, cause the control unit to:
instruct the communication light to transmit a warning message if the third signal indicates an obstruction is detected in the interior area.