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EP-4741874-A1 - METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MONITORING AN OPENING FOR LOADING/UNLOADING CARGO

EP4741874A1EP 4741874 A1EP4741874 A1EP 4741874A1EP-4741874-A1

Abstract

A method for monitoring an opening (200) for freight vehicles (300) comprises arranging a radar system (110) at an opening (200) for access to a cargo loading/unloading station (210) by a freight vehicle (300), monitoring, by means of the radar system (110), two detection regions (112a, 112b) in an area in front of the opening (200) or within the opening (200), which are an upper region (112a), which is at a height such as not to be invaded by a human target standing on a floor, and a lower region (112b), which comprises at least a main portion located below the upper region (112a). Upon detection of a target in the lower region alone (112b), generating an opening alarm indicating that the target is not authorized to access the opening (200). Upon detection of a target in the upper region (112a), inhibiting generation of the opening alarm.

Inventors

  • Muzaka, Alban

Assignees

  • Inxpect S.p.A.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20251106

Claims (9)

  1. Method for monitoring an opening (200) for freight vehicles (300), comprising: - arranging a radar system (110) at an opening (200) for access to a cargo loading/unloading station (210) by a freight vehicle (300), - monitoring, by means of the radar system (110), two detection regions (112a, 112b) in an area in front of the opening (200) or within the opening (200), which are an upper region (112a), which is at a height such as not to be invaded by a human target standing on a floor, and a lower region (112b), which comprises at least a main portion located below the upper region (112a), - upon detection of a target in the lower region only (112b), generating an opening alarm indicating that the target is not authorized to access the opening (200), - upon detection of a target in the upper region (112a), inhibiting generation of the opening alarm, such that it's not generated even upon detecting a target in the lower region ( 112b).
  2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the lower region (112b) is disjoined from the upper region (112a) and extends between the upper region (112a) and the floor.
  3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the upper region (112a) is at a height such as to be invaded by a freight vehicle (300), in particular a truck, a trailer of a truck, and/or a forklift, preferably above a height of at least 2.5 m.
  4. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the two detection regions (112a, 112b) have respective front boundary areas distal from the opening (200) and in front of the opening (200), wherein a distance from the opening (200), in a direction of entrance to the opening (200), for the front boundary area of the lower region (112b) is less than, or equal to, a distance from the opening (200), in the entrance direction, for the front boundary area of the upper region (112a).
  5. Method according to claim 4, wherein the radar system (110) is located on a top portion of the opening (200), and the distance from the opening (200), in the entrance direction, for the front boundary area of the lower region (112b) is substantially equal to the distance from the opening (200), in the entrance direction, for the front boundary area of the upper region (112a).
  6. Method according to claim 4, wherein the radar system (110) is substantially at floor level, and the distance from the opening (200), in the entrance direction, for the front boundary area of the lower region (112b) is less than the distance from the opening (200), in the entrance direction, for the front boundary area of the upper region (112a).
  7. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the radar system (110) is a volumetric radar system (110), and the two detection regions (112a, 112b) are in the form of parallelepipeds.
  8. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the radar system (110) comprises a single radar device configured to simultaneously monitor the two detection regions (112a, 112b).
  9. System (100) for monitoring an opening (200) for cargo loading/unloading (210), comprising: - a radar system (110) adapted to be arranged at an opening (200) for access to a cargo loading/unloading station (210) by a freight vehicle (300), wherein the radar system (110) is configured to monitor two detection regions (112a, 112b) in an area in front of the opening (200) or within the opening (200), which are an upper region (112a), which is at a height such as not to be invaded by a human target standing on a floor, and a lower region (112b), which comprises at least a main portion located below the upper region (112a), wherein the radar system (110) is configured to generate in output a status signal, indicating the presence or absence of targets in each of the two detection regions (112a, 112b), - a processing system in signal communication with the radar system (110) for receiving the status signal, the processing system being configured to: - generate an opening alarm indicating that a target is not authorized to access the opening (200), upon detection of a target in the lower region only (112b), and - inhibit the generation of the opening alarm, upon detection of a target in the upper region (112a), such that it's not generated even upon detecting a target in the lower region (112b).

Description

Technical field The present invention is developed in the technical field of safety in work environments, in particular for the loading and unloading of cargo from vehicles such as trucks and forklifts. Background of the invention In logistics, various types of cargo are stored, which are periodically loaded and unloaded by special transport vehicles. For this purpose, the logistics are provided with loading bays, i.e. loading/unloading stations for cargo from a truck, or from a trailer of a truck, which have an appropriately sized opening facing the outside of the building. Within logistics, cargo is loaded and unloaded by forklifts, at other types of loading/unloading stations. Both types of stations can be partially or fully automated, for example with vertical mobile platforms to align to the height of a vehicle shelf and/or the load to be handled, and possibly with automatic members for gripping, transporting, and releasing loads, preventing them from accumulating in a disorderly manner. Sometimes, the level of automation may be such as to activate the loading and unloading members automatically when it is recognized that a cargo vehicle has approached appropriately. Such platforms or automated members can be hazardous for a person who gets too close while the device or platform is in motion. It would therefore be desirable to provide safety measures that detect and signal the approach of a person, so as to prevent the opening from opening, or hazardous parts from moving, or at least to give a prompt warning of the danger. Summary of the invention The purpose of the present invention is to automatically monitor an area of an access opening to a cargo loading/unloading station by a vehicle, so as to easily distinguish a normal condition, such as the approach of a vehicle to the opening, from a hazardous situation, such as the approach of a person to the opening. This and other purposes are achieved by a method and apparatus for monitoring an opening for loading/unloading cargo, according to any of the appended claims. According to the invention, a radar system is positioned at the access opening of the loading/unloading station. The radar system monitors two detection regions in an area in front of the opening, or within the opening, which are an upper region, which is at a height such as not to be invaded by a human target standing on a floor, and a lower region. Upon detection of a target in the lower region only, an opening alarm is generated, indicating that the target is not authorized to access the opening. If, on the other hand, a target is detected in the upper region, without previous opening alarms already being active, the generation of the opening alarm is inhibited, and therefore the target can reach the opening, crossing the lower region, without triggering the opening alarm. Advantageously, a human operator approaching the opening is detected only in the lower area, and thus triggers the alarm, as a hazardous condition occurs. On the other hand, a cargo vehicle, such as a truck, truck trailer, or forklift, is tall enough to invade the upper region as well, and can therefore reach the opening without triggering the alarm. In other words, the radar system makes it possible to distinguish between the operator and a vehicle based on whether or not the region is impinged on. Further features and advantages of the invention will be recognisable by a person skilled in the art from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention. Brief Description of the figures For a better understanding of the following detailed description, some embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an opening for access to a station for loading/unloading cargo from a truck, provided with a system for monitoring the opening according to one embodiment of the invention, andFigures 2 and 3 show perspective views of an opening for access to a station for loading/unloading cargo by a forklift, provided with a system for monitoring the opening according to another embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The figures illustrate examples of a system for monitoring an opening for the loading/unloading of cargo, according to some embodiments of the invention, indicated overall with the number 100. In a known manner, the opening 200 is an opening for access to a station for cargo loading/unloading 210 by a freight vehicle 300. In one embodiment, shown in Figure 1, the loading/unloading station 210 is a loading bay, and the opening 200 is an opening formed through an exterior wall of a building. In more detail, the opening 200 has a shape and dimensions substantially corresponding to those of a back of a vehicle 300 for the transport of cargo, such as a truck (or a trailer of a truck), so that their edges can overlap. In another embodiment, shown in Figures 2 and 3, the loading/unloading station 210 is a loading/unload