Systems and methods for monitoring components of a loading dock station that implement a remote monitoring and authorization system are disclosed. The systems and methods can provide information regarding the status of various components of the loading dock station to a remote monitoring and authorization control unit, where a supervisor or the like is capable of reviewing real time information regarding the status of the components and progress through and adherence to a workflow protocol. The systems and methods can also provide for authorization requests to be sent to the remote monitoring and authorization control unit, such as requests to override certain components of the docking station. The user at the remote monitoring and authorization control unit can then grant or deny requests based on status information and other data provided at the remote monitoring and authorization control unit.

The present invention provides a system for indicating the status of a loading dock to a driver. The system includes a signal detector configured to provide an indication to an operator when a signal generator is in a predetermined state. In one embodiment, the signal generator is configured to emit light when it is safe to leave the loading dock and the signal detector is configured to detect light. An operator interface is electrically connected to the signal detector. The operator interface is configured to convey to the operator the status determined by the signal detector. The signal detector is associated with a vehicle and the signal detector is adaptable to a plurality of signal generators.

Alarm indications of objects (431, 631) in spaces (113) subject to vehicle movements are provided using a scanner unit configured to provide indications of directions and distances of objects within a scan area. A computer compares the signal output from a scanner unit (121) and resolves the signal output to a pattern of the indications of directions and distances, and further resolve multiple instances of the indications over time to resolve the pattern of indications and distances to movement corresponding to the movement of the objects (431, 631). The indications are compared to render an indication of objects (431) partially blocked by other ones (631) of the objects from line-of-sight of the scanner unit (121). Predetermined relative movements of the objects (431, 631) as resolved by the computer render predetermined indicator or alarm signals (341, 342, 345).

Methods and apparatus for monitoring a dock leveler are disclosed. An example method for monitoring a loading dock includes determining if a door at a doorway of a loading dock is in an open position; determining if a vehicle is present at the doorway; determining if a body is present in a first area of the loading dock, the first area including a deck positioned adjacent the doorway; and determining if a body is present in a second area of the loading dock adjacent the doorway, the second area including only a portion of a deck adjacent the doorway.

Systems and methods for determining an alignment of a trailer relative to a docking bay or a vehicle bay door using dynamic depth filtering. Image data and position data is captured by a 3D camera system with an at least partially downward-facing field of view. When a trailer is approaching the docking bay or door, the captured image data includes a top surface of the trailer. A dynamic height range is determined based on an estimated height of the top surface of the trailer in the image data and a dynamic depth filter is applied to filter out image data corresponding to heights outside of the dynamic height range. An angular position and/or lateral offset of the trailer is determined based on the depth-filtered image data.

Loading dock systems and associated methods for detecting the position of trailer rear wheel assembly/rear suspension system relative to a corresponding trailer bed and/or loading dock face are described herein. In some embodiments, a loading dock station can include one or more sensors for detecting whether a rear wheel assembly (e.g., a movable rear wheel assembly) of a trailer is in a rear position relative to the trailer bed when the trailer is present at the loading dock station. In some embodiments, the systems and methods disclosed herein can control subsequent operation of loading dock equipment based on the determined position of the rear wheel assembly.

A system and method for remotely controlling loading dock components is disclosed that includes a distribution center having at least one dock station for exchanging materials and a dock component configured to in at least two operational states. An actuator is included that is configured to change the operational state of the dock component in response to an activation signal. A mobile remote control is configured to generate the activation signal to cause the actuator to change the operational state of the dock component and at least one predefined non-activation zone is included such that changing of operational state of the dock component is inhibited when the mobile remote control is located within the at least one predefined non-activation zone.

Alarm indications of objects (431, 631) in spaces (113) subject to vehicle movements are provided using a scanner unit configured to provide indications of directions and distances of objects within a scan area. A computer compares the signal output from a scanner unit (121) and resolves the signal output to a pattern of the indications of directions and distances, and further resolve multiple instances of the indications over time to resolve the pattern of indications and distances to movement corresponding to the movement of the objects (431, 631). The indications are compared to render an indication of objects (431) partially blocked by other ones (631) of the objects from line-of-sight of the scanner unit (121). Predetermined relative movements of the objects (431, 631) as resolved by the computer render predetermined indicator or alarm signals (341, 342, 345).

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.

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.