Device for vehicle identification in an automated logistics center and associated method

Abstract

A system for managing a motor vehicle parking area comprises a plurality of physical media bearing a unique identifier selected from among the group consisting of a barcode optical identifier, a QR code, or an RFID tag. Each physical medium is arranged on or in a motor vehicle. The system further comprises at least one camera for filming the vehicles, an analysis means running a program for analyzing the images sent by the camera to extract the unique identifiers, and a means for wireless communication between the analysis means and at least one human or robotic conveyor moving or transporting the vehicles associated with the unique identifiers, so as to send to the at least one conveyor a digital message indicating the destination address of the vehicle. A method may be employed using the system to manage the motor vehicle parking area.

Claims

1. A system for managing a motor vehicle parking area comprising a vehicle identification means, wherein the identification means comprises: a plurality of reusable physical media carrying a unique identifier selected from among the group consisting of a barcode optical identifier, a QR code, or an RFID tag associated with a memory containing a unique digital identifier, each physical medium being arranged on or in a motor vehicle; at least one sensor arranged to acquire information inscribed in the physical media of the vehicles; an analysis means connected to the at least one sensor, the analysis means running a program for analyzing the information sent by the sensor to extract the unique identifier; and a means for wireless communication between the analysis means and at least one human or robot conveyor moving or transporting the vehicle associated with the unique identifier, so as to send to the at least one human or robot conveyor a digital message indicating a destination address of the vehicle; and a frame carrying the at least one sensor, wherein the frame is a gate allowing a vehicle to pass, the gate comprising a means for detecting the passing of a front end of the vehicle moved by the conveyor, wherein the means for detecting the passing of a front end of the vehicle comprises a light barrier formed by a ramp of light sources oriented toward a ramp of a photodetector, wherein the ramp of light sources are arranged on a side of the gate and the ramp of the photodetector is arranged on an opposite side of the gate.

2. The management system of claim 1, wherein each reusable physical medium is a paper sheet bearing an inscription coding a unique identifier, and the sensor comprises a camera.

3. The management system of claim 1, wherein each physical medium comprises an RFID tag associated with a digital memory including a record of a unique digital identifier, and the sensor comprises an RFID reader.

4. The management system of claim 1, further comprising a lighting means configured to illuminate a vehicle.

5. The management system of claim 1, wherein the frame is a vertical bar.

6. The management system of claim 1, further comprising at least one vehicle conveyor equipped with a communication means for receiving movement instructions based on the unique identifier acquired by the at least one sensor and processed by the analysis means.

7. The management system of claim 1, wherein the means for detecting the passing of a front end of the vehicle comprises a double light barrier formed by two ramps of light sources oriented toward two ramps of photodetectors, wherein the two ramps of light sources are arranged on a side of the gate, and the two ramps of photodetectors arranged on an opposite side of the gate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present disclosure will be better understood from reading the following description, referring to a non-limiting exemplary embodiment illustrated by the appended drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a system for managing a parking area according to a first embodiment, the system comprising a gate carrying a camera, a lighting means, an analysis means and a means for wireless communication, the camera filming a unique optical identifier placed inside a motor vehicle transported by a vehicle conveyor;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a system for managing a parking area according to a second embodiment, the system further comprising a single optical curtain;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a system for managing a parking area according to a third embodiment, the system further comprising a double optical curtain; and

(5) FIG. 4 shows a system for managing a parking area according to a fourth embodiment, the system further comprising a vertical detection camera.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) FIG. 1 shows a system or a device 1 for managing motor vehicle storage zones or a motor vehicle parking area.

(7) The system comprises an electrical vehicle conveyor 10 arranged to move or transport a motor vehicle 100. Each conveyor is arranged and/or programmed to cover a parking area having motor vehicles awaiting delivery, in this case new vehicles not comprising license plates, and transporting a vehicle from the storage zone of the parking area to the transfer zone of the parking area.

(8) Furthermore, each motor vehicle comprises a medium, for example, a sheet of paper on which a unique identifier is printed, the medium being placed on the dashboard or adhesively bonded to a window so as to be visible through the windshield from outside the vehicle (not shown). The unique identifier is a barcode or a QR code.

(9) The system comprises a gate 3 carrying a camera 4 and a lighting means 5. The camera 4 and the lighting means 5 are directed toward the windscreen of the vehicle, when it is presented, via a conveyor 10, in front of the gate. The camera 4 is arranged to read or scan the unique identifier.

(10) The system comprises an analysis means 6. The analysis means 6 is connected to the camera 4 and arranged to run a program for analyzing the image sent by the camera 4 to extract the unique optical identifier. When a conveyor passes under the gate with a vehicle, the code read by the camera is communicated to the analysis means in order to associate it with the vehicle.

(11) The management system further comprises a database in which each unique identifier is associated with a destination address. A wireless communication means 7 between the analysis means 6 and each conveyor makes it possible to send to the conveyor a digital message indicating the destination address of the vehicle transported by the conveyor.

(12) The usefulness of such a system is particularly important when handling vehicles that do not yet have license plates, as is the case typically on the logistics sites for new vehicles.

(13) FIGS. 2 to 4 illustrate a variant embodiment wherein the system incorporates a functionality for measuring the length of the vehicle.

(14) According to these three variants, the gate (3) comprises an optical means interacting with a front end of the vehicle in order to allow for the passage of the vehicle (100) through the gate, to ascertain its length automatically.

(15) According to the variant illustrated in FIG. 2, the gate (3) comprises a vertical post (20) comprising optical sources oriented transversely, in the direction of a second post (30) comprising photodetectors to form a light barrier (25) that is obscured when a vehicle goes past.

(16) According to the variant illustrated in FIG. 3, the gate (3) includes two ramps (20, 21) of light sources and two ramps (30, 31) of photodetectors to form a double barrier (25, 26). This variant makes it possible to automatically detect the direction of movement.

(17) According to the variant illustrated in FIG. 4, the gate (3) includes a camera (40) arranged vertically in the example described to detect the passing of the rear end of the vehicle (100).

(18) The detection of the passing from the rear end then from the front end of the vehicle (or vice-versa) (100) moved by the conveyor (10) makes it possible to deduce the length of the vehicle (100) based on the disruptions caused to the light barrier(s) or on the beam of the camera (40).

(19) When a robot (10) takes a vehicle (100) in a handover zone it must pass under a gate (required to pass between the handover zone and the storage zone).

(20) When moving slowly under the gate, the location of the unseen face of the vehicle (100) passing under the gate (3) is acquired by virtue of the optical barrier or the camera (40), and the vehicle length is deduced in conjunction with the location of the robot (10) at the moment when the unseen face crosses the vertical section of the gate (3).