Goodrich Corporation

Alessandro Pinto

Zamira A Daw Perez

Richa Varma

Xiaobin Zhang

Binu M Nair

Olusegun T Oshin

Aaron James Roberts

Scott P Harms

Julian C Ryde

Amit Bhatia

The present disclosure provides a cargo handling system. The cargo handling system comprises a first cargo handling robot and a second cargo handling robot, wherein the first cargo handling robot and the second cargo handling robot are configured to transport a cargo unit from a first position to a second position, the first cargo handling robot and the second cargo handling robot configured to move in two dimensions about a cargo deck.

Multi-robots system for cargo handling

A cargo handling system configured for autonomous control is disclosed, including, for example a plurality of power drive units, the plurality of power drive units configured to convey a plurality of objects over a conveyance surface; a plurality of sensing agents, the plurality of sensing agents configured to transmit a run-time database from the plurality of sensing agents, the run-time database including data from which a positioning of the plurality of objects on the cargo handling system may be determined; and a distributed control system in operable communication with the plurality of sensing agents and the plurality of power drive units, the distributed control system including a supervisory control processor configured to provide an estimate of a current state of the plurality of objects and an actuator control processor configured to control the plurality of power drive units based on the current state of the plurality of objects.

Distributed control of autonomous cargo handling systems

A method for adjusting a system autonomy level of a cargo handling system configured for autonomous control by a processor is disclosed. In various embodiments, the method includes receiving by the processor a sensor database from a plurality of sensing agents in operable communication with the processor; determining by the processor a confidence level based on the sensor database; and adjusting by the processor the system autonomy level for continued operation of the cargo handling system.

Systems and methods for operating multiple-level autonomous cargo handling systems

A method for performing a safety assessment of a cargo handling system controlled by a processor and having a plurality of sensing agents is disclosed. In various embodiments, the method includes receiving by the processor a run-time database from the plurality of sensing agents, the run-time database including data from which a positioning of a plurality of objects on the cargo handling system may be determined; generating by the processor a mapping of the positioning of the plurality of objects; validating by the processor whether a run-time state of the cargo handling system is in violation of a safety protocol; and determining by the processor whether to implement a corrective action.

Systems and methods for safely operating autonomous cargo handling systems

A method for self-assessing components of a cargo handling system configured for autonomous control by a processor is disclosed. In various embodiments, the method includes receiving by the processor a sensor database from a plurality of sensing agents in operable communication with the processor; testing by the processor the plurality of sensing agents by comparing the sensor database against a sensor assessment; and performing by the processor a first calibration assessment of the plurality of sensing agents to assess whether a compromised operational status of the cargo handling system has occurred due to a failure of one or more of the plurality of sensing agents.

Systems and methods for run-time self-assessment of cargo handling systems

The present disclosure provides an end-to-end cargo handling system. The end-to-end cargo handling system comprises a transportation unit comprising a first sensing agent, a lift unit comprising a second sensing agent, and a control module in communication with the transportation unit and the lift unit via a network, wherein the transportation unit and the lift unit are configured to move a cargo unit from a first location to a second location autonomously.

Autonomous system for air cargo end-to-end operations

An autonomous cargo handling system having a sensor self-calibration system may comprise a sensing agent configured to monitor a sensing zone, and a system controller in electronic communication with the first sensing agent. The system controller may be configured to receive structural cargo deck data from the first sensing agent, generate a real-time cargo deck model, identify a cargo deck component in the real-time cargo deck model, and determine a position of the sensing agent relative to the cargo deck component.

Self-calibrating multi-sensor cargo handling system and method

A system for estimating mass of a ULD while on-board a vessel includes a system controller energizing one or more PDUs in communication with a conveyance surface of the vessel, the PDUs applying first and second forces to the ULD and transmitting first and second force parameters to a system integrator, one or more sensors measuring first and second accelerations of the ULD when the ULD moves into one or more sensing zones as a result of the forces and transmits first and second acceleration parameters to the system integrator, and the system integrator, which receives the first and second force parameters, and the first and second acceleration parameters, and calculates the mass of the ULD while the ULD is on-board the vessel by performing regression analysis on ordered pairs including the first force parameter and the first acceleration parameter, and the second force parameter and the second acceleration parameter.

On-board unit load device weight estimation

An autonomous cargo handling system is provided. The autonomous cargo handling system may comprise one or more sensing agents in electronic communication with each other. One or more of the sensing agents may be configured to monitor a sensing zone in a cargo deck to detect objects traveling through the sensing zone. In response to detecting an object, one or more sensing agents may determine an object property based on the detected object. One or more sensing agents may generate an object model based on the determined object properties. The sensing agents may also determine whether the detected object is a unit load device (ULD) or a non-ULD object based on the object property and/or the object model.

Growing community of inventors

Kensington, CA, United States of America

Alessandro Pinto