Amazon.com, Inc.
Radar based guidance system perceiving contents of a container

Abstract:

Embodiments herein describe a scanning station for identifying an air gap between one or more items stored in a container (e.g., a cardboard box) and a surface of the container (e.g., a top lid of the cardboard box). After identifying the air gap, in one embodiment, the scanning station provides instructions to a downstream cutting station where the container is cut opened. In one embodiment, the scanning station includes one or more articulating arms that each includes a scanner (e.g., a radar sensor) attached on an end of the articulating arm facing the container. Moving the articulating arms along the boundaries of the container provides a 3D image of the inside of the container. By processing this image, the scanning station can identify an air gap along a desired cut line as well as a thickness of the sides of the container.