Zebra Technologies Corporation
METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR FREIGHT DIMENSIONING USING A LASER CURTAIN

Abstract:

Methods and systems are provided for dimensioning a moving freight in motion along a path. An example system includes a plurality of laser line generators configured to emit coplanar laser beams forming a laser curtain oriented perpendicular to the floor and angled towards the direction of the path of the moving freight. A camera is configured to capture a series of two-dimensional images of the freight as it passes through the laser curtain. Additionally a positioning sensor is configured to detect the position and orientation of the moving freight as it passes through the laser curtain. A computing device in communication with the camera and the positioning sensor correlates each successive two-dimensional image with each corresponding position and orientation of the freight to obtain a composite three-dimensional shape of the freight. Furthermore, the computing device processes the composite three-dimensional shape of the freight to dimension the freight.