US 11572238 B2 / Feb 7, 2023

Autonomous loading/unloading of cargo

Cargo may be optimally placed within a cargo hold using a cargo mover comprising a flexible conveyor belt extending from a ground location to a cargo hold, data defining a dimensional map of available space existing within the cargo hold for placement of cargo, a conveyor controller operatively in communication with the flexible conveyer belt and comprising packing software, and a smart loader comprising a predetermined set of scanning sensors operative to scan the cargo hold and a processor operatively in communication with the predetermined set of sensors and the conveyor controller. An interior of the cargo hold is scanned to create a dimensional map of the cargo hold and cargo placed onto the flexible conveyor belt where certain of each piece is cargo's physical dimensions are scanned. The processor compares the scanned cargo hold data set with the cargo's physical dimensions as well as with an order in which that piece of cargo will arrive at the smart loader to determine the placement of each piece of cargo. As each piece of cargo is placed into cargo hold, the smart loader continues to scan and update the dimensional map of the cargo hold to determine where each subsequent piece of cargo will be placed in the cargo hold.