Vehicle alignment systems for loading docks

Abstract

Example vehicle alignment systems for use at loading docks are disclosed herein. An example vehicle alignment system includes a camera to detect the vehicle approaching a doorway of a loading dock. The camera to generate an image signal indicative of at least one of an angular orientation of the vehicle or a lateral position of the vehicle relative to a reference. A controller is to detect a deviation in the at least one of the angular orientation of the vehicle or the lateral position of the vehicle relative to the reference based on the image signal. A display is to generate an indication representative of the at least one of the angular orientation of the vehicle or the lateral position of the vehicle relative to the reference.

1 . A vehicle alignment system for monitoring a vehicle at a loading dock, the vehicle alignment system comprising:
 a camera to detect the vehicle approaching a doorway of a loading dock, the camera to generate an image signal indicative of at least one of an angular orientation of the vehicle or a lateral position of the vehicle relative to a reference;   a controller to detect a deviation in the at least one of the angular orientation of the vehicle or the lateral position of the vehicle relative to the reference based on the image signal; and   a display to generate an indication representative of the at least one of the angular orientation of the vehicle or the lateral position of the vehicle relative to the reference.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle alignment system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is to compare the image signal to at least one of an angular orientation threshold or a lateral orientation threshold to detect the deviation in the at least one of the angular orientation or the lateral position. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle alignment system of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is to vary a light of the display with a blinking frequency in response to an extent to which the at least one of the lateral position of the vehicle or the angular orientation of the vehicle deviates from the respective lateral orientation threshold or the angular orientation threshold. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle alignment system of  claim 2 , wherein controller is to vary a light of the display in color in response to an extent to which the at least one of the lateral position of the vehicle or the angular orientation of the vehicle deviates from the respective lateral orientation threshold or the angular orientation threshold. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle alignment system of  claim 1 , wherein the display includes a light providing a visual illusion of movement that is to vary based on the at least one of the lateral position of the vehicle or the angular orientation of the vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicle alignment system of  claim 1 , wherein the image signal includes a first image signal indicative of the angular orientation of the vehicle, and a second image signal indicative of the lateral position of the vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle alignment system of  claim 6 , wherein the controller is to compare the first image signal to a first reference and the second image signal to a second reference different than the first reference. 
     
     
         8 . A vehicle alignment system for monitoring a vehicle at a loading dock, the vehicle alignment system comprising:
 a first camera to capture a first image of the vehicle approaching the loading dock at a first location of the vehicle, the first camera to generate a first image signal;   a second camera to capture a second image of the vehicle approaching the loading dock at a second location of the vehicle different than the first location, the second camera to generate a second image signal;   a controller to receive the first image signal and the second image signal, the controller to compare the first and second image signals to a reference to determine if the first and second image signals are within an alignment threshold relative to the reference in at least one of an angular orientation or a lateral orientation.   
     
     
         9 . The vehicle alignment system of  claim 8 , further including a display to generate an indication representative of the at least one of the angular orientation of the vehicle or the lateral position of the vehicle relative to the reference. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle alignment system of  claim 8 , wherein the reference includes a Cartesian coordinate system. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle alignment system of  claim 10 , wherein the first image signal and the second image signal are representative of a rear edge of the vehicle, the controller to compare the rear edge of the vehicle provided by the first signal image and the second signal image relative to a horizontal axis of the Cartesian coordinate system to determine if a deviation of the rear edge of the vehicle in the at least one of the angular orientation or the lateral orientation is within the alignment threshold. 
     
     
         12 . The vehicle alignment system of  claim 8 , wherein the first image signal is to be representative of a first portion of a rear edge of the vehicle and the second image signal is to be representative of a second portion of a rear edge of the vehicle different than the first portion. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle alignment system of  claim 8 , wherein the first camera is to be positioned adjacent a first side lateral edge of a doorway of the loading dock and the second camera is to be positioned adjacent a second side lateral edge of the doorway opposite the first side lateral edge. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle alignment system of  claim 8 , wherein the first camera and the second camera are to be positioned above a doorway of the loading dock. 
     
     
         15 . A method to monitor a vehicle at a loading dock, the method comprising:
 sensing a structure of interest of a vehicle approaching a doorway of the loading dock;   providing a feedback signal in response to sensing the structure of interest;   
       communicating the feedback signal to a controller; and
 based on the feedback signal, comparing, via the controller, at least one of an angular orientation of the structure of interest or a lateral position of the structure of interest relative to a reference to determine if the at least one of the angular orientation of the structure of interest or the lateral position of the structure of interest is within an alignment threshold. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further including displaying a first signal indicating that the at least one of an angular orientation of the structure of interest or the lateral position of the structure of interest is within the alignment threshold. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further including displaying a second signal indicating that the at least one of the angular orientation of the structure of interest or the lateral position of the structure of interest is outside the alignment threshold. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the sensing of the structure of interest includes detecting a rear edge surface of the vehicle. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein comparing the feedback signal to the reference comprises comparing the feedback signal to a Cartesian coordinate axis to determine if the at least one of the angular orientation of the structure of interest or the lateral position of the structure of interest is outside the alignment threshold. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the providing a feedback signal in response to sensing the structure of interest includes generating an image signal of a rear edge of the vehicle via a camera.