3D Perception Framework for Stacked Container Layout in the Physical Internet

Abstract

The Physical InternetPhysical Internetconcept3D perceptionwas developed to address the current unsustainability problem of logistic systems. The key elements are the encapsulation and the handling of world-standard smart green modular containers (π-containers) throughout an open global logistic infrastructure. Logistic processes such as partial loading/unloading or splitting/merging of π-containers play an important role for a successful Physical InternetPhysical Internet. However, the large variety of transformation processes can introduce desynchronization between the physical and informational flows, i.e., the real composition of a composite π-container (a set of stacked π-containers) can differ of the information stored in the supply chainSupply chainmanagement system. To overcome this problem, this chapter proposes a system to generate and maintain automatically a virtual three-dimensional layout reflecting the spatial distribution of π-containers. The proposed approach uses smart π-containers equipped with wireless sensor nodes. The relative position of π-containers can be determined by the neighborhood relationships between the sensor nodes. From this information, a constraint set is formulated in a Constraint Satisfaction Problem where each solution is a potential loading pattern. The methodology is developed and computational experiments are proposed, as a proof-of-concept. The results show that our proposed method yields quick and satisfactory results.