NZ734639B2 - Method and system for automated luggage security inspection - Google Patents

Abstract

system and method of operating a checked bag reconciliation area of an airport. The method includes transporting a luggage item from an entrance mechanism to one of a plurality of inspection stations. Once the luggage item is at the inspection station, the method proceeds by conducting an inspection of the luggage item by the agent at the inspection station. The step of transporting the luggage item includes transporting the luggage item to the inspection station with the luggage item disposed on an automatic material handling device, and the step of conducting an inspection of the luggage item by the agent includes conducting the inspection of the luggage item while the luggage item is disposed on the automatic material handling device. on of the luggage item by the agent at the inspection station. The step of transporting the luggage item includes transporting the luggage item to the inspection station with the luggage item disposed on an automatic material handling device, and the step of conducting an inspection of the luggage item by the agent includes conducting the inspection of the luggage item while the luggage item is disposed on the automatic material handling device.

Description

PCT/U52016/013874 METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATED LUGGAGE SECURITY INSPECTION CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This PCT Patent Application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application Serial Number 14/881537 filed on October 13. 2015 which claims the benefit of U.S.

Provisional Patent Application Serial Number 62/ 120.473 filed on February 25. 2015 entitled “Method And tus For Automated Luggage Security Inspection.” and also claims the benefit of Canada Patent Application Serial No. 2917705 filed on r 13. 2015. the entire disclosures of the applications being considered part of the disclosure of this application and hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the ion A method and system for automated luggage security inspection. More particularly. a method and system for lling an activity area. such as a checked bag reconciliation area. that utilize at least one automatic material handling device. such as an automatic guided vehicle. 2. Description of the Related Art In t security operations. it is known in the art for suspect luggage/baggage. i.e.. alarmed or unknown e items. to be inspected in a Checked Bag Reconciliation Area (CBRA). In the CBRA. the suspect luggage items are inspected by an agent and subsequently transferred to an appropriate location based on the inspection.

Typically. the suspect luggage enters the CBRA on a staging conveyor from which it is manually removed by an agent and placed on a stand-alone inspection table. The luggage is then inspected on the tion table by the agent. and based on the inspection. the agent determines r the luggage item is cleared or not cleared. If the suspect luggage is SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) W0 2016/137603 PCT/U52016/013874 cleared by the agent. it is manually transported by the agent to a clearance conveyor from which it can be picked up by another agent for transportation to an airplane or other suitable destination. If the suspect luggage is not cleared by the agent. it is transferred to a rc~insert or n it is transferred to an appropriate destination for r inspection.

There s room in the art for improved luggage handling and transportation processes. particularly in activity areas like the CBRA. More specifically. there remains a need for improvements to make current luggage tion processes in the CBRA more streamlined and less physically demanding for agents working in the CBRA.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to an aspect of the sure. the disclosure provides for a method of operating a checked bag reconciliation area. The method includes the step of transporting a luggage item from an entrance mechanism to one of a plurality of inspection stations. Once the luggage item is at the inspection n. the method proceeds by conducting an inspection of the luggage item at the inspection station. The step of transporting the luggage item from an ce mechanism to one of a plurality of inspection stations es transporting the luggage item to the inspection station with the luggage item disposed on a search table of an automatic guided vehicle. and the step of ting an inspection of the luggage item includes conducting the inspection of the luggage item while the e item is disposed on the search table of the automatic guided vehicle.

According to a further aspect of the disclosure. an additional method of operating a checked bag reconciliation area is provided. The method includes the step of positioning a luggage item on a search table of an automatic guided vehicle. The method further includes programming at least one bag ID into a control system. wherein the bag ID includes information related to the e item. After the bag ID has been programmed W0 2016/137603 PCT/U82016/013874 into the control system. the method proceeds by ining an inspection station to transport the luggage item based on the bag ID. After the inspection station has been determined. the method proceeds by transmitting instructions to the automatic guided vehicle from the control system to transport the luggage item to the determined tion station. The method then continues by transporting the luggage item to the determined inspection station with the luggage item disposed on the search table of the automatic guided vehicle. The method then proceeds by conducting an inspection of the luggage item at the determined inspection station with the luggage item disposed on the search table of the automatic guided vehicle.

According to another aspect of the disclosure. a system for operating a checked bag iliation area is provided. The system includes an entrance ism wherein luggage items are received into the checked baggage iliation area. The system also includes at least one inspection n spaced from the entrance mechanism.

At least one pathway extends between the entrance ism and the at least one inspection station. The system r includes at least one automatic guided vehicle including a chassis having a plurality of wheels for establishing movement of the automatic guided vehicle and a search table connected to the chassis for transporting the luggage items between the entrance conveyor and the inspection station with the luggage item ed on the search table and for allowing the luggage item to be inspected while the luggage item is positioned on the search table. The system also includes a control system ssly connected to the automatic guided vehicle for controlling the movement of the automatic guided e along the at least one pathway between the entrance conveyor and the at least one inspection station.

According to yet another aspect of the disclosure. a method of operating an activity area is provided. The method es positioning a luggage item on a material W0 2016/137603 PCT/U82016/013874 handling device with the luggage item located at a first location in the activity area. The method also includes providing instructions from a control system to the material handling device to move the luggage item from the first location to an inspection station in the ty area. The method ds with transporting the luggage item from the first location to the inspection station with the material handling device and with the luggage item disposed on the material handling device. Once at the inspection station. the method includes conducting an inspection of the luggage item at the inspection station with the luggage item disposed on the al handling device. The method continues with ining a secondary destination to transport the e item based on the inspection of the e item. Once the secondary destination has been determined. the method proceeds by providing instructions from the control system to the material handling device to move the luggage item from the tion station to the ined secondary destination. Finally. the method includes transporting the luggage item to the determined secondary destination with the material handling device with the luggage item disposed on the material handling device.

According to a further aspect of the disclosure. a further system for operating a checked bag reconciliation area is provided. The system es an entrance mechanism wherein luggage items are received into the checked baggage reconciliation area. The at least one inspection station is spaced from the entrance mechanism. The system also es at least one material handling device including an inspection surface for supporting at least one of the e items on the inspection surface and transporting the at least one luggage item between the entrance mechanism and the inspection station with the at least one luggage item supported by the inspection surface and for allowing the at least one luggage item to be inspected while the at least one luggage items is supported by the inspection surface. The system further includes a l system wirelessly W0 2016/137603 PCT/USZ016/013874 connected to the material handling device for automatically controlling the movement of the material handling device.

According to an additional aspect of the disclosure. a further method of operating a checked bag iliation area is provided. The method includes positioning a luggage item on a material handling device while the material handling device is positioned at a first location in the checked bag reconciliation area. The method also includes transmitting a first input to a control system. wherein the first input is related to at least one of: bag ID information related to the luggage item and a ion in the checked bag reconciliation area. The method proceeds by determining one tion station of a plurality of inspection stations to transport the luggage item to based on the first input.

The method further continues with providing instructions from the control system to the material handling device to move from the first on to the determined inspection station. Additionally. the method includes transporting the luggage item from the first location to the determined inspection station with the luggage item disposed on the material handling device.

According to yet another aspect of the disclosure. another method of ing a checked bag iliation area is provided. The method includes oning a plurality of luggage items each on one of a plurality of material handling devices. The method further includes transmitting a first input to a control system. wherein the first input is related to at least one of: bag ID information related to the e items and a condition in the checked bag reconciliation area. The method proceeds by determining an order of priority of the material handling devices based on the first input. The method continues with providing instructions from the l system to the plurality of material handling devices to each move to one of a plurality of inspection stations in the determined order of priority. Finally. the method includes oning the luggage items W0 2016/137603 PCT/U82016/013874 from the first location to the plurality of inspection stations in the determined order of priority with the luggage items each disposed on one of the material handling devices.

According to another aspect of the disclosure. a further system for ing a checked bag reconciliation area is provided. The system includes an entrance mechanism wherein luggage items are ed into the checked bag reconciliation area.

At least one inspection station is spaced from the entrance mechanism by a transportation distance. The system further includes at least one material handling device including an tion e for supporting at least one of the luggage items on the inspection surface and transporting the at least one luggage item between the entrance mechanism and the inspection n along the transportation distance with the at least one luggage item supported by the inspection surface and for allowing the at least one luggage item to be inspected while the at least one luggage items is supported by the inspection surface.

The ortation distance between the entrance mechanism and the at least one tion station is independent of the conveyors. more. a control system is wirelessly connected to the material handling device for automatically controlling the movement of the material handling device.

According to yet another aspect of the t disclosure. a system for prioritizing an automated movement of a ity of luggage items is provided. The system includes a data store comprising a computer readable medium storing a program of instructions for the prioritizing the automated movement. The system also includes a sor that executes the program of instructions. Funhermore, the system includes a luggage information receiver configured to receive data associated with each of the plurality of luggage items. Moreover. the system includes a luggage fier configured to correspond the received data with priority data. the priority data being assigned to each of the plurality of luggage items. onally, the system includes an instructions W0 2016/137603 2016/013874 communicator configured to communicate the priority data to a system for operating a checked bag reconciliation area. The plurality of luggage items are processed via the checked bag reconciliation area based on the ty data.

According to a further aspect of the disclosure. a further method of operating a checked bag reconciliation area is provided. The method es transporting a luggage item from an entrance mechanism to one of a plurality of inspection stations. After the luggage item is transported to the inspection station. the method continues by conducting an tion of the luggage item at the inspection station. orting a e item from an entrance mechanism to one of a plurality of inspection stations includes transporting the luggage item to the inspection station with the luggage item disposed on a search table of an automatic guided vehicle. Further. conducting an inspection of the luggage item includes conducting the inspection of the e item while the luggage item is disposed on the search table of the automatic guided vehicle, and wherein the inspection is conducted independent of an agent.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION The invention it is st aspect therefore es for a system and method for operating a d bag reconciliation area that improves manpower utilization. minimizes strenuous ng of luggage items. and improves data handling throughout the e inspection process.

More particularly. since the luggage items are automatically delivered to the inspection stations, and the luggage items may automatically depart the inspection by way of the material handling devices. the prior art steps of manually placing the bag onto the search table and manually moving the bag to the correct disposition location are eliminated.

By eliminating these steps. luggage items are able to be processed through the activity area faster. and agents are able to invest more time and energy into the primary task of W0 2016/137603 2016/013874 investigating luggage items or into other value added processing operations. Additionally. since these steps are eliminated. the likelihood of workplace injuries is reduced since the number of strenuous lifting tasks is reduced. Eliminating these steps also expands the job pool of people that may work as agents. including those with certain physical disabilities.

According to a further aspect of the subject method and . luggage items may be prioritized and processed faster because the material handling devices may be dynamically assigned to inspection stations and automatically moved to the inspection stations based on conditions in the activity area and bag ID information that correlates with the luggage items. like departure time and security level.

Furthermore. the subject method and system improves the handling of data related to the luggage items e bag ID information associated with the luggage items is synced with the material handling s and the luggage items travel with the same material handling device hout the tion process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated. as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings n: Figure 1 is a top schematic view of an example ment of a checked bag reconciliation area including a plurality of automatic guided vehicles disposed therein; Figure 2 is a perspective view of an e embodiment of an automatic guided vehicle with a luggage item disposed on a search table of the automatic guided vehicle; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a pair of inspection stations. each with an tic guided e and inspecting agent positioned at the inspecting station; W0 2016/137603 PCT/U52016/013874 Figure 4 is a schematic view of an example embodiment of a control system for controlling the automatic guided vehicles in the checked bag reconciliation area; Figure 5 is a top schematic view of the checked bag reconciliation area of Figure 1 illustrating egress paths which inspecting agents may utilize; Figure 6 is a flow diagram of a first example method of operating an activity area; Figure 7 is a flow diagram of a second e method of operating an activity area; Figure 8 is a flow diagram of a third example method of operating an activity area; Figure 9 is a flow diagram of a fourth e method of operating an activity area; Figure 10 is a flow diagram of a fifth example method of operating an activity area; Figure 1 1 is a flow m of a sixth example method of ing an activity area; and Figure 12 is a flow diagram of a h example method of operating an activity area.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ENABLING EMBODIMENT Referring to the Figures. wherein like numerals indicate ponding parts throughout the several views, a system and method of operating an activity area. such as a d bag reconciliation area 20 is disclosed. The example embodiments demonstrate how the subject system and method may be utilized in a checked bag reconciliation area 20 of an airport. however. it should be appreciated that the subject system and method can be W0 2016/137603 PCT/USZ016/013874 utilized in activity areas of other transportation hubs including. but not limited to. checked bag reconciliation areas of train stations and marinas.

An example ment of an improved checked bag reconciliation area 20 in ance with the subject system is shown in Figure l. The system includes an ce mechanism 24 for providing t luggage items 22 into the checked baggage reconciliation area. In the example embodiment, the entrance mechanism is an alarm conveyor line 24 that extends into the checked bag reconciliation area 20 for delivering suspect luggage items into the checked bag reconciliation area 20. It should be appreciated that other types of entrance mechanisms 24 could be used such as. but not limited to. an ingress door.

Furthermore. a plurality of inspection stations 26 are spaced from the alarm conveyor line 24 by a transportation distance T. Four inspection stations 26 are provided in the checked bag reconciliation area 20 of the example embodiment. however. it should be iated that more or fewer tion stations 26 could be utilized depending on the specific needs of the particular checked bag reconciliation area 20. Each of the inspection stations 26 may be stationed by one or more inspecting agents 28. The inspecting agents 28 conduct inspections of the luggage items 22 that are received by the alarm conveyor line 24 after they are delivered to the inspection stations 26. The inspection stations 26 could alternatively be completely mously. i.e.. ed by machines / computers and independent of an human agent.

The system further includes at least one material handling device 30 for ing luggage items 22 from the alarm conveyor line 24 and transporting the luggage items 22 within the checked bag reconciliation area 20. In the example embodiments. the material handling device 30 is an automatic guided vehicle 30. however. it is pated that other tic material handling devices could be utilized including. but not limited W0 2016/137603 to. overhead conveyors. In the example embodiments. the luggage items 22 are ed onto a search table 32 of the automatic guided vehicle 30 from the alarm conveyor line 24.

It should be appreciated that any number of automatic guided vehicles 30 could be utilized and it is advantageously easy to add and remove automatic guided vehicles 30 from the checked bag reconciliation area 20. As will be discussed in greater detail below. each automatic guided vehicle 30 is programmed to automatically. i.e.. without a human driver. transport the luggage items 22 h the checked bag reconciliation area 20 based on instructions provided by a control system 44. In the example embodiment. a single luggage item 22 may be disposed on the search table 32 of each automatic guided vehicle 30. however. it should be appreciated that more luggage items 22 could be disposed thereon.

In the e embodiments. the transportation distance T between the entrance mechanism 24 and the tion ns 26 is completely independent of conveyors. More specifically, rather than using conveyors to transport luggage items 22 along the transportation distance T. the luggage items 22 are ly transported by way of the automatic guided vehicles 30. The term “conveyor” as used herein includes all conventional material moving ors. It should be appreciated that making the transportation distance T independent of conveyors ageously opens up the floor space along the transportation distance T. Thus. other objects may be placed on the floor space. and. as presented in Figure 5. the open floor space may be used to provide additional ingress / egress paths 67 for agents. or additional routes that the automatic guided es may follow. This also advantageously allows the checked bag reconciliation area 20 to be smaller.

With nce back to Figure l. a pathway 34 is disposed on the ground of the checked bag iliation area 20 on which the automatic guided vehicles 30 are configured to follow. The pathway 34 includes numerous segments that extend to different W0 2016/137603 areas of the checked bag reconciliation area 20 to allow the automatic guided vehicle 30 to be moved to the different areas based on the instructions from the control system 44. The pathway 34 may take various forms including. but not limited to. magnetic markers or wires on the floor. Further. the pathway 34 may be electronically mapped into software of the control system 44 such that the automatic guided e 30 may be programmed to automatically move along a programed y 34 via GPS coordinate g.

Figure 4 is a diagram of components of the control system 44 that controls the various ents of the checked bag reconciliation area 20. The control system 44 includes a e Handling System (BHS) Network 46 for connecting to the various components of the checked bag reconciliation area 20. The control system 44 further includes one or more primary and backup servers 48 for hosting the BHS network 46 and storing network information on one or more databases of the servers 48. More ically. a data record containing inputs such as bag ID information on each luggage item and information related conditions within the d bag reconciliation area 20 are stored on databases of the servers 50. The bag ID information may include information such as flight departure time. flight destination. Risk Based Security (RBS) level. and a ty indicator that correlates with each specific luggage items 22. Furthermore. the condition in the checked bag reconciliation area 20 may include various conditions including. but not limited to. the speeds at which e items 22 are being processed h each inspection station 26 More specific aspects of the servers 48 include a data store 47 that es a computer readable medium 49 that has a program of instructions for prioritizing automatic movement of the material handling devices 30. The servers 48 may also include a processor 51 for executing the program of instructions. The server 48 may further include a luggage information receiver 53 that is configured to receive the bag ID information / conditions of W0 2016/137603 the checked bag reconciliation area 20. Moreover. the servers 48 are programmed to include a luggage classifier 55 that is configured to correlate the received bag ID information with priority data. wherein the priority data is assigned to each of the plurality of luggage items 22. The server also includes an ctions communicator 57 that is red to communicate the priority data to the BHS Network 46 to move the automatic guided vehicles 30 and process the luggage items 22 based on the ty data. The servers 50 may further include one or more virtual machines 52 that provide for remote access to the server 50.

The control system 44 also includes one or more graphical user interfaces 54 that are connected to the BHS Network 46 for presenting network information to agents 28 of the network 46. One of the graphical user interfaces 54 is disposed on each of the automatic guided vehicles 30. The cal user interfaces 54 may further be disposed at other locations with the checked bag reconciliation area 20. e.g.. at the inspection stations 26. Furthermore. a plurality of programmable logic controllers 56 are connected to the network 46 for activating and deactivating components of the d bag reconciliation area 20. e.g.. conveyors. The control system 44 also includes one or more wireless access points 58 that are connected to the network 46 for providing ss access to components of the checked bag reconciliation area 20. including the automatic guided vehicles 30.

A cart computer 59 (schematically shown). is ed on each of the automatic guided vehicles 30 and is electrically ted to the BHS Network 46 via the wireless access point 58 for itting and receiving information over the BHS Network 46 for controlling the nt of the automatic guided vehicles 30 along different sections of the pathway 34. Said another way. during operation of the checked bag iliation area 20. the cart computers 59 of the automatic guided es 30 receive instructions from the control system 44 to move the automatic guided vehicles along W0 2016/137603 PCT/U52016/013874 specific sections of the pathway 34 based on the bag ID information that is associated with each specific luggage item 22.

The cart computer 59 of each automatic guided vehicle 30 is ically ted with the graphical user interface 54 on each of the automatic guided vehicles 30 for allowing agents 28 to view the bag ID information associated with each luggage item 22. to transmit information to the control system 44. and to program nt of the automatic guided vehicles 30 based on the inspections that they perform. The cal user interface 54 on each of the automatic guided vehicles 30 may be configured as a touch screen to allow the agent 28 to input information into the cart computer 59. Alternatively. one or more stand—alone input devices. e.g.. a keyboard and mouse. may be utilized to allow the agent to input information into the cart computer 59.

With reference back to Figure 1. a staging area 40 is provided for oning the automatic guided vehicles 30 after receiving luggage items and prior to moving to the at least one inspection n 26. From the staging area 40. the automatic guided vehicle 30 may dynamically follow specific sections of the pathway 34 to the inspection stations 26 based on instructions from the control system 44.

After a luggage item 22 has been inspected at the inspection stations 26. it may be transferred via the material ng device 30 to one of a plurality of secondary destination 64, 66. The secondary ations 64, 66 include a clear bag conveyor line 64 to which the luggage item 22 is transported in response to a determination that the luggage item 22 has a clear status. The secondary ation 64, 66 may further include a re- inspcction conveyor line 66 to which the luggage item 22 may be transported in se to a determination that the luggage item 22 must be re—inspectcd. The secondary destination 64, 66 may further include a fail area. or secondary search station (not shown) that the luggage item may be transported to in the event of a failed search.

W0 2016/137603 PCT/U52016/013874 An example ment of an automatic guided vehicle 30 is best presented in Figure 2. The automatic guided vehicle 30 includes a chassis 60. A plurality of wheels (not shown) are connected to the s 60 for establishing rolling movement of the automatic guided vehicle 30. The automatic guided vehicle 30 further includes a powertrain 71, 73, 75 atically shown) that is operably connected to the wheels for providing movement of the wheels. In the example embodiment. the powertrain includes a battery 71. an electric motor 73. and transaxle 75 that are ly connected to the wheels to provide movement to the wheels. It should be appreciated that other types of powertrain components could be utilized. e.g.. an internal combustion engine.

The automatic guided vehicle 30 further es a search table 32 that is connected to the chassis 60. The search table 32 is large enough such that it can receive a luggage item 22 and transport the luggage item 22 while the luggage item 22 is positioned on the search table 32. Furthermore. the search table 32 is large enough such that the luggage item 22 may be ted while disposed on the search table 32. In the example ment. the search table 32 is of a stainless steel material and s along a plane with a generally rectangular shape. It should be iated that the stainless steel material allows the search table 32 to be easily wiped clean. It should be further be appreciated. that the search table 32 could have other shapes. and does not have to extend along a plane.

Further. it should be appreciated that the search table 32 could be made of other suitable materials. ideally of materials that are easy to maintain in a sterile condition.

The automatic guided vehicle 30 also es a lifting mechanism 62 that interconnects the chassis 60 and the search table 32. The lifting mechanism 62 is configured to adjust the height of the search table 32 and to pivot the search table 32 relative to the chassis 60 to allow the search table 32 to be raised. lowered. and pivoted relative to the chassis 60. In the example embodiment. the lifting mechanism 62 includes a W0 2016/137603 PCT/U52016/013874 plurality of telescoping legs 62 that are connected to an actuator (not shown) to provide nt of the telescoping legs 62. The telescoping legs 62 may be independently movcable relative to one another to provide for pivoting movement of the search table 32.

It should be appreciated that other lifting mechanisms 62 could be ed such as. but not limited to, a scissor-lift typc ism. It should also be appreciated that the lifting mechanism 62 may be configured to pivot the search table 32 in any direction. Various components may alternatively be utilized to provide the pivoting movement of the search table 32. c.g.. one or more ball . or a plurality of support members that pivot relative to one another and / or the chassis 60 and search table 32.

The automatic guided vehicle 30 may further e a connecting ism (not shown) for connecting the automatic guided vehicle 30 to other automatic guided vehicles 30. The ting mechanism may also be utilized to t the automatic guide vehicle 30 to a conveyor to allow luggage items 22 to easily be received onto the search table 32 from a conveyor. and to allow the automatic guided vehicle 30 to easily dispense items from the search table 32 onto the conveyor. Said another way. the connecting mechanism may be used to y t the automatic guided vehicle 30 to a conveyor with the automatic guided vehicle 30 disposed in alignment with the conveyor. thereby allowing luggage items 22 to easily be transferred between the conveyor and the automatic guided vehicle 30.

The tic guided vehicle 30 also includes a proximity sensor 63 (schematically shown) for detecting the presence of objects in the way of the automatic guided vehicle. The proximity sensor 63 is electrically connected to the cart er 59 to stop the automatic guided vehicle 30 in response to detection of objects by the proximity sensor 63. The automatic guided vehicle 30 also includes a detecting mechanism 65 for detecting the position of the pathway 34 relative to the automatic guided vehicle 30 to W0 2016/137603 PCT/U52016/013874 facilitate movement of the tic guided vehicle 30 along the pathway 34. The automatic guided vehicle 30 further may e such features as an emergency stop button to allow an agent to stop the automatic guided vehicle in the event of an emergency and a charging input to allow the automatic guided vehicle 30 to easily be connected to a ng terminal at an inspection station 26 while luggage items 22 disposed on the search table 32 are being inspected (or at other locations within the activity area).

With reference to Figures 6-12. methods of operating a checked bag reconciliation area 20 are also disclosed. According to a firsl example method best presented in Figure 6. the method includes 100 ing a e item 22 onto a material handling device 30 from an entrance mechanism 24 of the checked bag reconciliation area . As explained above. the material handling device 30 may be an automatic guided vehicle 30. and the luggage item 22 may be received into a search table 32 of the automatic guided vehicle 30. As explained in the foregoing. in the example embodiment of the checked bag reconciliation area 20. the entrance mechanism is an alarm conveyor line 24.

In more detail. the step of 100 receiving the luggage item 22 onto the search table 32 in the example embodiment includes moving the automatic guided vehicle 30 from a position beneath the alarm conveyor to a on in which the automatic guided vehicle 30 is adjacent to an end of the alarm conveyor line 24 and vertically lower than the alarm or line 24. Once the automatic guide e 30 is in this position. the alarm conveyor line 24 can push a luggage item 22 onto the search table 32. Said another way. the automatic guided vehicle 30 may move a distance along and beneath a length of the alarm or line 24 and stop at a position in which the search table 32 extends at least partially past the end of the alarm conveyor line 24 to allow luggage items 22 to be dumped onto the search table 32 after the luggage items 22 are pushed past the end of the alarm conveyor line 24.

W0 2016/137603 PCT/U52016/013874 After the luggage item 22 is disposed on the search table 32 of the tic guided vehicle 30. the method continues with 102 orting the luggage item 22 on the material handling device 30 to the staging area 40 with the luggage item 22 disposed on the material handling device 30. More particularly. the luggage item 22 may be disposed on a search table 32 of the automatic guided vehicle 30 during transportation to the staging area 40. It should be appreciated that a plurality of automatic guided vehicles 30 may line up in the staging area 40. at which they remain until further instructions are provided by the control system 44. In the event that a luggage item 22 was already disposed on the search table 32 of the automatic guided vehicle 30 when the automatic guided vehicle 30 entered the d bag reconciliation area 20. the pathway 34 includes a loading bypass path segment 38 that the automatic guided vehicle 30 may follow to bypass the alarm conveyor line 24. In other words. the automatic guided vehicle 30 may follow the loading bypass path 38 to bypass the alarm conveyor line 24 and be moved directly to the staging area 40 if it is not necessary to receive a luggage item 22 from the alarm or line 24.

The method also includes 104 programming at least one input. such as bag ID information or a condition in the checked bag reconciliation area 20. into the control system 44. The input may be programmed into the control system 44 in various ways. For example. the input may be manually d via a er. As mentioned in the foregoing. the bag ID may include information related to the at least one luggage item 22 such as. but not limited to. flight departure time. flight destination and a risk based security level. Furthermore. the ion in the checked bag reconciliation area 20 may include various conditions including. but not limited to. the speeds at which luggage items 22 are being processed at each inspection station 26. It should be appreciated that the input may be programmed into the control system 44 before or after the automatic guided e 30 is positioned at the staging area 40.

W0 2016/137603 PCT/U52016/013874 After the input has been programmed into the control system 44, the method continues with 106 determining an tion station 26 to ort the luggage item 22 to based on the first input. During this step. the control system 44 dynamically assigns the material handling devices 30 to specific inspection stations 26 based on the input. such as the bag ID information of the luggage items disposed on the c material handling devices 30. For example. the automatic guided e 30 may recognize. based on the bag ID information. that a particular luggage item 22 has a high risk level associated therewith. and therefore dynamically assign the luggage item 22 to a high-risk inspection station 26.

The method funher also includes 108 determining an order of priority of the material handling devices 30 based on the input. Based on the determined order of priority. the luggage items 22 may advantageously be directed to inspection stations 26 in various orders based on need. and don’t have to follow a “first in. first out” approach as is used in conventional checked bag reconciliation areas. For example the control system 44 may recognize. based on the bag ID information. that a particular luggage item 22 is scheduled to be stowed on an airplane that has a shortly approaching departure. To ensure that the luggage item 22 is delivered to the airplane on time. the tic guided vehicle 30 dynamically assigns the luggage item 22 to an inspection station 26 that is currently available. During such a scenario. the automatic guided vehicle 30 may take ty to the chosen inspection station 26 over other automatic guided vehicles 30 that are waiting in queue.

It should be iated that the data store 47. computer readable medium 49. processor 51. e information reader 53, luggage classifier 55 and ctions communicator 57 of the servers 48 may be utilized to determine an inspection station 26 and to determine an order or priority. 11 should further be appreciated that the steps of 106 W0 2016/137603 PCT/USZ016/013874 determining an inspection station and 108 determining an order of priority may be performed separately. or at the same time as one another.

The bag ID information of a specific luggage item 22 may be synced with the cart computer 59 of the specific automatic guided vehicle 30 on which the luggage item 22 is placed after the bag ID information has been entered into control system 44. Thus. after the bag ID information for a ic luggage item 22 has been synced with a specific cart computer 59. the bag ID information may be displayed on the graphical user interface 54 of the automatic guided vehicle 30 or the inspection station 26 at which the automatic guided vehicle 30 is oned to assist agents during inspections.

After the inspection station 26 has been ined. the method continues by 110 transmitting instructions to the material handling device 30 from the control system 44 to transport the luggage item 22 to the determined inspection station 26. The method then continues with 112 transporting the luggage item 22 on the material handling devices 30 to the determined tion station 26. Moe specifically. the luggage item 22 may be transported to the determined inspection station 26 while disposed on the search table 32 of the automatic guided vehicle 30. In the event that it is ined that the luggage item 22 does not need to be transported to an inspection station 26. the pathway 34 includes a bypass search segment 45 that the material handling device 30 may follow to bypass the inspection stations 26.

In an embodiment. once the material handling device 30 is oned at the determined tion n 26. the method continues with 114 moving the search table 32 relative to the chassis 60 in a direction transverse to search table 32 to optimize the height of the search table 32 for the agent 28 positioned at the tion n 26. Said another way. the height of the search table 32 is adjusted to provide an ideal ergonomic placement of the search table 32 at which the agent 28 may inspect the luggage item 22. It should be W0 2016/137603 PCT/U52016/013874 appreciated that being able to adjust the height of the search table 32 makes the inspection process more mic for agents 28 and even expands the pool of people which may work as agents 28. including those with physical disabilities. e.g.. those who e a wheelchair. Alternatively. the height of the search table 32 may be optimized for an automatic inspection machine that is positioned at the inspection station 26.

After the height of the search table 32 has been adjusted. the method ues with 116 presenting the bag ID information to the inspection station 26. More specifically. the bag ID information may be presented to an agent 28 positioned at the inspection station 26. As mentioned in the foregoing. the bag ID information may be presented to the agent 28 on the graphical user ace 54 on the automatic guided vehicle or on an auxiliary graphical user interface 54 that is positioned at the inspection station 26. Additionally. the bag ID information may be scanned by a reading device (or otherwise programmed into the inspection station 26). This may be utilized in embodiments in which the inspection station 26 is autonomous.

The method then includes 118 conducting an inspection of the luggage item 22 to ine a second destination 64, 66 to which the luggage item 22 should be transported. It should be appreciated that the inspection may be performed by an agent 28. or it may be performed ly autonomously. i.c.. independent of an agent. It should also be appreciated that the agent 28 may utilize the bag ID information during the inspection.

Once the second ation 64, 66 has been determined. the method proceeds by 120 determining and programming the secondary destination into the control system 44. and 122 transmitting ctions to the material ng device 30 from the control system 44 to transport the luggage item 22 to the secondary destination 64, 66. The method continues by 124 transporting the luggage item 22 to the secondary destination 64, 66 with the luggage item 22 disposed on the material ng device 30. More specifically. the luggage item 22 W0 2016/137603 may be transported to the secondary destination 64, 66 while disposed on the search table 32 of the automatic guided vehicle 30.

As mentioned in the foregoing, the secondary destinations 64, 66 may include a clear bag conveyor line 64 to which the luggage item 22 is transported in response to a determination that the e item 22 has a clear status. Once at the clear bag conveyor line 64. the method continues with 126 unloading the e item 22 at the secondary destination. More specifically. the search table 32 may be moved relative to the chassis 60 in a direction transverse to the search table 32. The search table 32 may also be pivoted relative to the chassis 60 to unload the luggage onto the clear bag conveyor line 64.

Once on the clear bag conveyor line 64. the luggage item 22 is transported to a le destination to further the process of moving the e item 22 to its ultimate destination.

As also mentioned in the foregoing. the secondary destination 64, 66 may also include a re-inspection conveyor line 66 to which the luggage item 22 is transported in response to a determination that the luggage item 22 must be re-inspected. Like at the clear bag conveyor line 64. once the material handling device 30 is positioned at the re-inspection conveyor line 66. the search table 32 may be moved ve to the chassis 60 in a direction transverse to the chassis 60 and pivoted relative to the chassis 60 to unload the luggage onto the re-inspeetion conveyor line 66. Once on the re-inspection or line 66. the luggage item 22 is transported to a suitable destination for further inspection. For example. the luggage item 22 may be transported to a secondary tion n 26 for a more detailed inspection.

The ary destination may further e a failed area or secondary search station (not shown) to which the luggage item 22 may be directed in the event of a failed inspection wherein it may receive a more detailed inspection.

W0 2016/137603 PCT/U52016/013874 It should be appreciated that numerous advantages are provided by the system and method sed herein. With regard to ts related to the work force that operates the checked bag reconciliation area 20. a first advantage is that agents 28 are able to remain better focused on the task of inspecting luggage since the material handling device 30 automatically delivers the suspect luggage to the inspection station 26. Therefore, the agent 28 is able to focus his / her attention on the task of inspecting luggage items 22 rather than other tasks like manually orting the luggage items 22. Furthermore. e the automatic guided vehicle 30 automatically delivers the luggage item 22 to the inspection station 26. agents 28 are not exposed to strains associated with the s of lifting luggage items 22. This can lead to reduced lost time and improved morale.

Additionally. because the height of the search table 32 is adjustable. the ergonomics of the inspection process are improved for agents 28. and a larger group of people may perform tion tasks.

Furthermore. as illustrated in Figure 5. since fewer conveyors and other pieces of equipment are required in the d bag reconciliation area 20 of the subject system. more ingress / egress paths 67 are provided that an agent 28 may follow. This provides for a more efficient and safe work environment.

The checked bag reconciliation area 20 also advantageously requires less space than convention checked bag reconciliation areas since the tic guided vehicles take up less space than conventional conveyor systems.

Additionally. the checked bag reconciliation area 20 may be quieter since fewer loud components. like conveyors, have to be utilized. In addition. automatic guided vehicles 30 may easily be shared between ent d bag reconciliation areas 20 if needed. thus improving throughput in the overall baggage handling operation.

W0 37603 PCT/U52016/013874 Furthermore. the configuration of the checked bag reconciliation area 20 is easily modified based on t demands since few components are present that may have to be moved.

Additionally. different portions of the checked bag reconciliation area 20 are easily accessible because fewer barriers exist to navigate around the checked bag reconciliation area 20. especially as compared to prior art checked bag reconciliation areas which include numerous conveyors.

In addition. the checked bag reconciliation area 20 may be a very hygienic work atmosphere since fewer components are utilized and because the automatic guided vehicles 30 are easily cleaned.

The preceding describes an implementation of the above . but practitioners d in material handling can easily see other implementations using different equipment configurations. Obviously. many modifications and variations of the present invention are le in light of the above teachings and may be practiced otherwise than as ically described while within the scope of the appended claims.

These antecedent recitations should be interpreted to cover any combination in which the ive y exercises its utility. The use of the word "said" in the apparatus claims refers to an antecedent that is a positive recitation meant to be included in the coverage of the claims whereas the word "the" precedes a word not meant to be included in the coverage of the claims.

Claims (24)

1. Claim 1. A method of operating a checked bag reconciliation area, said method including: loading a plurality of luggage items from an entrance mechanism each onto a search table of one of a plurality of automatic guided vehicles; determining one of a plurality of security inspection ns at which to transport each of the luggage items, respectively, based on a bag ID of the e item, the bag ID comprising ation related to at least one of: flight departure time, flight destination, and a risk based security level that corresponds with the luggage item; transporting the plurality of luggage items each from the entrance mechanism to the determined one of the plurality of ty inspection stations with the luggage disposed on the search table of the automatic guided vehicle; conducting a security inspection of each of the luggage items at the determined security inspection station with the luggage item disposed on the search table of the automatic guided vehicle; and n a transportation distance between the entrance mechanism and each of the plurality of security inspection stations is independent of conveyors.
2. Claim 2. A method as set forth in claim 1 further including programming the bag ID associated with each e item into a control system, and transmitting instructions to the tic guided vehicles from the control system to transport the luggage items to the determined security tion stations.
3. Claim 3. A method as set forth in claim 1 further including determining a secondary destination for each of the luggage items based on the inspection of the luggage item at the security inspection station, programming the secondary destination into the control system, and transmitting instructions to the automatic guided vehicle from the control system to transport the luggage item to the determined secondary destination.
4. Claim 4. A method as set forth in claim 3 r including transporting the luggage item to the secondary ation with the luggage item disposed on the search table of the automatic guided vehicle.
5. Claim 5. A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein the secondary ation is at least one of: a clear bag conveyor line, a re-inspection conveyor line, and failed bag area.
6. Claim 6. A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein each of the automatic guided vehicles further includes a chassis presenting a plurality of wheels for establishing movement of the automatic guided e, the search table of each of the automatic guided vehicles is pivotable relative to the chassis, and wherein said method further includes unloading each of the luggage item onto a or line at the secondary destination by ng the search table ve to the s to cause the luggage item to slide off of the search table onto the conveyor line.
7. Claim 7. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of the automatic guided vehicles further includes a chassis ting a plurality of wheels for establishing movement of the automatic guided vehicle, wherein the search table of each of the automatic guided vehicles extends along a plane in alignment with and above the chassis, wherein the search table is moveable relative to the chassis, and said method further includes the step of moving the search table relative to the chassis in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the search table prior to conducting an inspection of the luggage item to optimize the height of the search table for the tion station.
8. Claim 8. A method of operating a checked bag reconciliation area, said method ing: moving a plurality of luggage items each from an entrance mechanism to a search table of one of a plurality of automatic guided vehicles; programming a plurality of bag IDs into a control system, wherein the bag IDs each includes information related to at least one of: flight departure time, flight destination, and a risk based security level that corresponds with the luggage item; determining one of a ity of security inspection stations to transport each of the luggage items based on the bag ID associated with each respective luggage item; transmitting instructions to the automatic guided vehicles from the l system to transport the luggage items to the determined tion stations; transporting the luggage items to the determined security inspection stations with the e items each disposed on the search table of one of the automatic guided vehicles; conducting a security inspection of the luggage items at the determined security inspection stations with the luggage items disposed on the search table of the automatic guided es; wherein a transportation ce between the entrance mechanism and each of the ity of security inspection stations is independent of conveyors.
9. Claim 9. A method as set forth in claim 8 further including determining a secondary destination for each of the luggage items based on the inspections of the luggage items, mming the secondary destination into the control system, and transmitting the instructions to the automatic guided vehicles from the control system to transport the luggage items to the secondary destinations.
10. Claim 10. A method as set forth in claim 9 r ing transporting the luggage items to the secondary destinations with the luggage items disposed on the search tables of the automatic guided vehicles.
11. Claim 11. A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein each of the secondary destinations is at least one of: a clear bag conveyor line, a re-inspection conveyor line, and failed bag area.
12. Claim 12. A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein each of the automatic guided es further includes a chassis presenting a plurality of wheels for establishing movement of the automatic guided vehicle, the search table is pivotable ve to the chassis, and wherein said method further includes unloading the luggage item onto a or line at the secondary destination by ng the search table relative to the chassis to cause the luggage item to slide off of the search table onto the conveyor line.
13. Claim 13. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein each of the automatic guided vehicles further includes a chassis presenting a plurality of wheels for establishing movement of the automatic guided vehicle, the search table extends along a plane in alignment and above the chassis and is le relative to the chassis, and said method r includes moving the search table relative to the chassis in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the search table prior to conducting an inspection of the luggage item to optimize the height of the search table for the inspection station.
14. Claim 14. A system for operating a checked bag iliation area, said system comprising: an entrance mechanism wherein luggage items are received into the checked e reconciliation area; a plurality of security inspection ns each spaced from the entrance mechanism; a plurality of ys extending between said entrance mechanism and said plurality of security inspection stations; a plurality of automatic guided es each including a chassis having a plurality of wheels for ishing movement of said automatic guided vehicle and a search table connected to said chassis for transporting the luggage items between said entrance mechanism and said security inspection stations with the luggage items disposed on said search table and for allowing the luggage items to be ted while the luggage items are positioned on said search tables; and a control system wirelessly connected to said automatic guided vehicles for controlling the movement of said automatic guided vehicles along said at least one pathway between said entrance mechanism and said plurality of security inspection stations; wherein a transportation distance between said entrance mechanism and each of said plurality of security tion stations is independent of conveyors.
15. Claim 15. A system as set forth in claim 14 wherein said search table of each of said automatic guided vehicles extends along a plane and is moveable in a direction dicular to said plane of said search table for adjusting the height of said search table such that it is at an optimal height for said inspection station.
16. Claim 16. A system as set forth in claim 15 wherein said search table is pivotally mounted on said chassis for allowing said search table to be pivoted relative to said chassis to slide the luggage items off of said search table.
17. Claim 17. A system as set forth in claim 14 wherein said automatic guided vehicles each r includes a proximity sensor for detecting objects al to said tic guided vehicle and stopping said automatic guided vehicle in response to said detection.
18. Claim 18. A method of operating an activity area, said method including: moving a ity of luggage items each from an entrance mechanism to one of a plurality of automatic guided vehicles with the luggage item located at a first on in the activity area; providing instructions from a control system to the automatic guided vehicle to move the luggage item from the first location to one of a plurality of security inspection stations in the activity area; transporting the luggage item from the first location to the one of a plurality of security inspection stations with the automatic guided vehicle and with the luggage item disposed on the tic guided vehicle; conducting a security inspection of the luggage items at the security inspection stations with the luggage items disposed on the tic guided vehicles; ining a secondary destination to transport each of the luggage items to based on the security inspections of the luggage items; providing instructions from the control system to the tic guided vehicles to move the luggage items from the security tion stations to the determined secondary destinations; and transporting the luggage items to the determined secondary destinations with the automatic guided vehicles with the luggage items disposed on the automatic guided vehicles; wherein a transportation distance between the ce ism and each of the plurality of security tion stations is independent of conveyors.
19. Claim 19. A system for operating a checked bag reconciliation area, said system comprising: an entrance mechanism wherein a plurality of luggage items are received into the checked baggage reconciliation area; a ity of security inspection stations spaced from the entrance mechanism; a plurality of automatic guided vehicles each including an inspection surface for supporting at least one of the plurality of luggage items on said inspection surface and transporting the at least one luggage item between said entrance mechanism and one of said security inspection stations with the at least one luggage item supported by said inspection surface and for allowing the at least one luggage item to be inspected while the at least one luggage items is supported by said inspection surface; and a control system wirelessly connected to said automatic guided vehicles for automatically lling the movement of said automatic guided vehicles; wherein a transportation distance between said entrance mechanism and each of said plurality of security inspection stations being independent of conveyors.
20. Claim 20. A method of operating a checked bag reconciliation area, said method ing: moving a plurality of e items each from an entrance mechanism to one of a plurality of automatic guided vehicles; transmitting a plurality of first inputs to a control system, wherein each of the first inputs is related to at least one of: bag ID information related to at least one of: flight departure time, flight destination, and a risk based security level that corresponds with the luggage items or a ion in the checked bag iliation area; determining one ty inspection n of a plurality of security inspection stations to transport each of the luggage items to based on the first inputs; providing instructions from the control system to the automatic guided vehicles to move from the first location to the determined security inspection stations; and transporting each of the luggage item from the first on to the determined security inspection stations with the luggage item ed on the automatic guided vehicles; wherein a transportation distance n the entrance mechanism and each of the plurality of security inspection stations is independent of conveyors.
21. Claim 21. A method of operating a checked bag reconciliation area, said method including: moving a plurality of luggage items each from an entrance mechanism to a search table of one of a plurality of automatic guided vehicles; transmitting a plurality of first inputs to a control system each corresponding to one of the plurality of luggage items, wherein the first inputs each relate to at least one of: bag ID information d to the luggage item and a condition in the checked bag iliation area; moving the plurality of the automatic guided vehicles with the luggage items disposed on the search tables of the tic guided vehicles to a staging area being spaced from the entrance mechanism; determining an inspection n at which to send each of the tic guided vehicles based on the first inputs while the plurality of the automatic guided vehicles are positioned at the staging area; determining an order of priority of movement of the plurality of automatic guided vehicles based on the first inputs while the plurality of tic guided vehicles are oned at the staging area; providing instructions from the control system to the plurality of automatic guided vehicles to each move to the determined security inspection stations in the determined order of priority of movement, wherein the plurality of security inspection stations are spaced from the entrance ism and the staging area; transporting the luggage items from the staging area to the determined ty inspection stations in the ined order of priority of movement with the luggage items each disposed on one of the plurality of automatic guided vehicles; and conducting a security inspection on each of the luggage items at the security inspection stations with the luggage items each disposed on the search table of one of the automatic guided vehicle; wherein a transportation distance between the entrance mechanism and each of the plurality of security inspection stations is independent of conveyors.
22. Claim 22. A system as set forth in claim 19, wherein the control system further determines a security inspection station at which to transport each of the luggage items based on a bag ID of the luggage item, the bag ID comprising information related to at least one of: flight departure time, flight destination, and a risk based security level that ponds with the luggage item.
23. Claim 23. A system for prioritizing an automated movement of a plurality of luggage items in a checked bag reconciliation area, comprising: a data store comprising a computer readable medium storing a program of instructions for the prioritizing the automated nt; a processor that executes the program of instructions; a luggage information receiver configured to receive data ated with each of the ity of luggage items; a luggage classifier configured to correspond the received data with priority data, the priority data being assigned to each of the ity of luggage items; an instructions communicator configured to icate the priority data to a system for operating the checked bag reconciliation area, wherein the plurality of e items is processed via the checked bag reconciliation area in a predetermined order based on the priority data; an entrance ism wherein the plurality of luggage items are received into the checked bag reconciliation area; a plurality of automatic guided vehicles electrically connected to the instructions communicator, each for receiving at least one of the luggage items from the entrance mechanism and for carrying the at least one of the luggage items; and a plurality of security tion stations; wherein instructions are transmitted from the instructions communicator to the automatic guided es to transport each of the luggage items to a determined security inspection station, wherein the security tion station is ined based on the priority data associated with each luggage item; and wherein a transportation distance between the entrance mechanism and each of the plurality of security inspection ns is independent of ors.
24. Claim 24. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the one of the plurality of security inspection stations is further determined based on the security inspection station currently being free of automatic guided vehicles; and the security inspection is conducted independent of an agent.