GB2552742A

GB2552742A - Method for merging cargos of vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB2552742A
Application number: GB1711843.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sageneni Naveen; Tempelhoff Nicolaas; Hansen Fabienne
Original assignee: Daimler AG
Current assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
Priority date: 2017-07-24
Filing date: 2017-07-24
Publication date: 2018-02-07
Also published as: GB201711843D0

Abstract

A method for merging cargos arranged in respective vehicles comprises receiving, by an electronic processing unit, weight and volume data of the first and second cargos carried by a first and second vehicle respectively, and determining at least a portion of the first cargo to be loaded to the second vehicle. Cameras and weight sensing tiles in the vehicles may automatically determine the volume and weight of the cargo 70, 72, 74 and the volume of the respective cargo areas is used to carry out the determination. The method also involves determining whether vehicles are present in overlapping areas 76, a completion time estimation, and meeting spot coordinates 82. Also disclosed is a method of identifying packages to be removed from the vehicle using spot lighting.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Method for merging cargos of vehicles

Abstract Title: Method for merging cargos arranged in respective vehicles (57) A method for merging cargos arranged in respective vehicles comprises receiving, by an electronic processing unit, weight and volume data of the first and second cargos carried by a first and second vehicle respectively, and determining at least a portion of the first cargo to be loaded to the second vehicle. Cameras and weight sensing tiles in the vehicles may automatically determine the volume and weight of the cargo 70, 72, 74 and the volume of the respective cargo areas is used to carry out the determination. The method also involves determining whether vehicles are present in overlapping areas 76, a completion time estimation, and meeting spot coordinates 82. Also disclosed is a method of identifying packages to be removed from the vehicle using spot lighting.

/Sensors in Vihicles A and B send real-time information to tbeA^Z*” 1 cloud on Vehicles A‘s and B's cargo volume and weight /

Sensors detect Vehicle A’s total cargo is less than 50% the volume and x weight capacity

Sensors detect Vehicle B's total cargo is less than 50% the volume and weight capacity information is pushed to cloud, triggered by a period of time or cargo capacity benchmarks ' -76

If Vehicles A and B are {operating within overlapping delivery zones,' cloud computes estimated time for one vehicle to complete both cargo sets

Completion time calculation is based on number of packages remaining, total distance between deliveries, and drivers average delivery times η If estimated time <

time remaining in shift if estimated time > time remaining in shift

I Drivers receive alert of combining, receive meeting spot coordinates and ’ \ \ assignment for rest of shift / ( Drivers drive to meeting spot and load cargo into assigned driver s van ' Relieved driver returns to distribution center

Remaining driver completes rest of deliveries

Fig.16

1/9

2/9

Σ s

I

15LBs ¹Large Box^ 120 1600 40 Deg

Package Data

Item Gs 0.3 Deliver By 11:45

Fig.3

18

3/9

7 LOADED #54034
Weight	5.32 LBs
Size	Med Box
X Pos.	620
YPos.	1100
Temp	42 Deg
Item Gs	N/A

Fig.6

5/9

30

6ΙΓ\ /9

19-11

8/9

. x'” r

(Sensors in Vihicles A and B send real-time information to the' I cloud on Vehicles A‘s and B‘s cargo volume and weight >ensors detect Vehicle A‘s total cargo is less than 50% the volume and weight capacity

Sensors detect Vehicle B‘s total cargo is less than 50% the volume and weight capacity information is pushed to cloud, triggered by a period of time or cargo capacity benchmarks

If Vehicles A and B are operating within overlapping delivery zones, cloud computes estimated time for one vehicle to complete both cargo sets

Completion time calculation is _based on number of packages remaining, total distance between deliveries, and drivers average delivery times if estimated time < time remaining in shift if estimated time > time remaining in shift

if system is configured for automatic cobining if system is configured for automatic cobining

Drivers receive alert of combining, receive meeting spot coordinates and assignment for rest of shift ( Drivers drive to meeting spot and load cargo into assigned driver s van Relieved driver returns to distribution center

Remaining driver completes rest of deliveries

Method for Merging Cargos of Vehicles

The invention relates to a method for merging cargos of vehicles.

WO 2014 178055 A1 shows a real-time decision-making system for freight transportation, adapted for time-, route- and cost-optimization, the real-time decision-making system comprising a user computer system including a memory, processor, a user input device and a display device. The system further comprises a freight-data collection module, configured to collect at least one freight-related-data selected from a group consisting of source-location, target-location, weight, volume, schedule limitations, transportation limitations, packaging criteria and any combination thereof.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method by means of which cargo can be delivered in a particularly time- and cost-effective way.

This object is solved by a method having the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments with expedient developments of the invention are indicated in the other patent claims.

The method, according to the present invention, for merging cargos arranged in respective vehicles comprises a first step in which first data are received by an electronic processing unit, the first data characterizing a first one of said cargos, wherein the first cargo is arranged in a first one of said vehicles. The method according to the present invention further comprises a second step in which second data are received by the electronic processing unit, the second data characterizing a second one of said cargos. The second cargo is arranged in a second one of said vehicles. Furthermore, the method according to the present invention comprises a third step in which at least a portion, of the first cargo, to be reloaded from the first vehicle into the second vehicle is determined by means of the electronic processing unit on the basis of the first and second data.

The idea behind the invention is that, currently, no system exists to analyze overall utilization of cargo spaces or cargo areas of vehicles by means of which cargos are to be transported and delivered. Thus, multiple vehicles might be under capacity in a region that could be served by one vehicle at a greater capacity. Conventionally, fleet managers do not have tools to identify under capacity vehicles and make decisions on how such under capacity vehicles might be combined to increase overall utilization and decrease the number of vehicles on the road, and thereby decreasing overhead costs.

The method according to the present invention can provide such a tool by means of which a region can be served by a first amount of vehicles, in particular by one vehicle only, rather than by a second amount of vehicles, the second amount being greater than the first amount. This means said region can be served efficiently by a small number of vehicles or by one vehicle only so that cargo can be transported and delivered in a particularly cost- and time-effective way. For example, sensors within respective cargo environments of the respective vehicles gather information on total weight loads of the respective cargos and/or total volumes of the respective cargos, as well as total volumes of respective cargo areas or cargo spaces of the vehicles. Moreover, for example, respective load capacities of the vehicles are monitored so that, for example, the method can suggest a merging of the cargos of at least two vehicles into one, in particular when the vehicles are geographically nearby. Moreover, preferably, the method suggests a nearby location to merge the cargos, i.e. to reload one of the cargos at least partially or completely from one of the vehicles into the other vehicle. Preferably, such cargocombination opportunities are predicted by the method or a system performing said method at the beginning of each shift, thus allowing them to be pre-scheduled into the drivers’ itinerary and ultimately affecting their overall routes. The method would also allow fleet managers to manually analyze vehicle capacity and order cargo combinations that the system may not recommend automatically.

The method can be realized by software or a software system, the method decreasing overhead costs by decreasing the number of vehicles on the road and increasing the efficiency of remaining vehicles and drivers. The method also allows for a higher number of total deliveries per day by combining cargos and opening up vehicle space for resupply.

For example, the respective data comprise a respective weight of the respective cargo and/or a respective volume of the respective cargo.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method comprises a fourth step in which third data are received by the electronic processing unit, the third data characterizing a first volume of a first cargo area of the first vehicle and/or a first load capacity of the first vehicle, wherein the first cargo is arranged in the first cargo area. Furthermore, the method can comprise a fifth step in which fourth data are received by the electronic processing unit, the fourth data characterizing a second volume of a second cargo area of the second vehicle and/or a second load capacity of the second vehicle, wherein the second cargo is arranged in the second cargo area. In a sixth step of the method, the portion to be reloaded is determined by means of the electronic processing unit on the basis of the third and fourth data.

Preferably, the electronic processing unit is a component being an external component with respect to the vehicles so that the component is not part of any of the vehicles. For example, the electronic processing unit is a stationary unit such as a desktop computer.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the method comprises a seventh step in which at least one first position of the first vehicle is determined by means of the electronic processing unit. In an eighth step, at least one second position of the second vehicle is determined by means of the electronic processing unit. Moreover, preferably, the method according to the present invention can comprise a ninth step in which at least one location at which the portion is to be reloaded is determined by means of the electronic processing unit on the basis of the first and second positions.

Further advantages, features, and details of the invention derive from the following description of a preferred embodiment as well as from the drawings. The features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the figures and/or shown in the figures alone can be employed not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in any other combination or taken alone without leaving the scope of the invention.

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

Fig. 4

Fig. 5

Fig. 6

Fig. 7

Fig. 8

Fig. 9

Fig. 10 part of a schematic and perspective side view of a vehicle according to the present invention, the vehicle being configured to transport cargo and comprising at least one cargo area for the cargo, a camera system, and a determination module configured to receive signals provided by the camera system and create, on the basis of pictures captured by the camera system, at least one three-dimensional spatial representation of the cargo in the cargo area;

part of a schematic and perspective back view of the vehicle;

a schematic perspective view of an item of the cargo, said item being arranged on a cargo floor of the vehicle;

part of a schematic perspective view of the vehicle while a person loads the cargo into the vehicle;

a table showing data characterizing at least one item of the cargo;

a schematic view of a route which is automatically determined by the determination module;

part of a schematic top view of the cargo area in which the cargo is arranged;

part of a schematic perspective view of the interior of the vehicle;

part of a further schematic perspective view of the interior of the vehicle;

part of a further schematic perspective view of the vehicle;

Fig. 11 part of a schematic perspective view of an item of the cargo;

Fig. 12 a schematic perspective view of screen showing a user interface by means of which a fleet manager can have an inside into delivery processes;

Fig. 13 a schematic perspective view of the vehicle;

Fig. 14 part of a schematic perspective view of said screen;

Fig. 15 part of a schematic and perspective top view of said cargo floor; and

Fig. 16 a flow diagram illustrating a method according to the present invention.

In the figures the same elements or elements having the same functions are indicated by the same reference signs.

Fig. 1 shows in a schematic perspective view a vehicle 10 configured to transport cargo 12 so that the vehicle 10 is configured as a cargo delivery vehicle such as a road vehicle, airplane or ship. For example, the vehicle 10 is configured as a van. As can be seen from Figs. 1,2 and 4, the vehicle 10 comprises at least one cargo area 14 being a cargo bay of the vehicle 10. The cargo 12 can be arranged in the cargo area 14 so that the cargo 12 can be transported and thus delivered by the vehicle 10 while being in the cargo area 14. In the vertical direction of the vehicle 10 towards the bottom the cargo area 14 is bounded at least partially by a cargo floor 16 of the vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 further comprises a roof 18 bounding the cargo area 14 in vertical direction of the vehicle 10 towards the top. Laterally, the cargo area 14 is bounded by respective side walls 20 of the vehicle 10. Moreover, the cargo area 14 can be opened and closed by means of doors 22 which are pivotably arranged on a body 24 of the vehicle 10, the body 24 comprising at least the side walls 20 and the roof 18. For example, the vehicle 10 is used in a method for distributing the cargo 12 which can comprise at least one item 26 or a plurality of items 26. The respective item 26 is also referred to as a parcel or package.

For example, the respective item 26 and thus the cargo 12 have at least one identification code 28 (Fig. 3). As can be seen from Fig. 3, the identification code 28 is an optical code such as a barcode. In said method for distributing the cargo 12, the cargo 12 is loaded into the cargo area 14, which can be seen in Fig. 4. For example, a person 30 loads the cargo 12 into the cargo area 14. The person 30 is the driver of the vehicle 10. Moreover, the person 30 is a courier transporting and delivering the cargo 12. When loading the cargo 12 into the cargo area 14, the cargo 12 is arranged, placed or supported on the cargo floor 16 at least indirectly, so that the cargo 12, in particular the respective item 26, exerts a force on the cargo floor 16, said force resulting from a respective weight of the cargo 12. In said method for distributing the cargo 12, the cargo 12 being arranged in the cargo area 14 is transported to at least one predetermined distribution point by means of the vehicle 10. Moreover, the cargo 12 or at least one of the items 26 is unloaded at said distribution point. Usually, the cargo 12 comprises a plurality of items 26 so that the items 26 are transported to respective predetermined distribution points by means of the vehicle 10. At each one of said distribution points at least one of said items 26 is unloaded and thus delivered.

In order to realize a particularly cost- and time-effective delivery process in which the cargo 12 can be transported and delivered in a particularly time- and cost-effective way, the vehicle 10 comprises a camera system 32 having a plurality of cameras 34. The cameras 34 are configured to capture respective pictures of the cargo 12 arranged in the cargo area 14. In other words, in a method for operating the vehicle 10, the cameras 34 capture respective pictures of the cargo 12 arranged in the cargo area 14. Moreover, the cameras 34 provide respective signals indicative of the captured pictures.

The vehicle 10 further comprises a determination module 36 which is, for example, realized by an electronic control unit of the vehicle 10. In said method, the determination module 36 creates, on the basis of the pictures and thus on the basis of the received signals indicative of the pictures, at least one three-dimensional spatial representation of the cargo 12 arranged in the cargo area 14. Moreover, the cargo floor 16 is provided or equipped with a weight sensor device 38 having a plurality of modular weight sensors 40 which are configured or formed as tiles blanketing the cargo floor 16. The respective weight sensor 40 is also referred to as a sensor tile configured to determine said force exerted on the cargo floor 16 by the respective item 26 when placing the respective item on the cargo floor 16 or the respective weight sensor 40. In other words, if the respective item 26 is placed on at least one of the weight sensors 40, the respective item 26 exerts, on the at least one weight sensor 40, a force resulting from a weight of the respective item 26. Said force can be detected by means of the at least one weight sensor 40 so that, on the basis of the detected force, a position at which the respective item 26 is or has been placed on the cargo floor 16 can be determined, in particular with respect to a known position of the at least one weight sensor 40 in the cargo area 14, in particular on the cargo floor 16. This means said tiles are able to detect the respective items 26.

Moreover, since the cameras 34 capture respective pictures of the cargo 12, at least one of the captured pictures comprises the respective identification code 28. Preferably, the determination module 36 is configured to determine, from the pictures, the identification code 28 so that, for example, said position of the respective item 26 can be determined on the basis of the detected force and on the basis of the determined identification code 28. Since the camera system is a component of the vehicle 10, and since the cameras 34 automatically capture pictures of the cargo 12 arranged in the cargo area 14, a manual scanning process in which the cargo 12 is manually scanned by the person 30 can be eliminated.

Fig. 3 shows a table 42 comprising a plurality of parameters or values characterizing the cargo 12, in particular the respective item 26 corresponding to the determined identification code 28. The parameters or values comprise, for example, a weight, a size, a temperature and/or a delivery time of the respective item 26, wherein, for example, the delivery time is a time by which the item 26 needs to arrive at its corresponding distribution point. Moreover, for example, the table 42, in particular the parameters or values comprise the determined position or coordinates characterizing the position. For example, the X coordinates and Y coordinates.

Fig. 4 illustrates a loading process in which the person 30 manually loads the cargo 12 into the cargo area 14. As can be seen from Fig. 4, the person 30 does not need to manually scan the cargo 12 so that the person 30 can load the cargo 12 into the cargo area in a particular cost- and time-effective way.

Fig. 5 shows in a schematic side view further items 26 of the cargo 12. Moreover, Fig. 5 shows a further table 44 showing parameters characterizing one of the items 26 shown in Fig. 4, wherein the parameters shown in the table 44 are determined from the identification code 28 corresponding to the item 26 whose parameters are shown in table 44.

As can be seen from Fig. 6, preferably, the determination module 36 is configured to automatically determine or create a route 46 comprising said distribution points. For example, the route 46 is determined on the basis of the three-dimensional representation, i.e. on the basis of the position of the respective item 26. The route 46 is determined in such a way that the items 26 arrive at the respective distribution points in the fastest way possible, i.e. in the shortest time possible starting, for example, from a starting time and starting point.

As can be seen from Fig. 7, the cargo 12 can move in relation to the cargo floor 16 while the cargo 12 is transported by means of the vehicle, i.e. while the vehicle 10 is driven. Such movements of the cargo 12 can be captured and tracked by the cameras 34 so that the cameras 34 can track shifting of the cargo 12 during the delivery process, in particular while the vehicle 10 is driven.

Fig. 8 shows the interior 48 of the vehicle 10. In the interior 48 a presentation device 50 being, for example, a screen is arranged. The presentation device 50 is a component of the vehicle 10. As can be seen from Fig. 8, the determination module 36 can recommend best parking options and show said parking options on the presentation device 50. Alternatively or additionally, the three-dimensional spatial representation of the cargo 12 can be presented by means or on the presentation device 50. Moreover, the route 46 can be presented on or by means of the presentation device 50.

The interior 48 is also shown in Fig. 9. As can be seen from Fig. 9, the three-dimensional spatial representation is shown on the presentation device 50 arranged on a dashboard 52 of the vehicle 10, the three-dimensional spatial representation being indicated by 54 in Fig. 9. Preferably, the representation 54 indicates or shows where the respective item 26 to be unloaded at the respective distribution point is located in the cargo area 14 before the driver of the vehicle 10 leaves the vehicle 10. Thus, the driver already knows the location of the respective item 26 to be unloaded at the respective distribution point before entering the cargo area 14 so that the driver does not need to search for the item 26 to be unloaded. Thus, a particularly cost- and time-effective unloading process can be realized.

As can be seen from Fig. 10, the vehicle 10 can comprise light sources 56 configured to emit light 58 in the form of, for example, a spotlight. By means of the spotlights the respective item 26 to be unloaded at the respective distribution point and thus the position of the respective item 26 at the respective distribution point can be highlighted and thus shown to the person 30 to that the person 30 can unload the item 26 particularly easily. Moreover, for example, the respective modular weight sensor 40 or tile is provided with at least one light source configured to emit light by means of which the respective position of the respective item 26 to be unloaded at the respective distribution point can be shown. In other words, at the respective distribution point the light source of the tile or tiles is activated on which the item 26 to be unloaded at the respective distribution point are arranged while, for example, the light sources of the remaining tiles on which the respective item 26 to be unloaded at the respective distribution point is not arranged are or remain deactivated. Thus, the person 30 can see the item 26 to be unloaded particularly fast and easily.

Fig. 11 shows a part of one of the items 26. As can be seen from Fig. 11, the quality of the cargo 12 transported can be tracked and checked by means of the pictures. For example, this is realized in such a way that at least one of the cameras 34 takes at least one picture of the respective item 26 to be unloaded before the respective item 26 leaves the cargo area 14. Thus, a state in which the respective item 26 has been delivered can be captured and checked.

Fig. 12 shows a screen 60 showing a user interface 62 by means of which a fleet manager 64 can have an insight into said delivery process. For example, a delivery system tracks each vehicle used to transport and deliver items which are also referred to as goods. For example, said system tracks each vehicle utilization and merges respective cargos of a plurality of vehicles, i.e. of at least two vehicles, if they are under capacity, providing the fleet manager 64 with information about the savings they could realize by doing so. Thus, a cargo merging concept can be realized.

Fig. 13 shows a schematic perspective view of the vehicle 10, wherein Fig. 13 illustrates the cargo merging concept. As can be seen from Fig. 13, the vehicle 10 and a further delivery vehicle 66 meet at a pre-defined spot to exchange packages or their cargos thereby merging the cargos.

Fig. 14 shows said screen 60 on which a picture of one of the delivered items 26 is shown. For example, the fleet manager 64 can receive damaged good claims at any time via the screen 60. By means of said system, the fleet manager 64 can actually make sure whether or not a damage of a transported item 26 is or was the fault of the person 30.

Furthermore, Fig. 14 shows part of the cargo floor 16 comprising tiles in the form of the weight sensors 40. In Fig. 15, a light source 68 of one of said tiles is actuated thereby showing that the item 26 being arranged on the tile whose light source 68 is activated needs to be unloaded at the distribution point at which the vehicle 10 currently stands. Thus, the person 30 can unload the item 26 particularly easily.

Fig. 16 shows a flow diagram illustrating a method for merging cargos arranged in respective vehicles, such as, for example, the vehicles 10 and 66. In other words, the flow diagram shown in Fig. 16 illustrates said cargo merging concept by means of which a first cargo which is arranged in, for example, the vehicle 66 is reloaded at least partially, in particular completely, into the vehicle 10, in particular into the cargo area 14, thereby merging the cargo of the vehicle 66 with the cargo 12 of the vehicle 10 within the cargo area 14. In other words, by merging the cargos of the vehicles 10 and 66, the cargos of the vehicles 10 and 66 are combined, wherein, in the present case, the cargos are combined in, for example, the cargo area 14 and thus in the vehicle 10.

For example, the determination module 36 is realized by an electronic processing unit, and is such an electronic processing unit or is part of such an electronic processing unit that said method for merging the cargos is performed by said electronic processing unit, in particular by the determination module 36. Alternatively, the electronic processing unit for performing said merging of the cargos is, with respect to the vehicles 10 and 66, an external component which is not part of any of the vehicles 10 and 66, but the electronic processing unit is a stationary computer which is, for example, arranged in an office of the fleet manager 64.

As can be seen from Fig. 16, the method for merging said cargos comprises a first step in which first data characterizing the cargo arranged in the vehicle 66 is received by said electronic processing unit. For example, in said method, the cargo arranged in the vehicle 66 is also referred to as a first cargo. The method for merging the cargos further comprises a second step in which the electronic processing unit receives second data characterizing the cargo 12 arranged in the cargo area and thus in the vehicle 10. Thus, for example, in said method for merging the cargos the cargo 12 is also referred to as a second cargo. The method for merging the cargos further comprises a third step in which the electronic processing unit determines, on the basis of the first and second data, at least a portion, of said first cargo, to be reloaded from the vehicle 66 into the vehicle 10,

i.e. the cargo area 14.

For example, in said method illustrated by Fig. 16, respective sensors such as camera systems 32 in vehicles A and B send, to a data cloud, real-time information on cargo volumes and weights of the vehicles A and B where vehicles A and B can also be considered vehicles 66 and 10 respectively. At a block 72, the sensors of vehicle A detect that vehicle A’s total cargo is less than 50% the volume and weight capacity. At a block 74, the sensors of vehicle B detect that vehicle B’s total cargo is less than 50% the volume and weight capacity. This Information is pushed to the cloud, triggered by, for example, a period of time and/or cargo capacity benchmarks. At a block 76 the cloud computes an estimated time for each one of the vehicles to complete both cargo set deliveries if the vehicles A and B are operating within overlapping delivery zones. The completion time calculation is based on the number of packages remaining, total distance between the deliveries, and the drivers’ average delivery times.

If the estimated time is greater than or equal to a time remaining in the respective shift, at a block 78, it is determined that a combination will not be carried out. If, however, the estimated time is less than the time remaining in the shift, at a block 80, the cloud chooses the driver with the most time left in their shift to complete the merged delivery. If the system is configured for automatic combining, the method is continued at block 82 at which the cloud triangulates a meeting spot based on the current locations of the vehicles and the location of the next delivery. If, however, the system is not configured for automatic combining, after the block 80 the method is continued at a block 84 at which the fleet manager receives an alert of possible combining. If the fleet manager chooses to have the combining carried out, the method reaches the block 82. If, however, the fleet manager chooses to omit the combining and if the fleet manager does not wish to be asked for combining again, the combining is not carried out at a block 86. If, however, the fleet manager chooses to omit the combining and if the fleet manager wishes to be asked for combining again later, the method is continued at the block 76.

At a block 88 resulting from the block 82, the drivers receive respective alerts of combining, meeting spot coordinates and assignment for the rest of the shift. At a block 90, the drivers drive to the meeting spot and load the cargo of one of the vehicles into the other vehicle respectively. In other words, the drivers load the cargo into the assigned driver’s van. At a block 92, the relieved driver returns to the distribution center. Moreover, at a block 94, the remaining driver completes the rest of the deliveries.

reference signs vehicle cargo cargo area floor roof side wall door body item identification code person camera system camera determination module weight sensor device weight sensor table table route interior presentation device dashboard representation light source light screen user interface fleet manager vehicle light source block block block block block block block block block block block block block

Claims

1. A method for merging cargos (12) arranged in respective vehicles (10, 66), the method comprising:

- receiving, by an electronic processing unit, first data characterizing a first one of the cargos (12), the first cargo being arranged in a first one of the vehicles (10, 66);

- receiving, by the electronic processing unit, second data characterizing a second one of the cargos (12), the second cargo (12) being arranged in a second one of the vehicles (10, 66); and

- determining, by means of the electronic processing unit and on the basis of the first and second data, at least a portion, of the first cargo, to be reloaded from the first vehicle (66) into the second vehicle (10).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the respective data comprise a respective weight of the respective cargo (12) and/or a respective volume of the respective cargo (12).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the method further comprises:

- receiving, by the electronic processing unit, third data characterizing a first volume of a first cargo area of the first vehicle (66), the first cargo being arranged in the first cargo area;

- receiving, by the electronic processing unit, fourth data characterizing a second volume of a second cargo area (14) of the second vehicle (10), the second cargo (12) being arranged in the second cargo area (14); and

- determining, by means of the electronic processing unit and on the basis of the third and fourth data, the portion to be reloaded.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claim, wherein the method further comprises:

- determining, by means of the electronic processing unit, at least one first position of the first vehicle (66);

- determining, by means of the electronic processing unit, at least one second position of the second vehicle (10);

- determining, by means of the electronic processing unit and on the basis of the first and second positions, at least one location at which the portion is to be reloaded.