Disclosed are a loading device (100) and a control method therefor. The loading device (100) comprises a movable base plate (20), a carrier (30), a lifting and lowering device (40), an acquisition device (611) and a controller (62), wherein the carrier (30) is mounted on the movable base plate (20), and the carrier (30) is used for bearing articles; the lifting and lowering device (40) is connected between the movable base plate (20) and the carrier (30); the acquisition device (611) is used for acquiring feature information about a following target; and the controller (62) is in communication connection with the acquisition device (611), according to the feature information acquired by the acquisition device (611), controls the movable base plate (20) so same automatically follows the following target, and can control the lifting and lowering device (40) so same lifts and lowers the carrier to a pre-set height.