Electric excavator, excavator management system, and program

Abstract

To prevent stop of an electric shovel due to decrease in charging rate of a battery.SOLUTION: An electric shovel according to an embodiment includes an electric motor and a battery that supplies power to the electric motor, and is configured to output information to prompt charging of the battery in a case where the battery has a charging rate lower than a predetermined threshold value.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an electric shovel, a shovel management system, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, electric shovels having an electric motor have been proposed. In such an electric shovel, the electric motor is driven by electric power supplied from a battery provided in the main body.

[0003] When the remaining amount of the battery runs out in such an electric shovel, it becomes impossible to move from that location. Therefore, an operator riding on the electric shovel needs to pay attention to the remaining amount of the battery.

[0004] Therefore, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, a technique for displaying an estimated value of the operable time of an electric shovel from the remaining amount of the battery and the average power consumption during operation has been proposed. Thereby, an operator riding on the electric shovel can refer to the estimated value of the operable time and return to the power supply station at an appropriate timing for charging.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] In the technique described in Patent Document 1, the timing to actually return to the power supply station is left to the operator riding on the electric shovel. Therefore, when the timing for the operator to return to the power supply station is slightly delayed, the remaining amount of the battery may run out before returning to the power supply station.

[0007] When an electric excavator's battery runs out, it becomes difficult to move the excavator. For example, electric excavator batteries are large and difficult to replace. Also, installing a portable charging station to recharge the excavator increases costs. Therefore, it is important to return the electric excavator to the charging station before the battery runs out.

[0008] However, for the operator on board the excavator, getting the job done is often more important. For example, even if the operator is aware of the estimated remaining operating time, working until the very last moment may cause the battery to drain faster than anticipated, potentially resulting in the battery running out before the excavator returns to the power station. Furthermore, the operator may become so focused on the work that they forget to check the remaining operating time, potentially leading to the battery running out before returning to the power station.

[0009] Therefore, in light of the above issues, we propose a technology that alerts the operator to return to the power supply station before the electric excavator's battery runs out. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] To achieve the above objective, an electric excavator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises an electric motor and a battery that supplies power to the electric motor, and is configured to output information prompting the battery to be charged when the battery's charge level falls below a predetermined threshold. The system is configured to set the predetermined threshold according to the setting information input from the input device or the setting information received from the communication interface. It is being done. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the above embodiment, when the battery charge level falls below a predetermined threshold, information prompting the operator of the shovel to charge the shovel's battery from an external power source is output, thereby preventing the shovel from stopping due to a decrease in the battery charge level before charging begins. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a shovel management system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an excavator according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the excavator management system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is an example of a warning setting screen displayed by the output control unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is an example of a pop-up screen displaying a warning, which is shown by the output control unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the control of a warning based on the battery's State of Charge (SOC) by the shovel controller according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a sequence diagram showing the transmission and reception of data between excavator management systems according to the first embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Furthermore, the embodiments described below are illustrative and not limiting to the invention, and not all features or combinations thereof described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the invention. In addition, identical or corresponding components in each drawing are denoted by the same or corresponding reference numerals, and their descriptions may be omitted.

[0014] (First Embodiment) First, we will explain the overview of the shovel management system SYS with reference to Figure 1. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the shovel management system SYS according to the first embodiment.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, the excavator management system SYS according to the first embodiment includes an excavator 200, a management device 300 (an example of an external communication device), a support device 400 (an example of an external communication device), and a mobile communication device 500 (an example of another communication device). The outlines of the management device 300, the support device 400, and the mobile communication device 500 will be described later.

[0016] The users of the excavator management system SYS include, for example, the users of the excavator 200 (hereinafter referred to as "excavator users"). The excavator users include the operator of the excavator 200 and the like. In addition, the users of the excavator management system SYS include, for example, the users of the management device 300 (hereinafter referred to as "management device users"). The management device users include, for example, the administrator of the data center of the management device 300 and the workers in the data center. In addition, the users of the excavator management system SYS include the users of the support device 400 (hereinafter referred to as "support device users"). The support device users include the supervisor at the work site, the administrator of the management device 300, the service technician in charge of the maintenance of the excavator 200, the owner of the excavator 200, and the like. In addition, the users of the excavator management system SYS include the users of the mobile communication device 500 (hereinafter referred to as "communication device users"). The communication device users include the operator of the excavator 200 and the like.

[0017] In addition, the excavator management system SYS may perform various settings related to the control of the excavator 200, for example, in the support device 400 or the mobile communication device 500, in response to an input from the user or automatically, and transmit them to the excavator 200. Thereby, various operations of the excavator 200 can be controlled or monitored from the support device 400 or the mobile communication device 500.

[0018] The excavator 200 included in the excavator management system SYS may be one or a plurality. Thereby, the excavator management system SYS can perform data collection, information provision to the user based on the collected data, settings related to the control of the excavator 200, etc. for a plurality of excavators 200.

[0019] Further, the management device 300 included in the excavator management system SYS may be one or a plurality of units. Thereby, the excavator management system SYS can distribute and realize various functions by a plurality of management devices 300.

[0020] Further, the support device 400 included in the excavator management system SYS may be one or a plurality of units. Thereby, the excavator management system SYS can provide information regarding the excavator 200 to a plurality of users who each use a plurality of support devices 400.

[0021] Further, the mobile communication device 500 included in the excavator management system SYS may be one or a plurality of units. For example, the mobile communication device 500 may be owned by each operator of the excavator 200 present at the work site. Thereby, the excavator management system SYS can communicate with each operator of the excavator 200 through the mobile communication device 5。

[0022] <Overview of the Excavator> As an example of an electric excavator, the overview of the excavator 200 according to the present embodiment will be described.

[0023] The excavator 200 according to the present embodiment includes a lower traveling body 1, an upper revolving body 3 mounted on the lower traveling body 1 so as to be revolvable via a revolving mechanism ②, a boom 4, an arm 5, and a bucket 6 as attachments, and a cab 10 on which an operator rides.

[0024] The lower traveling body 1 includes, for example, a pair of left and right crawlers, and each crawler is self-propelled by being hydraulically driven by traveling hydraulic motors 1R and 1L (see FIG. 2).

[0025] The upper rotating body 3 rotates relative to the lower traveling body 1 by being hydraulically driven by a rotating hydraulic motor 2M (see Figure 2) via a rotating mechanism 2. All driven elements (e.g., the rotating hydraulic motor 2M) are hydraulically driven by the hydraulic fluid supplied from the main pump 14 (see Figure 2). This is equivalent to a configuration in which the power source (engine) of a so-called hydraulic excavator is replaced with an electric pump 12.

[0026] Furthermore, the upper slewing body 3 may be electrically driven by a slewing motor powered by electricity supplied from a battery module 19, instead of the slewing hydraulic motor 2M, via the slewing mechanism 2. In this case, for example, the excavator 200 is connected to the slewing motor via an inverter from the battery module 19. The slewing motor may then perform powered operation to drive the upper slewing body 3 to rotate, and regenerative operation to generate regenerative power to brake the upper slewing body 3 during rotation, under the control of the excavator controller 30 and the inverter. The slewing motor may also supply regenerative power to the battery module 19 and the pump motor 12 via the inverter.

[0027] The boom 4 is mounted to the front center of the upper slewing body 3 so as to be able to be tilted up and down. An arm 5 is mounted to the tip of the boom 4 so as to be able to rotate up and down. A bucket 6 is mounted to the tip of the arm 5 so as to be able to rotate up and down. The boom 4, arm 5, and bucket 6 are hydraulically driven by a boom cylinder 7, arm cylinder 8, and bucket cylinder 9, which are hydraulic actuators, respectively.

[0028] Bucket 6 is an example of an end attachment, and other end attachments may be attached to the tip of the arm 5 in place of bucket 6, depending on the work to be done. Other end attachments may be different types of buckets from bucket 6, such as slope buckets or dredging buckets. Other end attachments may also be different types of end attachments from buckets, such as breakers, agitators, or grapples.

[0029] The cabin 10 is mounted on the front left side of the upper rotating body 3, and its interior (room) is equipped with a cockpit where the operator sits, as well as control devices 26 (see Figure 2), which will be described later.

[0030] The shovel 200 operates its driven elements, such as the lower travel body 1 (left and right crawlers), upper slewing body 3, boom 4, arm 5, and bucket 6, in response to the operation of the operator seated in the cabin 10.

[0031] Furthermore, instead of being configured to be operable by an operator in the cabin 10, or in addition to being configured to be operable by an operator in the cabin 10, the shovel 200 may also be configured to be remotely operated from outside the shovel 200. When the shovel 200 is remotely operated, the interior of the cabin 10 may be unoccupied. The following explanation will proceed on the premise that operator operation includes at least one of operation of the operator's control device 26 in the cabin 10 and remote operation by an external operator.

[0032] The imaging device 40 captures images of the area around the shovel 200 and acquires the images. The imaging device 40 outputs the captured image data, which is the result of the imaging, to the shovel controller 30.

[0033] The imaging device 40 may be, for example, a monocular camera, a stereo camera, or a depth camera. The imaging device 40 may also acquire three-dimensional data (for example, point cloud data or surface data) representing the position and outline of objects around the shovel 200 within a predetermined imaging range (angle of view) based on the captured image data.

[0034] Four imaging devices 40 are provided on the upper rotating body 3, and each imaging device 40 captures images of the front, rear, left, and right sides of the upper rotating body 3. This allows the operator to check the left, right, and rear views of the upper rotating body 3 via the display device 50B or the remote control display device.

[0035] Remote operation includes, for example, a mode in which the shovel 200 is operated by operation inputs to the actuators of the shovel 200 performed by a predetermined external device (e.g., a management device 300, a support device 400, or a portable communication device 500). The predetermined external device may be, for example, a management device 300, a support device 400, or a portable communication device 500. In this case, the shovel 200 may transmit image information (captured image) output by an imaging device 40 included in an ambient information acquisition device (not shown) to the external device via a communication interface (I / F) 60 described later. The external device may then display the received image information (captured image) on a display device provided on the external device (hereinafter referred to as the "remote operation display device"). Similarly, various information images (information screens) displayed on the output device 50 inside the cabin 10 of the shovel 200 may also be displayed on the remote operation display device of the external device. This allows the operator of the external device to remotely control the shovel 200 while checking the displayed content, such as captured images or information screens showing the surroundings of the shovel 200, displayed on the remote control display device. The shovel 200 may then operate actuators in response to remote control signals received from the external device via the communication I / F 60, which represent the content of the remote control, thereby driving driven elements such as the lower traveling body 1 (left and right crawlers), the upper slewing body 3, the boom 4, the arm 5, and the bucket 6.

[0036] Furthermore, remote operation may include, for example, a mode in which the shovel 200 is operated by external voice input or gesture input from people (e.g., workers) in the vicinity of the shovel 200. Specifically, the shovel 200 recognizes voices spoken by surrounding workers or gestures made by workers through a voice input device (e.g., microphone) or gesture input device (e.g., imaging device 40) mounted on the shovel 200 (itself). The shovel 200 may then operate actuators according to the content of the recognized voices or gestures to drive driven elements such as the lower traveling body 1 (left and right crawlers), the upper slewing body 3, the boom 4, the arm 5, and the bucket 6.

[0037] Furthermore, the shovel 200 may automatically operate its actuators regardless of the operator's actions. This enables the shovel 200 to automatically operate at least some of its driven elements, such as the lower traveling body 1 (e.g., crawler 1CL, 1CR), the upper slewing body 3, the boom 4, the arm 5, and the bucket 6 (a so-called "automatic driving function" or "MC (Machine Control) function").

[0038] The automatic driving function may include a function that automatically operates driven elements (actuators) other than the target driven element (hydraulic actuator) in response to the operator's operation device 26 or remote operation (a so-called "semi-automatic driving function"). The automatic driving function may also include a function that automatically operates at least some of the multiple driven elements (actuators) on the premise that there is no operator operation device 26 or remote operation (a so-called "fully automatic driving function"). In the case of the shovel 200, if the fully automatic driving function is enabled, the interior of the cabin 10 may be unoccupied. Furthermore, the semi-automatic driving function and fully automatic driving function may include a mode in which the operation content of the driven elements (actuators) subject to automatic driving is automatically determined according to predetermined rules. Furthermore, the semi-automatic driving function and fully automatic driving function may also include a mode in which the shovel 200 autonomously makes various judgments, and the operation content of the driven elements (actuators) subject to automatic driving is autonomously determined according to the results of those judgments (a so-called "autonomous driving function").

[0039] As described later, Shovel 200 is equipped with a communication I / F60 and communicates with the control device 300 via a communication line NW. This allows Shovel 200 to transmit data about Shovel 200 (itself) to the control device 300 and to receive data about the control of Shovel 200 (itself).

[0040] The communication line NW may include, for example, a wide area network (WAN). The wide area network may include, for example, a mobile communication network with base stations as its endpoints. The wide area network may also include, for example, a satellite communication network utilizing communication satellites. Furthermore, the wide area network may include, for example, the Internet network. The communication line NW may also include, for example, a local area network (LAN) within a facility where the management device 300 is installed. The local network may be wired, wireless, or a combination of both. The communication line NW may also include, for example, a short-range wireless communication line such as Wi-Fi® or Bluetooth®.

[0041] Furthermore, the shovel 200 may communicate with the support device 400 via a communication line NW. In this case, the shovel 200 may communicate with the support device 400 indirectly via the management device 300, or it may communicate with the support device 400 directly.

[0042] <Overview of the control device> The management device 300 (an example of an external communication device) is a device installed in a data center that stores data related to the excavator 200. For example, the management device 300 may be installed outside the excavator 200 and collect various data related to the excavator 200 that are transmitted (uploaded) from the excavator 200. These various data include, for example, information indicating the current status of the excavator 200, and performance information including the excavator 200's SOC and driving status. By receiving the performance information, the management device 300 can manage data indicating the operating status and operational status of the excavator 200.

[0043] The management device 300 is, for example, a cloud server installed in an external data center or the like at the work site of the shovel 200. Alternatively, the management device 300 may be, for example, a stationary terminal device (stationary terminal) located in an external data center or the like. The stationary terminal may include, for example, a desktop computer terminal.

[0044] The management device 300 communicates with the shovel 200, the support device 400, and the portable communication device 500 via a communication line NW. This allows the management device 300 to collect various data related to the shovel 200, for example, by receiving various data transmitted (uploaded) from the shovel 200. Furthermore, the management device 300 can control the shovel 200 from an external source, for example, by transmitting control-related data to the shovel 200.

[0045] Furthermore, the management device 300 can, for example, provide various data to the support device 400 or the mobile communication device 500 in response to requests from the support device 400 or the mobile communication device 500.

[0046] <Overview of support device> The support device 400 is, for example, a terminal device (user terminal) used by an administrator managing work at a work site using the shovel 200 in the shovel management system SYS, or by the owner of the shovel 200, to receive information. For example, the support device 400 can receive various notifications from the shovel 200 or the management device 300, and can also make calls with other communication devices (e.g., a mobile communication device 500).

[0047] The support device 400 is, for example, a general-purpose portable terminal such as a tablet or smartphone owned by the user. Alternatively, the support device 400 may be a general-purpose stationary terminal such as a laptop computer or a desktop computer. Furthermore, the support device 400 may be a dedicated terminal device (portable terminal or stationary terminal) for receiving data (information) related to the shovel 200.

[0048] The support device 400 communicates with the management device 300 and the portable communication device 500 via a communication line NW. For example, the support device 400 can request the management device 300 to provide data regarding the shovel 200. The support device 400 can also receive data regarding the shovel 200 transmitted from the management device 300 and provide information about the shovel 200 to the user via an output device 430, which is installed on the support device 400 and described later. The support device 400 may also transmit and receive voice, or in other words, communicate with the management device 300.

[0049] Furthermore, the support device 400 may communicate with the shovel 200 via a communication line NW. The support device 400 may communicate with the shovel 200 indirectly via the management device 300, or it may communicate with the shovel 200 directly.

[0050] <Overview of communication equipment> The mobile communication device 500 is, for example, a terminal device (user terminal) used by an operator operating the shovel 200 in the shovel management system SYS to receive information. For example, the mobile communication device 500 can receive various notifications from the support device 400 and can also make calls to and from the support device 400.

[0051] The mobile communication device 500 is, for example, a general-purpose mobile terminal such as a tablet or smartphone owned by the user. Alternatively, the mobile communication device 500 may be a general-purpose stationary terminal such as a laptop computer or a desktop computer. Furthermore, the mobile communication device 500 may be a dedicated terminal device (mobile terminal or stationary terminal) for receiving data (information) related to the shovel 200.

[0052] [Shovel Management System Configuration] Next, with reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3, the configuration of the excavator management system SYS according to this embodiment will be described.

[0053] Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the excavator 200 according to this embodiment. Figure 3 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the excavator management system SYS according to this embodiment.

[0054] In the diagram, mechanical power lines are shown as double lines, high-pressure hydraulic lines as thick solid lines, pilot lines as dashed lines, and electric drive / control lines as thin solid lines.

[0055] <Shovel configuration> Shovel 200 includes various components such as a hydraulic drive system for hydraulically driving the driven elements, an operating system for operating the driven elements, a user interface system for exchanging information with the user, a communication system for communication with the outside, and a control system for various types of control.

[0056] <<Excavator Hydraulic Drive System>> As shown in Figure 2, the hydraulic drive system of the excavator 200 according to this embodiment includes hydraulic motors 1R and 1L for travel, hydraulic motor 2M for slewing, and hydraulic actuators such as a boom cylinder 7, an arm cylinder 8, and a bucket cylinder 9 for hydraulically driving each of the driven elements such as the lower travel body 1, boom 4, arm 5, and bucket 6. The hydraulic drive system of the excavator 200 according to this embodiment also includes a pump motor 12, a main pump 14, and a control valve 17.

[0057] The pump motor 12 (an example of a motor) is the power source for the hydraulic drive system. The pump motor 12 is, for example, an IPM (Interior Permanent Magnet) motor. The pump motor 12 is connected to a high-voltage power supply including a battery module 19 via an inverter 18. The pump motor 12 is powered by three-phase AC power supplied from the battery module 19 via the inverter 18 and drives the main pump 14 and the pilot pump 15. The drive control of the pump motor 12 may be performed by the inverter 18 under the control of the shovel controller 30, which will be described later.

[0058] The main pump 14 draws hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid tank T and discharges it into the high-pressure hydraulic line 16, thereby supplying hydraulic fluid to the control valve 17 through the high-pressure hydraulic line 16. The main pump 14 is driven by a pump motor 12. The main pump 14 is, for example, a variable displacement hydraulic pump, and under the control of the shovel controller 30 (described later), a regulator (not shown) controls the angle (tilt angle) of the swash plate. This allows the main pump 14 to adjust the piston stroke length and thus adjust the discharge flow rate (discharge pressure).

[0059] The main pump 14 may be driven by power from another power source in addition to the electric motor 12 for the pump. For example, the energy of the hydraulic fluid discharged from the boom cylinder 7 and arm cylinder 8 to the hydraulic fluid tank due to the weight of the boom 4 and arm 5 when the boom 4 is lowered or the arm 5 is closed may be regenerated to drive the main pump 14. Specifically, the energy of the hydraulic fluid discharged from the boom cylinder 7 and arm cylinder 8 to the hydraulic fluid tank due to the weight of the boom 4 and arm 5 when the boom 4 is lowered or the arm 5 is closed may be used to drive a hydraulic motor arranged coaxially with the rotation axis of the main pump 14. Alternatively, the energy of the hydraulic fluid discharged from the boom cylinder 7 and arm cylinder 8 to the hydraulic fluid tank due to the weight of the boom 4 and arm 5 when the boom 4 is lowered or the arm 5 is closed may be regenerated to power a generator. Specifically, when the boom 4 is lowered or the arm 5 is closed, the energy of the hydraulic fluid discharged from the boom cylinder 7 and arm cylinder 8 into the hydraulic fluid tank due to the weight of the boom 4 and arm 5 can be used to drive a hydraulic motor arranged coaxially with the generator, thereby causing the generator to produce electricity. In this case, the power generated by the generator may be supplied to the pump motor 12 or used to charge the battery module 19.

[0060] The control valve 17 is a hydraulic control device that controls the hydraulic drive system in response to operator commands or automatic driving functions. As described above, the control valve 17 is connected to the main pump 14 via the high-pressure hydraulic line 16 and is configured to selectively supply hydraulic fluid from the main pump 14 to the hydraulic actuators (travel hydraulic motors 1R, 1L, swing hydraulic motor 2M, boom cylinder 7, arm cylinder 8, and bucket cylinder 9). For example, the control valve 17 is a valve unit that includes multiple control valves (directional control valves) that control the flow rate and direction of the hydraulic fluid supplied from the main pump 14 to each of the hydraulic actuators. The hydraulic fluid supplied from the main pump 14 and that has passed through the control valve 17 and hydraulic actuators is discharged from the control valve 17 to the hydraulic fluid tank T.

[0061] <<Excavator Electric Drive System>> The electric drive system of the shovel 200 according to this embodiment includes a pump motor 12, a sensor 12s, and an inverter 18. The electric drive system of the shovel 200 according to this embodiment also includes a high-voltage power supply configured by a battery module 19 or the like.

[0062] Sensor 12s includes a current sensor 12s1, a voltage sensor 12s2, and a rotational state sensor 12s3.

[0063] The current sensor 12s1 detects the current of each of the three phases (U phase, V phase, and W phase) of the pump motor 12. The current sensor 12s1 is installed, for example, in the power path between the pump motor 12 and the inverter 18. The detection signals corresponding to each of the three phases of the pump motor 12 detected by the current sensor 12s1 are directly received by the inverter 18 via a communication line. Alternatively, these detection signals may be received by the shovel controller 30 via a communication line and input to the inverter 18 via the shovel controller 30.

[0064] The voltage sensor 12s2 detects the applied voltage to each of the three phases of the pump motor 12. The voltage sensor 12s2 is installed, for example, in the power path between the pump motor 12 and the inverter 18. The detection signals corresponding to the applied voltages of each of the three phases of the pump motor 12 detected by the voltage sensor 12s2 are directly received by the inverter 18 via a communication line. Alternatively, these detection signals may be received by the shovel controller 30 via a communication line and input to the inverter 18 via the shovel controller 30.

[0065] The rotational state sensor 12s3 detects the rotational state of the pump motor 12 (e.g., rotational position (rotation angle), rotational speed, etc.). The rotational state sensor 12s3 is, for example, a rotary encoder or a resolver.

[0066] The inverter 18 drives the pump motor 12 under the control of the shovel controller 30. The inverter 18 includes, for example, a conversion circuit that converts DC power to three-phase AC power and three-phase AC power to DC power, a drive circuit that switches and drives the conversion circuit, and a control circuit that outputs a control signal (for example, a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal) that defines the operation of the drive circuit.

[0067] The control circuit of the inverter 18 controls the drive of the pump motor 12 while understanding its operating state. For example, the control circuit of the inverter 18 understands the operating state of the pump motor 12 based on the detection signal of the rotation state sensor 12s3. Alternatively, the control circuit of the inverter 18 may understand the operating state of the pump motor 12 by sequentially estimating the rotation angle of the rotation shaft of the pump motor 12 based on the detection signal of the current sensor 12s1 and the detection signal of the voltage sensor 12s2 (or the voltage command value generated during the control process).

[0068] Furthermore, at least one of the drive circuit and control circuit of the inverter 18 may be provided outside the inverter 18.

[0069] The battery module 19 is configured to supply charged power to the electronic components within the shovel 200. The specific configuration will be described later.

[0070] <<Shovel Control System>> The operating system of the shovel 200 according to this embodiment includes a pilot pump 15, an operating device 26, and a pressure control valve 31.

[0071] The pilot pump 15 supplies pilot pressure to various hydraulic devices (e.g., pressure control valve 31) mounted on the shovel 200 via the pilot line 25. This allows the pressure control valve 31 to supply pilot pressure to the control valve 17 according to the operation of the operating device 26 (e.g., operating amount and direction) under the control of the shovel controller 30. Therefore, the shovel controller 30 and the pressure control valve 31 can realize the operation of the driven element (hydraulic actuator) according to the operation of the operating device 26 by the operator. Furthermore, the pressure control valve 31 can supply pilot pressure to the control valve 17 according to the remote operation content specified by the remote operation signal under the control of the shovel controller 30. The pilot pump 15 is, for example, a fixed-displacement hydraulic pump and is driven by the pump motor 12 as described above.

[0072] The control device 26 is located within reach of the operator in the cockpit of the cabin 10 and is used by the operator to operate each of the driven elements (i.e., the left and right crawlers of the lower traveling body 1, the upper slewing body 3, the boom 4, the arm 5, and the bucket 6, etc.). In other words, the control device 26 is used by the operator to operate the hydraulic actuators (e.g., travel hydraulic motors 1R, 1L, slewing hydraulic motor 2M, boom cylinder 7, arm cylinder 8, and bucket cylinder 9, etc.) or electric actuators that drive each of the driven elements. The control device 26 is, for example, electrically operated and outputs an electrical signal (hereinafter referred to as "operation signal") corresponding to the operator's operation. The operation signal output from the control device 26 is taken up by the shovel controller 30 via the signal line 28. As a result, the shovel controller 30 controls the pressure control valve 31 and controls the operation of the driven elements (actuators) of the shovel 200 in accordance with the operator's operation and operation commands corresponding to the automatic driving function.

[0073] The operating device 26 includes, for example, levers 26A to 26C. Lever 26A may be configured to accept operations on the arm 5 (arm cylinder 8) and the upper slewing body 3 (slewing motion) in response to forward / backward and left / right movements, respectively. Lever 26B may be configured to accept operations on the boom 4 (boom cylinder 7) and the bucket 6 (bucket cylinder 9) in response to forward / backward and left / right movements, respectively. Lever 26C may be configured to accept operations on the lower traveling body 1 (crawler), for example.

[0074] Furthermore, if the control valve 17 is composed of an electromagnetic pilot-operated control valve (directional control valve), the operating signal from the electric operating device 26 may be directly input to the control valve 17, and each hydraulic control valve may perform an operation according to the operation of the operating device 26. Alternatively, the operating device 26 may be a hydraulic pilot type that outputs a pilot pressure according to the operation. In this case, the pilot pressure according to the operation is supplied to the control valve 17.

[0075] The pressure control valve 31 outputs a predetermined pilot pressure using hydraulic fluid supplied from the pilot pump 15 through the pilot line 25 under the control of the shovel controller 30. The pilot line on the secondary side of the pressure control valve 31 is connected to the control valve 17, and the pilot pressure output from the pressure control valve 31 is supplied to the control valve 17.

[0076] <<Excavator Power System>> The power supply system of Shovel 200 is a group of components for supplying power to various electrical devices. Shovel 200 also includes a vehicle inlet 101 for normal charging and a vehicle inlet 102 for rapid charging as a configuration for charging the battery module 19.

[0077] The vehicle inlet 101 for normal charging is configured to be connectable to a charging connector (an example of a charging component) provided at the tip of a predetermined cable (hereinafter referred to as the "charging cable") of an external power supply.

[0078] The AC-DC converter 103 for charging converts AC power supplied from an external power source via the vehicle inlet 101 for normal charging into DC power that can be used to charge the battery 192, and supplies it to the battery module 19.

[0079] The rapid charging vehicle inlet 102 is configured to be connectable to a charging connector (an example of a charging component) provided at the end of a charging cable of an external power source (e.g., a charging station). The rapid charging vehicle inlet 102 is, for example, an inlet for performing rapid charging based on CHAdeMO®. In this embodiment, by using such a DC charging method, DC power can be supplied to the battery module 19 without going through an AC-DC converter.

[0080] This embodiment describes an example in which a charging component is directly connected to a vehicle inlet 101 for normal charging (an example of a charging port) and a vehicle inlet 102 for rapid charging (an example of a charging port) using a charging connector provided at the tip of a charging cable. However, this embodiment is not limited to the method of directly connecting to the vehicle inlet 101 for normal charging or the vehicle inlet 102 for rapid charging using a charging connector. For example, a charging component using a wireless power supply system may be connected to the charging port and charged from an external power source.

[0081] The battery module 19 of the excavator 200 according to this embodiment supplies power to each component within the excavator 200. The battery module 19 includes a battery 192 and a battery controller 191.

[0082] The battery 192 supplies power to various components within the shovel 200. For example, the battery 192 supplies charged (stored) power to the pump motor 12. The battery 192 also charges the power generated (regenerative power) of the pump motor 12.

[0083] Battery 192 is charged (stored of energy) by being connected to an external power source via a charging cable.

[0084] Battery 192 is, for example, a lithium-ion battery and has a relatively high output voltage (e.g., several hundred volts).

[0085] The battery controller 191 controls the internal configuration of the battery module 19. For example, the battery controller 191 monitors the temperature status of the battery 192 from the output of a temperature sensor (not shown) and calculates the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery 192. The battery controller 191 then outputs the temperature sensor detection result and the SOC to the shovel controller 30. This allows the shovel controller 30 to display the temperature of the battery 192 and the SOC of the battery 192 on the output device 50 (display device) inside the cabin 10.

[0086] In this embodiment, the battery controller 191 determines whether or not charging is possible depending on whether or not a charging connector is connected to the vehicle inlet 101 for normal charging or the vehicle inlet 102 for rapid charging. However, this embodiment is not limited to determining whether or not power can be supplied based on whether or not a charging connector is connected. For example, in the case of wireless power supply, other methods may be used, such as determining whether or not power can be supplied by mutual communication with charging equipment provided with an external power source.

[0087] The battery controller 191 then communicates with the charging equipment equipped with the external power source when it determines that it is connected to an external power source (e.g., a charging station) via a charging cable and charging connector (in other words, when it determines that it is in a state where power can be supplied). The battery controller 191 then begins supplying power from the external power source when it is authorized by the charging equipment through this communication. The battery controller 191 may also obtain the maximum capacity, such as the maximum current value that the external power source (e.g., a charging station) can output.

[0088] Furthermore, a power converter may be provided between the battery module 19 and the pump motor 12 to boost the output voltage of the battery module 19 and apply it to the pump motor 12. Also, as described above, when part or all of the driven part is electrically driven, the power from the battery module 19 is supplied to an electric actuator that electrically drives the driven part, either in place of or in addition to the pump motor 12.

[0089] <<Excavator control system>> The control system for the shovel 200 according to this embodiment includes a shovel controller 30, an output device 50, an input device 52, a communication I / F 60, an air conditioning device 80, an on-board device 81, and an imaging device 40.

[0090] The air conditioning system 80 adjusts the temperature, humidity, and other parameters of the air inside the cabin 10. The air conditioning system 80 may be a heat pump type, for example, that includes a heat pump cycle for both cooling and heating. Alternatively, the air conditioning system 80 may include, for example, a refrigeration cycle for cooling and a heater for heating. The heater for heating may be, for example, a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) or a combustion heater. The air conditioning system 80 may also include a compressor that compresses the refrigerant flowing through the heat pump cycle or refrigeration cycle. The compressor may be driven by the power of the electric motor 12 for the pump.

[0091] The air conditioning unit 80 according to this embodiment operates according to instructions from the shovel controller 30, but may also operate according to instructions from an air conditioning controller (not shown). In this case, the shovel controller 30 can control the air conditioning unit 80 by sending a signal to the air conditioning controller.

[0092] The on-board device 81 is a device installed inside the cabin 10, and is, for example, a radio receiver. The on-board device 81 can provide various information by voice or other means in response to the operator's actions.

[0093] The communication interface 60 (an example of an input device) communicates with the outside of the shovel 200, such as the management device 300 or the support device 400, via a communication line NW. The communication interface 60 includes, for example, a mobile communication module that supports mobile communication standards such as LTE (Long Term Evolution), 4G (4th Generation), and 5G (5th Generation), and a satellite communication module for connecting to a satellite communication network.

[0094] The output device 50 is located inside the cabin 10 and outputs various information to the operator under the control of the shovel controller 30. The output device 50 includes, for example, a display device 50B that outputs (notifies) information to the operator in a visual manner. The display device 50B may be installed in a location easily visible to the operator inside the cabin 10 and may display various information images under the control of the shovel controller 30. The display device 50B may be, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (electroluminescence) display. The output device 50 also includes, for example, an audio output device 50A that outputs information to the operator in an auditory manner. The audio output device 50A may be, for example, a buzzer or a speaker.

[0095] The input device 52 is located inside the cabin 10 and receives various inputs from the operator. The input device 52 may include, for example, an operation input device that receives operation inputs from the operator. The operation input device includes, for example, buttons, toggles, levers, touch panels, touch pads, etc. The input device 52 may also include, for example, an audio input device that receives voice inputs from the operator and a gesture input device that receives gesture inputs from the operator. The audio input device includes, for example, a microphone that acquires the voice of the operator inside the cabin 10. The gesture input device includes, for example, an indoor camera capable of capturing images of the operator's gestures inside the cabin 10. Signals corresponding to the operator inputs received by the input device 52 are taken up by the shovel controller 30.

[0096] The shovel controller 30 may comprehensively control the operation of the entire shovel 200 (various devices mounted on the shovel 200).

[0097] The shovel controller 30 may implement each function using any hardware, or any combination of hardware and software. For example, the shovel controller 30 may be centered around a computer that includes a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a memory device (main memory) such as RAM (Random Access Memory), a non-volatile auxiliary storage device such as ROM (Read Only Memory), and an interface device for input / output with the outside.

[0098] The shovel controller 30 controls the drive of the shovel 200. For example, the shovel controller 30 outputs a control command to the pressure control valve 31 in response to an operation signal input from the operating device 26, and the pressure control valve 31 outputs a pilot pressure corresponding to the operation of the operating device 26. In this way, the shovel controller 30 can realize the operation of the driven elements (hydraulic actuators) of the shovel 200 that correspond to the operation of the electric operating device 26.

[0099] Furthermore, if the shovel 200 is remotely controlled, the shovel controller 30 may, for example, perform control related to the remote operation. Specifically, the shovel controller 30 may output a control command to the pressure control valve 31, causing the pressure control valve 31 to output a pilot pressure corresponding to the remote operation. This allows the shovel controller 30 to realize the operation of the shovel 200 (driven element) corresponding to the remote operation.

[0100] Furthermore, the shovel controller 30 may also perform control related to the automatic driving function, for example. Specifically, the shovel controller 30 may output a control command to the pressure control valve 31 and apply a pilot pressure corresponding to the operation command for the automatic driving function from the pressure control valve 31 to the control valve 17. In this way, the shovel controller 30 can realize the operation of the driven elements (hydraulic actuators) of the shovel 200 that correspond to the automatic driving function.

[0101] The shovel controller 30 controls the electric drive system based on various input information (for example, control commands including operation signals from the operating device 26). The shovel controller 30 may also control the display on the output device 50 based on the image captured from the imaging device 40.

[0102] Furthermore, the shovel controller 30 may, for example, control the switching between the discharge state and the charging state of the battery module 19 based on the operating state of the operating device 26. Also, if the shovel 200 is remotely operated, the shovel controller 30 may, for example, control the switching between the discharge state and the charging state of the battery module 19 based on the content of the remote operation. Furthermore, if the automatic operation function of the shovel 200 is enabled, the shovel controller 30 may, for example, control the switching between the discharge state and the charging state of the battery module 19 based on the operation command corresponding to the automatic operation function.

[0103] <Configuration of the control device> As shown in Figure 3, the management device 300 includes a control device 310, a communication interface (I / F) 320, an output device 330, and an input device 340.

[0104] The control device 310 performs control related to the management device 300. The control device 310 may be implemented using, for example, any hardware, or any combination of hardware and software. The control device 310 may be centered around a computer that includes, for example, a processor such as a CPU, a memory device (main memory) such as RAM, an auxiliary storage device such as ROM, and an external interface device. For example, the control device 310 implements various functions by loading a program to be installed in the auxiliary storage device into the memory device and executing it on the CPU. The program data is acquired by the control device 310 from a predetermined recording medium via a predetermined external interface and installed in the auxiliary storage device. The predetermined recording medium includes, for example, general-purpose recording media such as CDs, DVDs, BDs, SD memory cards, and USB memory. The predetermined recording medium also includes dedicated recording media such as diagnostic tools for the management device 300. Furthermore, the program data may be downloaded from an external computer to the management device 300 via a communication I / F 320 and installed in the auxiliary storage device of the control device 310.

[0105] The communication interface 320 is an interface for communicating with external devices such as the shovel 200, support equipment 400, and portable communication device 500 via the communication line NW.

[0106] The output device 330 outputs various information to the management device user under the control of the control device 310. The output device 330 includes, for example, a display device that outputs (notifies) information to the management device user in a visual manner. The display device includes, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display. The display device may, for example, display various information images for the management device user.

[0107] Furthermore, the output device 330 includes, for example, a sound output device that outputs (notifies) information to the management device user in an audible manner. The sound output device includes, for example, a speaker or a buzzer.

[0108] The input device 340 receives various inputs from the management device user. The input device 340 includes, for example, an operation input device that receives operation inputs from the management device user. The operation input device includes, for example, a mouse, keyboard, buttons, toggles, levers, touch panels, touchpads, etc. The input device 340 also includes, for example, an audio input device that receives voice input from the management device user and a gesture input device that receives gesture input. The audio input device includes, for example, a microphone that acquires the voice of the management device user. The gesture input device includes, for example, an imaging device capable of capturing images of the management device user's gestures. Signals corresponding to the inputs from the management device user received by the input device 340 are taken up by the control device 310.

[0109] <Configuration of support device> As shown in Figure 3, the support device 400 includes a control device 410, a communication interface (I / F) 420, an output device 430, and an input device 440.

[0110] The control device 410 performs control related to the support device 400. The control device 410 may be implemented using, for example, arbitrary hardware or any combination of hardware and software. The control device 410 may be configured around a computer that includes, for example, a processor such as a CPU, a memory device (main memory) such as RAM, an auxiliary storage device such as ROM, and an external interface device. For example, the control device 410 implements various functions by loading a program to be installed in the auxiliary storage device into the memory device and executing it on the CPU. The program data is acquired by the control device 410 from a predetermined recording medium via a predetermined external interface and installed in the auxiliary storage device. The predetermined recording medium includes, for example, general-purpose recording media such as CDs, DVDs, BDs, SD memory cards, and USB memory. The predetermined recording medium also includes dedicated recording media such as diagnostic tools for the support device 400. The program data may also be downloaded from outside the support device 400 (for example, the management device 300) via a communication I / F 420 and installed in the auxiliary storage device of the control device 410.

[0111] The communication interface 420 is any device that communicates with the outside world of the support device 400, such as the management device 300, via a communication line NW. The communication interface 420 may be, for example, a mobile communication module that supports mobile communication standards such as LTE, 4G, or 5G.

[0112] The output device 430 outputs various information to the support device user under the control of the control device 410.

[0113] The output device 430 includes, for example, a display device that outputs (notifies) information to the assistive device user in a visual manner. The display device includes, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display. The display device may, for example, display various information images for the assistive device user.

[0114] Furthermore, the output device 430 includes, for example, a sound output device that outputs (notifies) information to the user of the support device in an auditory manner. The sound output device includes, for example, a speaker or a buzzer.

[0115] The input device 440 receives various inputs from the assistive device user. The input device 440 includes, for example, an operation input device that receives operation inputs from the assistive device user. The operation input device includes, for example, a mouse, keyboard, buttons, toggles, levers, touch panels, touchpads, etc. The input device 440 also includes an audio input device that receives voice input from the assistive device user and a gesture input device that receives gesture input. The audio input device includes, for example, a microphone that acquires the voice of the assistive device user. The gesture input device includes, for example, an imaging device capable of capturing images of the assistive device user's gestures. Signals corresponding to the inputs from the assistive device user received by the input device 440 are taken up by the control device 410.

[0116] <Communication device configuration> The portable communication device 500 includes a control device 510, a communication interface (I / F) 520, an output device 530, and an input device 540. The control device 510, communication I / F 520, output device 530, and input device 540 are the same as the control device 410, communication I / F 420, output device 430, and input device 440 of the support device 400, and their description is omitted.

[0117] [Explanation of what happens when SOC decreases] In the shovel 200, the battery controller 191 detects the state of charge (SOC) of the battery 192 and outputs the detection result to the shovel controller 30. The shovel controller 30 then performs various controls based on the SOC of the battery 192.

[0118] Specifically, the shovel controller 30 determines whether the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery 192 is below a predetermined threshold. If the shovel controller 30 determines that the SOC of the battery 192 is below a predetermined threshold (hereinafter also referred to as the warning threshold), it displays a pop-up screen warning the operator of the shovel 200 that the SOC of the battery 192 has decreased, as an example of information to prompt the operator to supply power to the battery 192 of the shovel 200.

[0119] In other words, in this embodiment, the screen display is switched when the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery 192 decreases. This allows the operator to recognize that the battery 192 needs to be charged when they refer to the screen. Therefore, the shovel 200 can move to a power supply station (an example of an external power source) according to the operator's instructions and begin supplying power to the battery 192.

[0120] Incidentally, even if the operator recognizes that the State of Charge (SOC) of battery 192 is below the warning threshold, they may continue working with the shovel 200 depending on the work situation. Also, the operator may not notice the pop-up screen.

[0121] Therefore, in this embodiment, when the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery 192 falls below a warning threshold, the shovel controller 30 not only displays a pop-up screen but also performs various controls to prompt the operator to charge the battery 192.

[0122] The shovel controller 30 is configured with various settings to perform various controls to encourage charging of the battery 192. The shovel controller 30 then performs controls according to these settings. For example, when the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery 192 falls below a warning threshold, the shovel controller 30 may control the display device 50B to display a pop-up screen indicating a warning, along with the estimated remaining operating time if the shovel 200 were to operate in its current state. As another example, the shovel controller 30 may, at the same time, start outputting an alarm sound from the audio output device 50A inside the cabin 10. Furthermore, the shovel controller 30 may, at the same time, send a notification to the support user of the support device 400 indicating that the SOC of the battery 192 has decreased. As yet another example, the shovel controller 30 may, at the same time, change the operating mode of the shovel 200 to a power-saving mode in order to limit the output of the shovel 200.

[0123] The operating mode is a mode for adjusting the output and power consumption of the electric motor 12 for the pump. For example, the operating modes include "SP (Special)" mode, "A (Auto) 4" mode to "A (Auto) 1" mode. "SP (Special)" mode is a mode that prioritizes working speed and consumes a lot of power. "A (Auto) 4" mode to "A (Auto) 1" mode are automatic modes that balance working speed and power consumption. As the number decreases from "A4" to "A1", power consumption decreases and the working speed slows down in order to prioritize power saving. In this embodiment, for example, the shovel controller 30 may be changed to the "A1" mode, which prioritizes power saving, as a change in the operating mode.

[0124] <Excavator Controller Function Blocks> Returning to Figure 3, let's describe each functional block within the shovel controller 30. Each functional block within the shovel controller 30 is conceptual and does not necessarily need to be physically configured as shown in the figure. It is possible to configure all or part of each functional block by distributing and integrating them functionally or physically in any unit. Each processing function performed in each functional block is realized, all or any part thereof, by a program executed on the CPU. Alternatively, each functional block may be realized as hardware using wired logic.

[0125] The shovel controller 30 according to this embodiment includes a setting information storage unit 3011 in a non-volatile auxiliary storage device.

[0126] The configuration information storage unit 3011 stores configuration information for issuing warnings to the operator. Specific configuration information will be described later.

[0127] Furthermore, the shovel controller 30 according to this embodiment includes, for example, an acquisition unit 3001, an output control unit 3002, an operation reception unit 3003, a communication control unit 3004, a setting unit 3005, a determination unit 3006, a control unit 3007, and a charging control unit 3008, as functional units realized by executing one or more programs installed in an auxiliary storage device on the CPU.

[0128] Furthermore, some of the functions of the shovel controller 30 may be implemented by other controllers. In other words, the functions of the shovel controller 30 may be implemented in a distributed manner by multiple controllers.

[0129] The acquisition unit 3001 acquires signals from various components within the shovel 200. For example, the acquisition unit 3001 acquires signals from the battery controller 191, such as the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery 192, the temperature of the battery 192, and whether or not the charging connector is connected.

[0130] The output control unit 3002 outputs various information to the output device 50. For example, the output control unit 3002 displays various screens on the display device 50B by outputting screen information to the display device 50B. For example, the output control unit 3002 displays a pop-up screen on the display device 50B showing a warning based on the battery 192's SOC. Another example is the output control unit 3002 displaying a settings screen for issuing warnings. The settings screen and pop-up screen will be described later.

[0131] Another example is that the output control unit 3002 outputs audio information to the audio output device 50A, thereby outputting sound from the audio output device 50A.

[0132] The operation reception unit 3003 receives operations on the screen displayed by the output control unit 3002. For example, the operation reception unit 3003 receives setting operations on the settings screen.

[0133] The communication control unit 3004 controls communication with external communication devices (for example, the management device 300 or the support device 400).

[0134] Furthermore, the communication control unit 3004 transmits performance information indicating the operating status of the shovel 200 and the status of the battery 192 to the management device 300 at predetermined intervals. This allows the management device 300 to manage the operating status of the shovel 200.

[0135] For example, the settings screen is not limited to being displayed by the display device 50B, but may also be displayed by the management device 300, the support device 400, or the portable communication device 500. In this case, the communication control unit 3004 may receive information about setting operations performed on the settings screen from the management device 300, the support device 400, or the portable communication device 500.

[0136] The setting unit 3005 configures the settings for issuing warnings based on the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery 192 of the shovel 200. For example, the setting unit 3005 configures the settings according to the setting information received from the operation reception unit 3003. The setting unit 3005 also configures the settings according to the setting information received from the communication control unit 3004.

[0137] The settings made by the setting unit 3005 according to this embodiment may, for example, be registered in the setting information storage unit 3011 with input or received setting information. For example, the setting unit 3005 may register the SOC of the battery 192, which will be the threshold for issuing advance warnings and alerts.

[0138] A warning is issued to return the shovel 200 to the power station because the state of charge (SOC) of battery 192 has dropped. A pre-warning is issued before the warning to make the operator aware that the SOC of battery 192 is dropping.

[0139] In this embodiment, the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery 192, which serves as a threshold for issuing advance warnings and alerts, can be set. In other words, the setting unit 3005 can set the timing for issuing advance warnings and alerts according to the working environment of the shovel 200. As a result, the shovel controller 30 can warn the operator according to the setting, prompting them to return to the power supply station at a more appropriate time. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the shovel 200 from stopping due to a decrease in the SOC of the battery 192.

[0140] Another example is that the setting unit 3005 may register specific means of issuing a warning. In this embodiment, the specific means include setting one or more of the following: voice warning, display warning, notification to the administrator, change of operating mode, stopping the air conditioning unit 80, and stopping the in-vehicle device 81, but other means may also be set. Each means will be described later.

[0141] The determination unit 3006 determines whether the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery 192, acquired by the acquisition unit 3001, is lower than the threshold for issuing a prior warning or alert. The threshold is the information read from the setting information storage unit 3011.

[0142] The threshold for issuing a prior warning (hereinafter also referred to as the warning threshold) is a threshold used to give the operator a prior warning that the battery 192 of the shovel 200 is running low, before issuing a warning. In this embodiment, for example, 30% is set as the warning threshold, but it is not limited to 30%. The warning threshold should be set to a value that is appropriate to the characteristics of the battery 192 and the working environment in order to prompt the operator to take notice that the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery 192 is running low.

[0143] In other words, when the State of Charge (SOC) of battery 192 falls below the attention threshold, the shovel controller 30 provides advance warning to the operator that the SOC of battery 192 is low. This allows the operator to prepare to end the work performed by the shovel 200.

[0144] The threshold for issuing a warning is the threshold (hereinafter also referred to as the warning threshold) that will warn the operator to return the shovel 200 to the power supply station. In this embodiment, for example, 20% is set as the warning threshold, but it is not limited to 20%. The warning threshold should be a value lower than the caution threshold and should be set to a value that prompts the operator to return the shovel 200 to the power supply station.

[0145] Incidentally, the battery 192 in this embodiment is assumed to have the characteristic of degrading when its State of Charge (SOC) falls below 20%. Therefore, the shovel controller 30 in this embodiment performs control to prompt the shovel to return to the power supply station when the SOC reaches 20%.

[0146] In other words, when the State of Charge (SOC) of battery 192 drops to 20%, the shovel controller 30 prompts the operator to return the shovel 200 to the power supply station, thereby preventing the shovel 200 from stopping due to a drop in the SOC of battery 192 and suppressing the degradation of battery 192.

[0147] If the determination unit 3006 determines that the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery 192 is lower than the warning threshold, the output control unit 3002 may output screen information for issuing a prior warning to the display device 50B according to the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit 3011.

[0148] Furthermore, if the determination unit 3006 determines that the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery 192 is lower than the warning threshold, the output control unit 3002 may output warning screen information to the display device 50B according to the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit 3011. The warning screen will be described later.

[0149] Furthermore, if the determination unit 3006 determines that the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery 192 is lower than a warning threshold, the output control unit 3002 may output a warning sound from the voice output device 50A. The warning sound can be any sound, such as a beep or a synthesized voice warning.

[0150] If the determination unit 3006 determines that the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery 192 is lower than the warning threshold, the communication control unit 3004 may send a notification to the support device 400 indicating that the battery 192's remaining charge has decreased, according to the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit 3011. In this embodiment, the communication control unit 3004 will describe an example of sending a notification that the battery 192's remaining charge has decreased to the support device 400, but the destination is not limited. For example, it may be sent to the management device 300, or to other communication devices present at the work site (for example, another shovel 200).

[0151] In this embodiment, the communication control unit 3004 periodically transmits performance information (an example of information indicating the status of the shovel 200) to the management device 300. Performance information is information indicating the current status of the shovel 200, including detection results from various sensors acquired by the acquisition unit 3001, and includes, for example, the state of charge (SOC) and driving status of the shovel 200. The communication control unit 3004 may also transmit a notification that the SOC of the battery 192 has decreased in the performance information transmitted periodically. In this case, the management device 300 can recognize that a warning has been issued due to a decrease in the SOC of the battery 192 of the shovel 200. The recording unit 3104 of the management device 300 can store the fact that such a warning has been issued in the log storage unit 3111. In other words, the management device 300 can manage the status of the shovel, including the state of the battery 192's SOC and whether or not a warning has been issued. This makes it easier for the shovel management system SYS to understand the operating status of the shovel 200 as well as the warnings given to the operator, and to understand the conditions under which an abnormality occurred. Therefore, safety can be improved. Furthermore, if the management device 300 receives performance information from the shovel 200, including a notification that the battery 192's SOC has decreased, it may transmit the notification to the support device 400.

[0152] If the address of the support device 400 is not registered in the configuration information storage unit 3011, the communication control unit 3004 may send a notification to the management device 300 indicating that the battery level is low. In this case, the management device 300 may send a notification to the support device 400 indicating that the battery level of the shovel 200's battery 192 is low.

[0153] If the determination unit 3006 determines that the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery 192 is lower than the warning threshold, the control unit 3007 may perform control to stop one or more of the air conditioning system 80 and the in-vehicle equipment 81 according to the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit 3011.

[0154] The control unit 3007 can suppress the decrease in the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery 192 and extend the operating time of the shovel 200 by stopping one or more of the air conditioning unit 80 and the on-board equipment 81.

[0155] Furthermore, while this embodiment describes an example in which one or more of the air conditioning system 80 and the on-board device 81 are stopped, the method is not limited to stopping one or more of the air conditioning system 80 and the on-board device 81. For example, if the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery 192 is determined to be lower than the warning threshold, the control unit 3007 may reduce the output of the air conditioning system 80 compared to before the SOC fell below the warning threshold (for example, resetting the target temperature to a higher temperature if the outside air temperature is higher than the temperature inside the cabin 10, or resetting the target temperature to a lower temperature if the outside air temperature is lower than the temperature inside the cabin 10, or reducing the airflow). Moreover, if the SOC of the battery 192 is determined to be lower than the warning threshold, the control unit 3007 may reduce the output (for example, the volume) of the on-board device 81. Even when such control is performed, the operating time of the shovel 200 can be extended.

[0156] Furthermore, if the air conditioning system 80 is stopped, the comfort level inside the cabin 10 gradually decreases. This allows the operator to be prompted to return the shovel 200 to the power supply station in order to work in a comfortable environment.

[0157] If the determination unit 3006 determines that the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery 192 is lower than the warning threshold, the control unit 3007 may change the operating mode of the shovel 200 to a power-saving mode (for example, the "A1" mode described above) according to the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit 3011. In other words, by changing to a power-saving mode, the control unit 3007 controls the amount of power supplied from the battery 192 to the pump motor 12 to be reduced compared to before the SOC of the battery 192 fell below the warning threshold. By performing this control, the control unit 3007 can suppress the decrease in the SOC of the battery 192 and extend the operating time of the shovel 200. This prevents the shovel 200 from becoming inoperable before the battery 192 returns to the power supply station. Furthermore, since the driving force transmitted from the pump motor 12 is reduced, the work efficiency of the shovel 200 decreases. As a result, this embodiment can prompt the operator to return the shovel 200 to the power supply station in order to perform work with appropriate driving force.

[0158] The charging control unit 3008 controls the charging of the battery 192 from the charging connector when the charging connector is connected to the normal charging vehicle inlet 101 or the rapid charging vehicle inlet 102. Specifically, the charging control unit 3008 transmits instructions regarding the control of charging to the battery controller 191.

[0159] The charging control unit 3008 performs charging control based on the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery 192 and the maximum capacity of the power supply station, which are received from the battery controller 191.

[0160] <Explanation regarding the display screen> Next, the screen output by the output control unit 3002 will be described. Figure 4 is an example of a warning setting screen displayed by the output control unit 3002 according to this embodiment. The setting screen may be displayed on the display device 50B, as well as on the management device 300 or the support device 400. This allows the management device user or support device user to configure warning settings.

[0161] As shown in Figure 4, the warning settings screen includes a display area 5010 for advance warnings, a display area 5020 for warnings, and a display area 5030 for various settings.

[0162] The display section 5010 regarding prior warnings includes a checkbox 5011 and a SOC settings section 5012.

[0163] Checkbox 5011 is a field that sets whether or not to display a pop-up with a prior warning. In the example shown in Figure 4, checkbox 5011 is checked, and it is set to display a pop-up screen with a prior warning.

[0164] The SOC setting field 5012 is for setting the SOC warning threshold, which determines when a pop-up display showing a warning will appear. In the example shown in Figure 4, it is set so that a pop-up screen showing a warning will appear when the SOC of battery 192 reaches "30%".

[0165] The warning display area 5020 includes a checkbox 5021, an SOC setting area 5022, a volume setting area 5023, warning checkboxes 5024, 5026-5028, and an operating mode setting area 5025.

[0166] Checkbox 5021 is a field that sets whether or not to display a pop-up with a warning. In the example shown in Figure 4, checkbox 5021 is checked, and it is set to display a pop-up screen with a warning.

[0167] The SOC setting field 5022 is for setting the warning threshold, which is the threshold at which a pop-up warning is displayed. In the example shown in Figure 4, it is set to display a pop-up screen with a prior warning when the SOC of battery 192 reaches "18%".

[0168] As described above, if the shovel 200 is driven with a State of Charge (SOC) of battery 192 below 20%, the degradation of battery 192 will increase, or in other words, the lifespan of battery 192 will tend to be shortened. Therefore, in this embodiment, if a value less than 20% is set in the SOC setting field 5012, the output control unit 3002 displays a pop-up screen 5041 indicating that battery 192 is degrading. By referring to the pop-up screen 5041 and resetting the value to 20% or higher, the degradation of battery 192 can be suppressed.

[0169] The threshold value set in the SOC setting field 5022 can be set to any value depending on the operating status of the shovel 200. For example, it can be set to 25%, or (if you are aware that the battery 192 will degrade) it can be set to 10% or 15%. The following processing procedure describes the case where "20%" is set in the SOC setting field 5022.

[0170] The volume setting field 5023 is for setting the volume level output by the output control unit 3002 when issuing a warning. In the example shown in Figure 4, the volume is set to "High".

[0171] The warning checkbox 5024 is a field for setting whether or not to change the operating mode when issuing a warning. In the example shown in Figure 4, it is checked.

[0172] The operating mode setting field 5025 is the setting field for changing the operating mode of the shovel 200 when the warning checkbox 5024 is checked. In the example shown in Figure 4, the "A1" mode is set.

[0173] The warning checkbox 5026 sets whether or not to stop the air conditioning system 80 when a warning is issued. In the example shown in Figure 4, it is checked, in other words, it is set to stop the air conditioning system 80 when a warning is issued.

[0174] The warning checkbox 5027 sets whether or not to shut down the in-vehicle device 81 (e.g., radio receiver) when issuing a warning. In the example shown in Figure 4, the checkbox is checked, meaning that the in-vehicle device 81 is set to shut down when issuing a warning.

[0175] The warning checkbox 5028 is a field for setting whether or not to notify the administrator when a warning is issued. In the example shown in Figure 4, it is checked, in other words, it is set to notify the administrator's support device 400 when a warning is issued.

[0176] If the OK button 5001 is pressed, the operation reception unit 3003 accepts the information set on the settings screen. If the return button 5002 is pressed, the information entered on the settings screen is discarded, and the system returns to the screen that was displayed before the settings screen.

[0177] The setting unit 3005 then registers the information set on the setting screen shown in Figure 4 into the setting information storage unit 3011. The communication control unit 3004 then transmits the information set on the setting screen to the management device 300. The recording unit 3104 of the management device 300 registers the information set on the setting screen into the log storage unit 3111. This allows the management device user to understand the settings of the shovel 200.

[0178] The shovel controller 30 then issues advance warnings and alerts based on the information set on the settings screen. For example, the output control unit 3002 displays a pop-up screen showing an advance warning when the SOC of the battery 192 falls below the warning threshold. Subsequently, the output control unit 3002 displays a pop-up screen showing a warning when the SOC of the battery 192 falls below the warning threshold. Furthermore, the output control unit 3002 also changes some of the information displayed on the display screen when the SOC of the battery 192 falls below the warning threshold. Next, the display screen, including the specific changes, will be explained.

[0179] Figure 5 is an example of a pop-up screen displaying a warning, which is shown by the output control unit 3002 according to this embodiment. The display screen shown in Figure 5 is an example in which the pop-up screen 4051 is displayed on the display screen shown on the display device 50B.

[0180] The operation mode field 4001 is a selection and display field for the operation mode that adjusts the power consumption of the electric motor 12 for the pump of the shovel 200. In the example shown in Figure 5, the "A1" mode is selected. The "A1" mode is the operation mode that was changed when a warning was issued. By setting the "A1" mode, the amount of power supplied to the electric motor 12 for the pump is reduced compared to before the "A1" mode was set.

[0181] The travel mode field 4002 is for selecting the travel mode of the shovel 200. The operation reception unit 304 can receive an operation to select a travel mode when it receives a press on the travel mode field 4002. The operation reception unit 304 can receive a selection from the travel mode field 4002 between low-speed travel mode and high-speed travel mode. In the example shown in Figure 5, low-speed travel mode is selected.

[0182] The auto-idling stop setting field 4003 is a field that indicates whether or not to stop the pump motor 12 when the shovel 200 has not been operating for a certain period of time. In the example shown in Figure 5, the setting to perform auto-idling stop is configured according to the settings made on other setting screens.

[0183] Furthermore, the display screen shown in Figure 5 displays a display area 4020 and a shovel icon 4021. The display area 4020 shows an image captured by one of the four imaging devices 40. The icon 4021 indicates the imaging direction of the imaging device 40 that captured the image displayed in the display area 4020. The display area 4020 and the icon 4021 allow the operator to recognize the surrounding environment of the shovel 200.

[0184] Furthermore, the display screen shown in Figure 5 shows an indicator 4013 indicating the water temperature of the cooling system that cools the electric motor 12 for the pump of the shovel 200, and an indicator 4014 indicating the temperature of the hydraulic oil.

[0185] Furthermore, the display screen shown in Figure 5 displays a display field 4011 showing the remaining operating time (operating time information) if the current situation continues, and an indicator 4012 showing the operating time.

[0186] The display screen shown in Figure 5 indicates that the operating time is decreasing, as shown by indicator 4012.

[0187] In this embodiment, the output control unit 3002 starts displaying the remaining operating time in the display field 4011 if the current conditions continue, when the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery 192 falls below a warning threshold. In the example shown in Figure 5, "20 min" is displayed along with an icon. The remaining operating time displayed in the display field 4011 decreases as the SOC of the battery 192 decreases.

[0188] In this way, the operator can be notified that the State of Charge (SOC) of battery 192 has decreased when the display in display panel 4011 is activated. The remaining operating time displayed in display panel 4011 is a value calculated based on the SOC of battery 192. The calculation method is assumed to be a well-known method and will not be explained.

[0189] The output control unit 3002 then displays information on the pop-up screen 4051 prompting the operator to return the shovel 200 to the power supply station because the State of Charge (SOC) of battery 192 has decreased (for example, "Battery level is low"). Note that the pop-up screen 4051 is displayed so as not to overlap the display area 4020. This allows the operator to check the surrounding situation even when the warning pop-up screen 4051 is displayed.

[0190] Furthermore, when the display screen shown in Figure 5 is displayed, the operating mode is set to "A1" mode. As a result, the amount of power supplied to the pump motor 12 decreases. This reduces the driving force of the shovel 200. The display screen shown in Figure 5 displays "A1" mode as the operating mode, and also displays a pop-up screen 4051. This allows the operator to recognize that the decrease in the driving force of the shovel 200 is due to a decrease in the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery 192 by referring to this display screen. The operator can then determine that it is difficult to continue working and begin the process of returning to the power supply station.

[0191] <Control flow related to warnings> Next, the control flow for warnings based on the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery 192 in the excavator 200 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0192] Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the control of warnings based on the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery 192 by the shovel controller 30 according to this embodiment. In the example shown in Figure 6, the checkbox 5011 in the display field 5010 for advance warnings and the checkbox 5021 in the display field 5020 for warnings are set in the setting screen shown in Figure 4, in other words, the case in which advance warnings and warnings are displayed will be explained.

[0193] The acquisition unit 3001 acquires the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery 192 from the battery controller 191 (S6001).

[0194] The determination unit 3006 determines whether the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery 192 has fallen below 30% (an example of a warning threshold) (S6002). If it determines that the SOC of the battery 192 is greater than 30% (S6002: No), the process returns to S6001.

[0195] On the other hand, if the determination unit 3006 determines that the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery 192 has fallen below 30% (an example of a warning threshold) (S6002: Yes), the output control unit 3002 displays a pop-up screen on the display device 60B prompting a prior warning regarding the battery 192 (S6003).

[0196] Subsequently, the acquisition unit 3001 acquires the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery 192 from the battery controller 191 (S6004).

[0197] The determination unit 3006 determines whether the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery 192 has fallen below 20% (an example of a warning threshold) (S6005). If it determines that the SOC of the battery 192 is greater than 20% (S6005: No), the process returns to S6004.

[0198] On the other hand, if the determination unit 3006 determines that the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery 192 has fallen below 20% (an example of a warning threshold) (S6005: Yes), the communication control unit 3004 sends a notification to the support device 400 indicating that the remaining charge of the battery 192 has decreased, according to the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit 3011 (S6006). If the setting information includes a setting not to send a notification to the administrator (support device 400), the communication control unit 3004 suppresses the notification.

[0199] The control unit 3007 changes the operating mode of the pump motor 12 according to the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit 3011 (S6007). For example, the control unit 3007 changes the operating mode from "SP" mode to "A1" mode. If the setting information indicates that the operating mode should not be changed, the control unit 3007 suppresses the change in the operating mode.

[0200] The control unit 3007 controls the air conditioning system 80 and the in-vehicle equipment 81 to stop one or more of them, according to the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit 3011 (S6008). However, if the setting information specifies that the air conditioning system 80 and the in-vehicle equipment 81 should not be stopped, the control unit 3007 does not control the air conditioning system 80 and the in-vehicle equipment 81 to stop.

[0201] The output control unit 3002 outputs a warning sound (warning tone) from the voice output device 50A according to the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit 3011 (S6009). If no volume is set in the setting information, the output control unit 3002 does not output a warning sound.

[0202] The output control unit 3002 displays a pop-up warning screen on the display device 50B according to the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit 3011 (S6010). The display screen may also show if the operating mode is changed in S6007, or if one or more of the air conditioning unit 80 and the in-vehicle equipment 81 are stopped in S6008.

[0203] In this embodiment, by performing the above-described process, the operator can be made aware that the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery 192 has decreased through sound output and screen display.

[0204] Furthermore, when the State of Charge (SOC) of battery 192 falls below 20% (an example of a warning threshold), the control unit 3007 switches the operating mode to a power-saving priority mode, making it difficult for the operator to continue working efficiently. This prompts the operator to return to the power supply station.

[0205] Next, we will describe the transmission and reception of data between the excavator management systems SYS. Figure 7 is a sequence diagram showing the transmission and reception of data between the excavator management systems SYS according to this embodiment. In the example shown in Figure 7, we describe an example in which performance information is transmitted to the management device 300 and a notification that the battery 192's SOC has decreased is transmitted to the support device 400. However, the transmission is not limited to this example, and for example, performance information and notifications may also be transmitted to the management device 300.

[0206] The communication control unit 3004 of the shovel 200 periodically transmits performance information of the shovel 200 to the management device 300 (S7001).

[0207] When the communication control unit 3103 of the management device 300 receives performance information, the recording unit 3104 stores the performance information in the log storage unit 3111 (S7002). This saves the operation history of the shovel 200.

[0208] The determination unit 3006 of the shovel 200 determines that the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery 192 has fallen below 20% (an example of a warning threshold) (S7003). S7003 is processed in the same way as when S6005 in Figure 6 is "Yes".

[0209] Then, if the determination unit 3006 determines that the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery 192 has fallen below 20% (an example of a warning threshold), the communication control unit 3004 sends a notification to the support device 400 that the SOC of the battery 192 has decreased (S7004). S7004 is the same process as S6006 in Figure 6.

[0210] Then, when the communication control unit 4103 of the support device 400 receives a notification from the shovel 200, the display processing unit 4101 displays a screen corresponding to the notification (S7005). This allows the support device user (such as the supervisor at the work site or the owner of the shovel 200) to recognize that the battery 192 of the shovel 200 is low.

[0211] Then, the communication control unit 4103 of the support device 400 initiates a call with the mobile communication device 500 (S7006). For example, the screen displayed in S7005 may show link information for making a call with the mobile communication device 500. When the operation reception unit 4102 receives the selection of the link information, the communication control unit 4103 of the support device 400 initiates a call with the mobile communication device 500. Furthermore, the method of communication with the communication device is not limited to voice calls, or in other words, the sending and receiving of information by voice, but may also be the sending of messages via email or SNS, etc. The support device user then instructs the operator of the shovel 200 to return the shovel 200 to the power supply station.

[0212] As a result, the excavator management system SYS can perform the above-described process, allowing the support device user who owns the support device 400 to recognize that the State of Charge (SOC) of the excavator 200's battery 192 has decreased. The support device user can then communicate with the operator operating the excavator 200 and prompt the operator to return the excavator 200 to the power supply station.

[0213] This allows the operator to prevent the shovel 200 from stopping before returning it to the power supply station.

[0214] In this embodiment, an example of notifying the support device 400 directly from the shovel 200 has been described. However, the above-described embodiment is not limited to the example of notifying the support device 400 directly from the shovel 200. For example, the shovel 200 may notify the management device 300, and then the management device 300 may notify the support device 400. This allows the shovel 200 to notify the support device 400 even if the support device 400 is not registered as a recipient in the shovel 200.

[0215] (modified version) In the above-described embodiment, when the determination unit 3006 determines that the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery 192 has fallen below 20% (an example of a warning threshold), the communication control unit 3004 sends a notification to the support device 400 indicating that the SOC of the battery 192 has decreased. However, the above-described embodiment does not limit the recipient of the notification to the support device 400.

[0216] For example, if there are multiple Shovel 200s at a work site, notifications can be sent between the Shovel 200s.

[0217] For example, if the determination unit 3006 determines that the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery 192 in the first excavator 200 has fallen below 20% (an example of a warning threshold), it sends a notification to other excavators 200 at the same work site indicating that the battery 192's charge level has decreased. This allows operators working at the work site to share the status of the batteries 192 of the excavators 200. Therefore, if one excavator 200 returns to the power supply station due to a decrease in the battery 192's charge level, the other excavators 200 can take over the work that the returning excavator 200 was doing.

[0218] <effect> The excavator 200 according to the above-described embodiment and modified version, by having the above-described configuration, outputs one or more of the following prompts the operator to charge the battery 192 when the State of Charge (SOC) of the battery 192 falls below a warning threshold (an example of a predetermined threshold): a pop-up screen and / or an audio message prompting the operator to charge the battery 192. Therefore, by prompting the operator to charge the excavator 200, it is possible to prevent the excavator 200 from stopping due to a decrease in the SOC of the battery 192 before charging begins. In other words, since it is prevented the excavator 200 from stopping midway, it is possible to prevent the excavator from becoming an obstacle that prevents other excavators or vehicles from working or moving. Therefore, safety can be improved.

[0219] Although embodiments have been described in detail above, this disclosure is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0220] 200 Shovel 1. Lower running body 2. Swivel mechanism 3. Upper rotating body 4 Boom 5 Arms 6 buckets 7 Boom Cylinder 8 Arm Cylinder 9 Bucket Cylinder 10 cabins 191 Battery Controller 192 batteries 30 Shovel Controller 40 Imaging device 50 Output device 52 Input devices 60 Communication Interfaces 80 Air conditioner 81 In-vehicle equipment 3001 Acquisition Department 3002 Output Control Unit 3003 Operation Reception Unit 3004 Communication Control Unit 3005 Settings Section 3006 Judgment section 3007 Control Unit 3008 Charging Control Unit 3011 Configuration Information Storage Unit 300 Management device 310 Control device 320 communication interfaces 330 Output device 340 Input Devices 3101 Display Processing Unit 3102 Operation Reception Unit 3103 Communication Control Unit 3104 Records Department 3111 Log storage unit 400 Support equipment 410 Control device 420 Communication Interfaces 430 Output device 440 Input Devices 4101 Display Processing Unit 4102 Operation Reception Unit 4103 Communication Control Unit 500 Mobile communication devices 510 Control device 520 Communication Interfaces 530 Output device 540 Input device

Claims

1. Electric motor and, It has a battery that supplies power to the aforementioned electric motor, The system is configured to output information to prompt charging of the battery when the battery's charge level falls below a predetermined threshold. The system is configured to set a predetermined threshold according to setting information input from an input device or setting information received from a communication interface. Electric excavator.

2. The system is configured to reduce the amount of power supplied from the battery to the electric motor when the battery's charge level falls below a predetermined threshold, compared to before the charge level fell below the predetermined threshold. The electric excavator according to claim 1.

3. If the battery charge level falls below a predetermined threshold, the system is configured to reduce the output of at least one of the following: the air conditioning system that adjusts the air inside the cabin of the electric excavator, and the on-board devices installed inside the cabin, compared to before the charge level fell below the predetermined threshold. The electric excavator according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The system is configured to transmit information to an external communication device indicating that the battery's charge level has decreased when the battery's charge level is lower than a predetermined threshold. An electric excavator according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The information prompting the charging of the battery is included in the information indicating the status of the electric shovel, which is transmitted to the external communication device. The electric shovel according to claim 4.

6. The external communication device that transmits information indicating that the battery's charge level has decreased is another excavator working at the same work site as the electric excavator. The electric shovel according to claim 4.

7. An excavator management system comprising an electric excavator and a communication device, The aforementioned electric shovel is, Electric motor and, It has a battery that supplies power to the aforementioned electric motor, The system is configured to transmit information to the communication device indicating that the battery's charge level has decreased when the battery's charge level falls below a predetermined threshold. The system is configured to set a predetermined threshold according to setting information input from an input device or setting information received from a communication interface. The aforementioned communication device is It is configured to output information related to notifications received from the aforementioned electric excavator. Excavator management system.

8. The aforementioned communication device is It is configured to control communication with other communication devices based on notifications received from the electric excavator. The shovel management system according to claim 7.

9. A computer mounted on an electric excavator having an electric motor and a battery that supplies power to the electric motor, A procedure for setting a predetermined threshold according to setting information input from an input device or setting information received from a communication interface, A procedure for outputting information prompting charging of the battery when the battery's charge level is lower than a predetermined threshold, A program to be executed.

Images