Management system for work machinery, work machinery

Abstract

To objectively evaluate fuel efficiency.SOLUTION: A work machine management system includes a work machine and a work machine management device. The management device has a memory unit that stores distribution information indicating a distribution of fuel efficiency of the work machine when each of a plurality of operators operates the work machine to perform work, a transmission unit that transmits the distribution information to the work machine, and an update unit that updates the distribution information when information indicating the fuel efficiency of the work machine is received from the work machine.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a management system for a work machine and a work machine.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a hydraulic excavator that compares the fuel consumption calculated for each work content with a target fuel consumption set in advance for each work content, evaluates the quality of the fuel usage state, and displays the evaluation result on a monitor.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the above-described conventional technology, there is no description of how the target fuel consumption, which is a standard for evaluating the fuel usage state, is determined, and the objectivity of the target fuel consumption is not considered. Therefore, it is difficult to objectively evaluate the fuel consumption with the conventional technology.

[0005] Therefore, in view of the above circumstances, an object is to objectively evaluate the fuel consumption.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The disclosed management system for a work machine is a management system for a work machine including a work machine and a management device for the work machine. The management device includes a storage unit in which distribution information indicating the distribution of the fuel consumption of the work machine when each of a plurality of operators operates the work machine to perform work is stored, a transmission unit that transmits the distribution information to the work machine, and an update unit that updates the distribution information when receiving information indicating the fuel consumption of the work machine from the work machine.

[0007] The disclosed work machine is a work machine that communicates with a management device and includes a fuel consumption calculation unit that calculates fuel consumption during work, a storage unit that holds distribution information showing the distribution of fuel consumption of the work machine when each of a plurality of operators operates the work machine and performs work, an evaluation unit that evaluates the fuel consumption of the work machine calculated by the fuel consumption calculation unit, and an output unit that outputs the evaluation results from the evaluation unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] Fuel efficiency can be evaluated objectively. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This diagram shows an example of the system configuration of a shovel management system. [Figure 2] This diagram illustrates the hardware configuration of each device in the excavator management system. [Figure 3] This diagram illustrates the functional configuration of each device in the excavator management system. [Figure 4] This figure shows an example of distribution information. [Figure 5] This is a sequence diagram illustrating the operation of the excavator's control system. [Figure 6] This is a diagram illustrating the layout inside the cabin. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of the system configuration of a shovel management system. The shovel management system SYS of this embodiment includes a shovel 100 and a management device 200. In the following description, the shovel management system SYS will be simply referred to as the management system SYS.

[0011] In the management system SYS of this embodiment, the shovel 100 and the management device 200 are connected via a network or the like. The shovel 100 is an example of a work machine.

[0012] The control device 200 collects operational information acquired by the shovel 100 during past operations, and generates and stores distribution information showing the distribution of fuel consumption for each type of work based on the collected operational information. The operational information collected by the control device 200 includes operational information from when multiple operators each operated the shovel 100 to perform work. Details of the work content, distribution information, and fuel consumption will be described later.

[0013] Furthermore, the management device 200 may maintain distribution information showing the distribution of fuel consumption for each type of work for each category of customer who is a user of the shovel 100. In other words, the customer category refers to the type of business of the business operator that uses the shovel 100 for work. Specifically, the customer categories include civil engineering and construction, industrial waste collection, metal recycling, forestry, etc.

[0014] Shovel 100 obtains distribution information corresponding to the customer category of the shovel 100 user from the management device 200.

[0015] Furthermore, Shovel 100 performs work for a set period of time and acquires operational information during that time. This operational information includes position information indicating the machine's current position, orientation information indicating the machine's direction, attitude information indicating the machine's posture, work content information indicating the work being done, load factor information indicating the load ratio, operating time information indicating the operating time of Shovel 100, fuel information including fuel injection amount, CO2 emissions, work volume, etc.

[0016] Next, the excavator 100 calculates fuel consumption and identifies the work content based on the acquired operational information. Then, the excavator 100 refers to the distribution information for each work content acquired from the control device 200, the distribution information corresponding to the identified work content, evaluates the fuel efficiency during the work, and outputs the evaluation result.

[0017] In this embodiment, as described above, the result of evaluating the fuel efficiency of the excavator 100 during operation is output by referring to the distribution information indicating the distribution of fuel efficiency for each work content.

[0018] Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to compare the fuel efficiency during operation with the fuel efficiency when the same work is performed by other operators, and objectively evaluate the fuel efficiency.

[0019] Also, according to this embodiment, it is possible to let the operator during operation grasp the comparison result between the fuel efficiency when he / she is working and the fuel efficiency when the same work is performed by other operators. In other words, according to this embodiment, the driving skill of the operator can be evaluated by comparing it with the driving skills of other operators, and the driving skill of the operator can be objectively evaluated.

[0020] Hereinafter, the excavator 100 of this embodiment will be described. The excavator 100 is an example of construction machinery and has a lower traveling body 1, a slewing mechanism 2, and an upper slewing body 3. In the excavator 100, the upper slewing body 3 is mounted on the lower traveling body 1 via the slewing mechanism 2 so as to be slewed, and a boom 4 is attached to the upper slewing body 3. An arm 5 is attached to the tip of the boom 4, and a bucket 6 as an end attachment is attached to the tip of the arm 5.

[0021] The boom 4, the arm 5, and the bucket 6 constitute an excavation attachment as an example of an attachment. The boom 4 is driven by a boom cylinder 7, the arm 5 is driven by an arm cylinder 8, and the bucket 6 is driven by a bucket cylinder 9. A boom angle sensor S1 is attached to the boom 4, an arm angle sensor S2 is attached to the arm 5, and a bucket angle sensor S3 is attached to the bucket 6.

[0022] The boom angle sensor S1 is configured to detect the rotation angle of the boom 4. In this embodiment, the boom angle sensor S1 is an acceleration sensor and can detect the rotation angle of the boom 4 relative to the upper slewing body 3 (hereinafter referred to as "boom angle"). The boom angle is smallest when the boom 4 is lowered to its lowest position, and increases as the boom 4 is raised.

[0023] The arm angle sensor S2 is configured to detect the rotation angle of the arm 5. In this embodiment, the arm angle sensor S2 is an acceleration sensor and can detect the rotation angle of the arm 5 relative to the boom 4 (hereinafter referred to as "arm angle"). The arm angle is smallest when the arm 5 is closed to its shortest extent, and increases as the arm 5 is opened.

[0024] The bucket angle sensor S3 is configured to detect the rotation angle of the bucket 6. In this embodiment, the bucket angle sensor S3 is an acceleration sensor and can detect the rotation angle of the bucket 6 relative to the arm 5 (hereinafter referred to as the "bucket angle"). The bucket angle is smallest when the bucket 6 is closed to its fullest extent, and increases as the bucket 6 is opened.

[0025] The boom angle sensor S1, arm angle sensor S2, and bucket angle sensor S3 may each be a potentiometer using a variable resistor, a stroke sensor for detecting the stroke amount of the corresponding hydraulic cylinder, a rotary encoder for detecting the rotation angle around the connecting pin, a gyro sensor, or a combination of an acceleration sensor and a gyro sensor.

[0026] The boom cylinder 7 is equipped with a boom rod pressure sensor S7R and a boom bottom pressure sensor S7B. The arm cylinder 8 is equipped with an arm rod pressure sensor S8R and an arm bottom pressure sensor S8B.

[0027] The bucket cylinder 9 is equipped with a bucket rod pressure sensor S9R and a bucket bottom pressure sensor S9B. The boom rod pressure sensor S7R, boom bottom pressure sensor S7B, arm rod pressure sensor S8R, arm bottom pressure sensor S8B, bucket rod pressure sensor S9R, and bucket bottom pressure sensor S9B are collectively referred to as "cylinder pressure sensors".

[0028] The boom rod pressure sensor S7R detects the pressure in the rod-side oil chamber of the boom cylinder 7 (hereinafter referred to as "boom rod pressure"), and the boom bottom pressure sensor S7B detects the pressure in the bottom-side oil chamber of the boom cylinder 7 (hereinafter referred to as "boom bottom pressure"). The arm rod pressure sensor S8R detects the pressure in the rod-side oil chamber of the arm cylinder 8 (hereinafter referred to as "arm rod pressure"), and the arm bottom pressure sensor S8B detects the pressure in the bottom-side oil chamber of the arm cylinder 8 (hereinafter referred to as "arm bottom pressure").

[0029] The bucket rod pressure sensor S9R detects the pressure in the rod-side oil chamber of the bucket cylinder 9 (hereinafter referred to as "bucket rod pressure"), and the bucket bottom pressure sensor S9B detects the pressure in the bottom-side oil chamber of the bucket cylinder 9 (hereinafter referred to as "bucket bottom pressure").

[0030] The upper rotating body 3 is equipped with a cabin 10, which serves as the driver's cab, and a power source such as an engine 11. A sensor for detecting CO2 emissions may also be provided near the exhaust mechanism of the engine 11.

[0031] Furthermore, the upper rotating body 3 is equipped with a controller 30, a display device 40, an input device 45, an audio output device 46, a storage device 47, a positioning device P1, an aircraft tilt sensor S4, a rotational velocity sensor S5, an imaging device S6, and a communication device T1.

[0032] The upper rotating body 3 may be equipped with a power storage unit for supplying electricity, and a motor-generator that generates electricity using the rotational driving force of the engine 11. The power storage unit may be, for example, a capacitor or a lithium-ion battery. The motor-generator may function as an electric motor to drive a mechanical load, or as a generator to supply power to an electrical load.

[0033] The controller 30 functions as a main control unit that controls the drive of the shovel 100. In this embodiment, the controller 30 is composed of a computer including a CPU, RAM, and ROM. Various functions of the controller 30 are realized, for example, by the CPU executing a program stored in ROM. These functions may include, for example, at least one of a machine guidance function that guides the operator in manually operating the shovel 100, and a machine control function that automatically assists the operator in manually operating the shovel 100.

[0034] The display device 40 is configured to display various types of information. The display device 40 may be connected to the controller 30 via a communication network such as CAN, or it may be connected to the controller 30 via a dedicated line.

[0035] The input device 45 is configured to allow the operator to input various types of information to the controller 30. The input device 45 includes at least one of the following: a touch panel, a knob switch, and a membrane switch, all of which are installed inside the cabin 10.

[0036] The audio output device 46 is configured to output sound. The audio output device 46 may be, for example, an in-vehicle speaker connected to the controller 30, or an alarm device such as a buzzer. In this embodiment, the audio output device 46 is configured to output various information as sound in response to an audio output command from the controller 30.

[0037] The storage device 47 is configured to store various types of information. The storage device 47 is, for example, a non-volatile storage medium such as a semiconductor memory. The storage device 47 may store information output by various devices during the operation of the shovel 100, or it may store information acquired via various devices before the operation of the shovel 100 begins.

[0038] Specifically, the storage device 47 may store information including image data captured by multiple imaging devices (cameras) located inside the cabin 10 and the results of the controller 30's detection of the operator's status.

[0039] Furthermore, the storage device 47 may store data relating to the target construction surface, for example, obtained via a communication device T1. The target construction surface may be set by the operator of the shovel 100, or it may be set by the construction manager or the like.

[0040] The positioning device P1 is configured to measure the position of the upper rotating body 3. The positioning device P1 may also be configured to measure the orientation of the upper rotating body 3. In this embodiment, the positioning device P1 is, for example, a GNSS compass, which detects the position and orientation of the upper rotating body 3 and outputs the detected values ​​to the controller 30. Therefore, the positioning device P1 can also function as an orientation detection device to detect the orientation of the upper rotating body 3. The orientation detection device may be an orientation sensor attached to the upper rotating body 3.

[0041] The machine body tilt sensor S4 is configured to detect the tilt of the upper rotating body 3. In this embodiment, the machine body tilt sensor S4 is an acceleration sensor that detects the longitudinal tilt angle of the upper rotating body 3 around the longitudinal axis and the lateral tilt angle around the lateral axis with respect to a virtual horizontal plane. The longitudinal axis and lateral axis of the upper rotating body 3 are orthogonal to each other at the shovel center point, which is a point on the rotation axis of the shovel 100.

[0042] The rotational angular velocity sensor S5 is configured to detect the rotational angular velocity of the upper rotating body 3. The rotational angular velocity sensor S5 may also be configured to detect or calculate the rotation angle of the upper rotating body 3. In this embodiment, the rotational angular velocity sensor S5 is a gyro sensor. The rotational angular velocity sensor S5 may also be a resolver, a rotary encoder, or the like.

[0043] The imaging device S6 is an example of a spatial recognition device and is configured to acquire images of the area around the shovel 100. In this embodiment, the imaging device S6 includes a front camera S6F for imaging the space in front of the shovel 100, a left camera S6L for imaging the space to the left of the shovel 100, a right camera S6R for imaging the space to the right of the shovel 100, and a rear camera S6B for imaging the space behind the shovel 100.

[0044] Furthermore, the imaging device S6 of this embodiment may include a plurality of imaging devices provided within the cabin 10. The imaging device S6 is, for example, a monocular camera having an image sensor such as a CCD or CMOS, and outputs the captured image to the display device 40. The imaging device S6 may also be a stereo camera, a depth image camera, etc. The imaging device S6 may also be replaced by other spatial recognition devices such as a 3D depth image sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a millimeter-wave radar, a LiDAR or an infrared sensor, or it may be replaced by a combination of other spatial recognition devices and a camera.

[0045] The front camera S6F is mounted, for example, on the ceiling of the cabin 10, i.e., inside the cabin 10. However, the front camera S6F may also be mounted on the roof of the cabin 10, the side of the boom 4, or other external locations within the cabin 10. The left camera S6L is mounted on the upper left end of the upper surface of the upper slewing body 3, the right camera S6R is mounted on the upper right end of the upper surface of the upper slewing body 3, and the rear camera S6B is mounted on the upper rear end of the upper surface of the upper slewing body 3.

[0046] The communication device T1 controls communication with external devices located outside the shovel 100. In this embodiment, the communication device T1 controls communication with external devices via a satellite communication network, a mobile phone communication network, or the Internet network, and is an example of a communication unit. The external device may be, for example, a management device 200, or a support device such as a smartphone carried by a worker around the shovel 100.

[0047] Next, referring to Figure 2, we will explain the hardware configuration of each device in the SYS management system. Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of each device in the excavator management system.

[0048] First, let's explain the basic system installed in the Shovel 100. In Figure 2, mechanical power transmission lines are shown as double lines, hydraulic fluid lines as thick solid lines, pilot lines as dashed lines, power lines as thin solid lines, and electrical control lines as dashed lines.

[0049] As shown in Figure 2, the basic system of the shovel 100 mainly includes an engine 11, a main pump 14, a pilot pump 15, a control valve 17, an operating device 26, an operating pressure sensor 29, a controller 30, a switching valve 60, a display device 40, an engine speed adjustment dial 75, etc.

[0050] Engine 11 is a diesel engine that employs isochronous control to maintain a constant engine speed regardless of increases or decreases in load. The fuel injection amount, fuel injection timing, boost pressure, etc., in engine 11 are controlled by the engine control unit (ECU74).

[0051] The engine 11 is connected to the main pump 14 and the pilot pump 15, which are hydraulic pumps. The main pump 14 is connected to the control valve 17 via a hydraulic fluid line.

[0052] The control valve 17 is a hydraulic control device that controls the hydraulic system of the excavator 100. The control valve 17 is connected to hydraulic actuators such as the left travel hydraulic motor, the right travel hydraulic motor, the boom cylinder 7, the arm cylinder 8, the bucket cylinder 9, and the swing hydraulic motor.

[0053] Specifically, the control valve 17 includes a plurality of spool valves corresponding to each hydraulic actuator. Each spool valve is configured to be displaceable in accordance with pilot pressure so as to increase or decrease the opening area of ​​the PC port and the CT port. The PC port is a port that connects the main pump 14 to the hydraulic actuator. The CT port is a port that connects the hydraulic actuator to the hydraulic fluid tank.

[0054] The pilot pump 15 is connected to the operating device 26 via a pilot line. The operating device 26 includes, for example, a left operating lever, a right operating lever, and a travel operating device. The travel operating device includes, for example, a travel lever and a travel pedal. In this embodiment, each of the operating devices 26 is a hydraulic operating device and is connected via a pilot line to the pilot port of the corresponding spool valve in the control valve 17. However, the operating devices 26 may be electric operating devices.

[0055] The operating pressure sensor 29 detects the operation of the operating device 26 in the form of pressure. The operating pressure sensor 29 outputs the detected value to the controller 30. However, the operation of the operating device 26 may also be detected electrically.

[0056] The switching valve 60 is configured to switch between an enabled state and an disabled state of the operating device 26. The enabled state of the operating device 26 is a state in which the operator can operate the hydraulic actuator using the operating device 26. The disabled state of the operating device 26 is a state in which the operator cannot operate the hydraulic actuator using the operating device 26. In this embodiment, the switching valve 60 is a gate lock valve configured to operate in response to a command from the controller 30.

[0057] Specifically, the switching valve 60 is located in the pilot line connecting the pilot pump 15 and the operating device 26, and is configured to switch the pilot line between shut-off and open in response to a command from the controller 30. The operating device 26 is activated, for example, when the gate lock lever D4 is pulled up and the switching valve 60 (gate lock valve) is opened, and deactivated when the gate lock lever D4 is pushed down and the switching valve 60 (gate lock valve) is closed.

[0058] The display device 40 is configured to display various types of information. The information displayed on the display device 40 may include the value of the hour meter of the control unit 40a of the display device 40.

[0059] The display device 40 may be connected to the controller 30 via a communication network such as CAN, or it may be connected to the controller 30 via a dedicated line. In this embodiment, the display device 40 is configured to display one or more captured images captured by the imaging device S6 and a menu screen. The display device 40 operates by receiving power from the storage battery 70.

[0060] The display device 40 includes a control unit 40a, an image display unit 41, an operation unit 42, and a bezel 43. The control unit 40a controls the image displayed on the image display unit 41. In this embodiment, the control unit 40a is composed of a computer equipped with a CPU, RAM, NVRAM, ROM, etc. In this case, the control unit 40a reads the program corresponding to each functional element from ROM and loads it into RAM, and causes the CPU to execute the corresponding processing. However, each functional element may be composed of hardware, or it may be composed of a combination of software and hardware. Also, the image displayed on the image display unit 41 may be controlled by a controller 30 or an imaging device S6.

[0061] The image display unit 41 displays captured images and a menu screen, both captured by at least one of the imaging devices S6. The captured images may be, for example, a rear image captured by the rear camera S6B, a left image captured by the left camera S6L, or a right image captured by the right camera S6R. Alternatively, the captured image may be a composite overhead image formed by combining images captured by the rear camera S6B, the left camera S6L, and the right camera S6R. Furthermore, the captured image may be two or more images selected from the rear image, left image, right image, and overhead image. The menu screen includes a status screen showing the status of the shovel 100 and a settings screen showing various settings for the shovel 100.

[0062] The operation unit 42 is a switch panel including hardware switches. The operation unit 42 may also be a touch panel. In this embodiment, the operation unit 42 is located below the image display unit 41 and includes switches (e.g., menu switches) for changing the image displayed by the image display unit 41. However, the arrangement of the operation unit 42 is not limited to the example described above; for example, it may be located on the operation lever, or on the left or right console of the driver's seat. In addition to the operation unit 42 provided on the display device 40, a driver's seat-side operation unit 50 having the same function as the operation unit 42 may be located on at least one of the operation lever, the left console, or the right console.

[0063] In this embodiment, when the menu switch on the operation unit 42 is operated while the image display unit 41 is displaying the overhead image and the rear image captured by the imaging device S6, a menu screen is displayed. For example, the image display unit 41 reduces the size of the rear image without changing the size of the overhead image before and after the menu switch on the operation unit 42 is operated, and displays a screen for selecting a menu detail item, etc.

[0064] Furthermore, the image display unit 41 may be configured to display the menu screen when the menu switch on the operation unit 42 is operated, regardless of whether the shovel 100 is operational or not. Alternatively, the image display unit 41 may be configured to display the menu screen when the menu switch on the operation unit 42 is operated, but only when the shovel 100 is inoperable.

[0065] The bezel 43 is a frame that supports the image display unit 41 and is equipped with a light-emitting element such as an LED (light-emitting diode). The light-emitting element should be installed so that the color of the emitted light is visible to the operator seated in the driver's seat inside the cabin 10.

[0066] The light-emitting element of the bezel 43 is controlled by the controller 30, which controls the timing and color of its illumination. In this embodiment, by varying the timing and color of the light-emitting element of the bezel 43, various notifications can be sent to the operator without changing the amount of information displayed on the image display unit 41.

[0067] More specifically, the controller 30 may illuminate the light-emitting element of the bezel 43 in a color and timing corresponding to the fuel consumption evaluation result of the shovel 100 during operation. This allows the operator to be notified of the fuel consumption evaluation result while maintaining the amount of information displayed on the image display unit 41. The light-emitting element of the bezel 43 may be used for purposes other than notifying the fuel consumption evaluation result. The fuel consumption evaluation result may also be displayed on the image display unit 41. In this case, it is preferable that the result be displayed in a way that does not impair the visibility of the information already displayed on the image display unit 41.

[0068] The gate lock lever D4 switches between a state in which the shovel 100 can be operated and a state in which it cannot be operated. The state in which the shovel 100 can be operated is when the gate lock lever D4 is raised and the switching valve 60 is opened, thereby enabling the operating device 26. The state in which the shovel 100 cannot be operated is when the gate lock lever D4 is pushed down and the switching valve 60 is closed, thereby disabling the operating device 26.

[0069] The battery 70 is charged, for example, with electricity generated by the alternator 11a. Power from the battery 70 is also supplied to the controller 30, etc. For example, the starter 11b of the engine 11 is driven by power from the battery 70 to start the engine 11.

[0070] The ECU 74 transmits data related to the status of the engine 11, such as the coolant temperature, to the controller 30. The regulator 14a of the main pump 14 transmits data related to the swash plate tilt angle to the controller 30. The discharge pressure sensor 14b transmits data related to the discharge pressure of the main pump 14 to the controller 30. The oil temperature sensor 14c, installed in the pipeline between the hydraulic oil tank and the main pump 14, transmits data related to the temperature of the hydraulic oil flowing through that pipeline to the controller 30. The operating pressure sensor 29 transmits data related to the pilot pressure generated when the operating device 26 is operated to the controller 30. The controller 30 stores this data in a temporary storage unit (memory) and can transmit it to the display device 40 when needed.

[0071] The engine speed adjustment dial 75 accepts input for adjusting the rotational speed of the engine 11 (hereinafter referred to as "engine speed"). The engine speed adjustment dial 75 is configured to allow the user to adjust the engine speed in 10 predetermined steps. This allows, for example, the fuel efficiency of the shovel 100 to be improved by adjusting the engine speed to a relatively low level during light-load work. Also, for example, when lifting work or loading soil onto a dump truck, setting the engine speed to a relatively low level can suppress the occurrence of load shaking and collapse of soil on the loading platform. Furthermore, for example, in the case of a new operator with relatively low operating skills of the shovel 100, the engine speed can be adjusted to a relatively low level to suppress the impact on work due to improper operation or operating errors.

[0072] The output signal corresponding to the input received by the engine speed adjustment dial 75 is taken up by the controller 30. Alternatively, instead of adjusting the engine speed level via the engine speed adjustment dial 75, the engine speed itself may be adjustable. For example, the engine speed may be adjustable continuously or in predetermined increments using the engine speed adjustment dial 75.

[0073] The alarm device 49 is a device for attracting the attention of people working with the shovel 100. The alarm device 49 is composed of, for example, a combination of an indoor alarm device and an outdoor alarm device. The indoor alarm device is a device for attracting the attention of the operator of the shovel 100 inside the cabin 10, and includes, for example, at least one of a sound output device, a vibration generating device, and a light emitting device installed inside the cabin 10. The indoor alarm device may also be a display device 40.

[0074] The outdoor alarm device is a device for attracting the attention of workers working around the shovel 100, and includes, for example, at least one of a sound output device and a light-emitting device provided outside the cabin 10. The sound output device as an outdoor alarm device includes, for example, a travel alarm device attached to the bottom surface of the upper rotating body 3. Alternatively, the outdoor alarm device may be a light-emitting device provided on the upper rotating body 3. However, the outdoor alarm device may be omitted. The alarm device 49 may, for example, notify a person working with the shovel 100 when the imaging device S6, which functions as an object detection device, detects a predetermined object.

[0075] Next, the hardware configuration of the management device 200 in this embodiment will be described. The management device 200 in this embodiment is a computer having a CPU 201, a storage device 202, a communication device 203, an input device 204, and a display device 205, all of which are interconnected by a bus.

[0076] The CPU 201 controls the overall operation of the management device 200. The storage device 202 stores programs executed by the CPU 201 and various information related to the shovel 100. The communication device 203 communicates with the shovel 100 and support devices via the network.

[0077] The input device 204 is for inputting information to the management device 200 and can be implemented as, for example, a keyboard or a pointing device. The display device 205 displays various types of information output from the management device 200 and can be implemented as a display or the like.

[0078] Next, with reference to Figure 3, the functional configuration of each device in the SYS management system of this embodiment will be described. Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the functional configuration of each device in the excavator management system.

[0079] First, the functions of the management device 200 will be described. The management device 200 of this embodiment includes a storage unit 210, an information acquisition unit 211, a distribution information generation unit 212, a distribution information extraction unit 213, a distribution information transmission unit 214, and a distribution information update unit 215.

[0080] The memory unit 210 stores the distribution information group 220. The distribution information group 220 may be a collection of distribution information for each type of work, generated for each customer category of the shovel 100.

[0081] In the example in Figure 3, the distribution information group 220 includes distribution information 220-1, 220-2, ..., 220-n. Distribution information 220-1 may be, for example, distribution information showing the distribution of fuel consumption for each type of work performed by a customer whose category is "civil engineering and construction" when using the shovel 100. Distribution information 220-2 may be distribution information showing the distribution of fuel consumption for each type of work performed by a customer whose category is "forestry" when using the shovel 100.

[0082] The distribution information group 220 may also include, for example, distribution information for each region of the work site. For example, the distribution information group 220 may include information showing the distribution of fuel consumption for each type of work performed by the shovel 100 in a certain region of a certain country.

[0083] Furthermore, the distribution information included in the distribution information group 220 may include, for example, distribution information for each customer and for each region where the customer's work site is located. In this case, the distribution information group 220 may include, for example, information showing the distribution of fuel consumption for each type of work performed by an excavator 100 of a certain category of customer at a work site in a certain region.

[0084] Furthermore, the distribution information group 220 may include distribution information showing the distribution of fuel for each type of end attachment attached to the shovel 100 and for each type of work performed.

[0085] The information acquisition unit 211 acquires various types of information from the shovel 100. Specifically, for example, the information acquisition unit 211 acquires operational information from the shovel 100. The operational information is used to generate and update the distribution information included in the distribution information group 220.

[0086] Furthermore, the information acquisition unit 211 acquires information from the excavator 100 indicating the customer category of the excavator 100. In the following description, the information indicating the customer category of the excavator 100 may be referred to as category information. The information acquisition unit 211 may also acquire location information indicating the current location of the excavator 100. Location information may be included in the operational information.

[0087] The distribution information generation unit 212 generates distribution information for each customer category of the shovel 100 and stores it in the storage unit 210.

[0088] Specifically, the distribution information generation unit 212 collects operational information for each customer category from when multiple operators have worked with the shovel 100 in the past. Next, the distribution information generation unit 212 identifies the work content and calculates the fuel consumption from the collected operational information, and then aggregates the fuel consumption calculated for each work content to generate distribution information that shows the distribution of fuel consumption for each work content for each customer category.

[0089] In this embodiment, since distribution information used to evaluate fuel efficiency is generated from operational information collected in the past, there is no need to set target values ​​for evaluating fuel efficiency, thus reducing the effort required to set target values.

[0090] The distribution information extraction unit 213 extracts distribution information corresponding to the customer category of the excavator 100 from the distribution information group 220. The distribution information transmission unit 214 transmits the extracted distribution information to the excavator 100.

[0091] When the distribution information update unit 215 obtains fuel consumption information from the shovel 100, it updates the distribution information corresponding to the customer category of the shovel 100.

[0092] Next, the functions of the shovel 100 will be described. The shovel 100 of this embodiment has a category identification unit 31, an operation information acquisition unit 32, a fuel consumption calculation unit 33, a work content identification unit 34, a determination unit 35, and a display control unit 36.

[0093] The category identification unit 31 identifies the category of the customer using the shovel 100 and transmits category information indicating the customer's category to the management device 200.

[0094] The operation information acquisition unit 32 acquires operation information of the excavator 100 while it is working. The fuel consumption calculation unit 33 calculates the fuel consumption of the excavator 100 if it operates for a certain period of time, based on the operation information acquired by the operation information acquisition unit 32. This certain period of time may be, for example, about one hour.

[0095] The work content identification unit 34 identifies the work content of the shovel 100 from the operational information acquired while the shovel 100 is working.

[0096] The determination unit 35 compares the distribution of fuel consumption corresponding to the work content identified by the work content identification unit 34 in the distribution information with the fuel consumption calculated by the fuel consumption calculation unit 33, and determines whether the fuel consumption of the shovel 100 during work is good or bad. In other words, the determination unit 35 is an example of an evaluation unit that compares the distribution information with the fuel consumption of the shovel 100 during work to evaluate the fuel consumption of the shovel 100 during work.

[0097] The display control unit 36 ​​causes the determination result from the determination unit 35 to be output to the display device 40. Specifically, the display control unit 36 ​​causes the light-emitting element of the bezel 43 of the display device 40 to light up according to the determination result from the determination unit 35. In other words, the display control unit 36 ​​is an example of an output unit that outputs the evaluation result of the fuel consumption of the shovel 100.

[0098] Furthermore, the display control unit 36 ​​displays the customer category identified by the category identification unit 31, the fuel consumption calculated by the fuel consumption calculation unit 33, and the work content identified by the work content identification unit 34 on the display device 40. Specifically, the display control unit 36 ​​displays a screen on the image display unit 41 of the display device 40 for the operator to confirm whether the customer category identified by the category identification unit 31 and the work content identified by the work content identification unit 34 are correct.

[0099] Next, with reference to Figure 4, the distribution information included in the distribution information group 220 of this embodiment will be described. Figure 4 is a diagram showing an example of the distribution information included in the distribution information group.

[0100] The distribution information 220-1 shown in Figure 4 shows the distribution of fuel consumption by work type when the customer category is "civil engineering and construction" and the work site is located in XX Prefecture. In Figure 4, the vertical axis shows fuel consumption and the horizontal axis shows the type of work. In this embodiment, fuel consumption refers to the amount of fuel consumed per unit time.

[0101] Furthermore, the work content in this embodiment includes, for example, loading work, lifting work, handling work, backfilling work, etc.

[0102] The example in Figure 4 shows that when a shovel 100 performs loading work at a construction site in XX Prefecture for a civil engineering and construction company, the fuel consumption is most often around X5 [L / h], and as the fuel consumption approaches X4 [L / h] or X6 [L / h], it becomes less likely to experience such low fuel consumption.

[0103] In other words, Figure 4 shows that at a work site in XX Prefecture for a customer classified in the "civil engineering and construction" category, when an operator operates a shovel 100 to perform loading work, the largest number of operators will have a fuel consumption of approximately X5 [L / h], while the smallest number of operators will have a fuel consumption of approximately X4 [L / h] or approximately X6 [L / h].

[0104] In other words, if the fuel consumption during loading work for a certain period of time at a work site in XX prefecture for a customer in the "civil engineering and construction" category is approximately X5 [L / h], then the fuel consumption per unit time is average, and the fuel efficiency of the Shovel 100 is average. To put it another way, it indicates that the operating skills of the operator running the Shovel 100 are average.

[0105] Furthermore, at a work site in XX Prefecture for a customer in the "civil engineering and construction" category, the closer the fuel consumption during loading work for a certain period of time approaches X6 [L / h], the higher the fuel consumption per unit time, indicating that the fuel efficiency of the Shovel 100 is poor. In other words, it indicates that the operator's driving skills are below average.

[0106] Furthermore, at a work site in XX Prefecture for a customer in the "civil engineering and construction" category, the closer the fuel consumption during loading work for a certain period of time approaches X4 [L / h], the lower the fuel consumption per unit time, indicating that the Shovel 100 is fuel-efficient. In other words, it indicates that the operator's driving skills are above average.

[0107] In this embodiment, if the fuel efficiency is in the range of X45 [L / h] to X56 [L / h], the fuel efficiency is determined to be average; if the fuel efficiency is in the range of X4 [L / h] to X45 [L / h], the fuel efficiency is determined to be good; and if the fuel efficiency is in the range of X56 [L / h] to X6 [L / h], the fuel efficiency may be determined to be poor.

[0108] Furthermore, in this embodiment, if the fuel efficiency is greater than X6 [L / h], it may be determined that the fuel efficiency is very poor, and if the fuel efficiency is less than X4 [L / h], it may be determined that the fuel efficiency is very good.

[0109] Furthermore, Figure 4 shows that at a work site in XX Prefecture belonging to a customer classified under the "civil engineering and construction" category, when an operator operates a shovel 100 to perform lifting work, the largest number of operators achieve a fuel consumption of approximately X2 [L / h], while the smallest number of operators achieve a fuel consumption of approximately X3 [L / h] or approximately X1 [L / h].

[0110] In other words, if the fuel consumption during a lifting operation at a work site in XX prefecture for a customer in the "civil engineering and construction" category is approximately X2 [L / h], then the fuel consumption per unit time is average, and the fuel efficiency of the Shovel 100 is average. To put it another way, it indicates that the operator's skill level is average.

[0111] Furthermore, at a work site in XX Prefecture for a customer in the "civil engineering and construction" category, the closer the fuel consumption during a lifting operation for a certain period of time approaches X3 [L / h], the higher the fuel consumption per unit time, indicating that the fuel efficiency of the Shovel 100 is poor. In other words, it indicates that the operator's driving skills are below average.

[0112] Furthermore, at a work site in XX Prefecture for a customer in the "civil engineering and construction" category, the closer the fuel consumption during a lifting operation for a certain period of time approaches X1 [L / h], the lower the fuel consumption per unit time, indicating that the Shovel 100 is fuel-efficient. In other words, it indicates that the operator's driving skills are above average.

[0113] Note that the distribution information 220-1 shown in Figure 4 is an example of distribution information showing the distribution of fuel consumption for each task. In this embodiment, the distribution of fuel consumption for each task may be shown in a different way than the distribution information shown in Figure 4.

[0114] Specifically, for example, in Figure 4, fuel efficiency is defined as the amount of fuel consumed per unit time, but fuel efficiency may also be defined as the amount of fuel consumed per unit of work.

[0115] Furthermore, in this embodiment, if the fuel consumption distribution follows a normal distribution, the fuel consumption calculated from the operational information of multiple operators who have worked with the shovel 100 in the past may be converted into data with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10, and the fuel consumption distribution may be shown as a standard score. In this case, the judgment result of whether the fuel consumption is good or bad during operation will also be shown as a standard score.

[0116] In this way, by showing the fuel efficiency rating as a standard score, operators performing the work can understand the degree of deviation from the average fuel efficiency when multiple operators perform the work.

[0117] Next, the operation of the SYS management system in this embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 5. Figure 5 is a sequence diagram illustrating the operation of the excavator's management system.

[0118] In the management system SYS of this embodiment, when the shovel 100 is started (step S501), the category identification unit 31 of the controller 30 identifies the category of the customer using the shovel 100 (step S502).

[0119] The category identification unit 31 of this embodiment may, for example, identify the customer category of the shovel 100 based on information indicating the delivery destination of the shovel 100. Information indicating the delivery destination of the shovel 100 may be entered into and stored in the shovel 100 when the shovel 100 is sold to the customer, for example.

[0120] Furthermore, the category identification unit 31 may identify the customer's category based on the image of the work site captured by the imaging device S6 of the shovel 100. For example, if the image captured by the imaging device S6 is an image of a construction site, the category identification unit 31 may identify the customer's category as civil engineering and construction.

[0121] Furthermore, the category identification unit 31 may identify the customer's category based on the type of end attachment attached to the shovel 100. For example, if a grapple is attached instead of a bucket 6 as the end attachment, the category identification unit 31 may identify the customer's category as forestry.

[0122] Furthermore, the category identification unit 31 may identify the area where the work site is located based on location information indicating the current location of the shovel 100. In this case, the category identification unit 31 may include information indicating the area where the work site is located as part of the category information.

[0123] Next, the category identification unit 31 of the shovel 100 transmits category information indicating the customer's category to the management device 200 (step S503).

[0124] The management device 200 acquires category information from the shovel 100 using the information acquisition unit 211, and then the distribution information extraction unit 213 extracts distribution information corresponding to the category indicated by the category information from the distribution information group 220 (step S504). Subsequently, the management device 200 transmits the extracted distribution information to the shovel 100 using the distribution information transmission unit 214 (step S505).

[0125] The shovel 100 performs work for a set period of time, and the operation information acquisition unit 32 acquires operation information during the work (step S506).

[0126] Next, the excavator 100 uses the work content identification unit 34 to identify the work that the excavator 100 has been performing for a certain period of time, based on the operational information (step S507).

[0127] Next, the shovel 100, using the display control unit 36, displays the work content identified by the work content identification unit 34 and the customer category identified in step S502 on the image display unit 41 of the display device 40 (step S508).

[0128] In this embodiment, by displaying the customer category identified by the shovel 100 and the work details on the display device 40, the operator can verify the accuracy of the identified information.

[0129] Next, the shovel 100 calculates its fuel consumption based on the operating information acquired in step S506 using the fuel consumption calculation unit 33 (step S509). Subsequently, the shovel 100 compares the calculated fuel consumption with the distribution information acquired in step S505 using the determination unit 35 to determine whether the shovel 100's fuel consumption is good or bad (step S510).

[0130] Next, the shovel 100 outputs the determination result to the display device 40 via the display control unit 36 ​​(step S511). Specifically, the display control unit 36 ​​illuminates the light-emitting element of the bezel 43 of the display device 40 in a color corresponding to the determination result.

[0131] Next, the shovel 100 transmits information indicating the fuel consumption of the shovel 100, calculated by the fuel consumption calculation unit 33, to the management device 200 (step S512). At this time, the shovel 100 may also transmit to the management device 200 the determination result from the determination unit 35, the category identified in step S502, the work content identified in step S507, etc., along with the information indicating the fuel consumption.

[0132] When the management device 200 acquires fuel consumption information from the excavator 100, the distribution information update unit 215 updates the corresponding distribution information (step S513). Specifically, in step S504, the distribution information update unit 215 reflects the fuel consumption information acquired from the excavator 100 into the distribution information extracted by the distribution information extraction unit 213. In other words, the distribution information update unit 215 makes the distribution information corresponding to the customer category of the excavator 100 into distribution information that includes the fuel consumption acquired from the excavator 100.

[0133] In this embodiment, when the fuel consumption is calculated in the shovel 100, the distribution information held by the management device 200 is updated to include the fuel consumption calculated by the shovel 100. Therefore, the management device 200 in this embodiment can always maintain the latest distribution information.

[0134] Furthermore, if either or both of the work details and / or customer category displayed in step S508 are incorrect, the shovel 100 may perform an operation to correct the identified result on the screen displayed in step S508. Specifically, in this embodiment, the correct category and work details may be entered on the screen displayed in step S508.

[0135] When an operation is performed to modify the category identified by the category identification unit 31 or the work content identified by the work content identification unit 34 on the screen displayed in step S508, the excavator 100 transmits information indicating the modified category and work content entered by this operation, along with the fuel consumption of the excavator 100, to the management device 200. Upon receiving this information, the management device 200 uses the distribution information update unit 215 to reflect the fuel consumption of the excavator 100 in the distribution information corresponding to the information indicating the modified category and work content among the distribution information group 220 stored in the storage unit 210.

[0136] In this embodiment, by updating the distribution information in this way, the distribution information can be updated based on the correct category and work content.

[0137] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the category identification unit 31 and the work content identification unit 34 may be models generated by learning the relationship between the input data and the output data. In this case, if the customer category identified by the category identification unit 31 is incorrect, the category identification unit 31 may be trained using machine learning with a single dataset consisting of the information referenced when identifying the category and the correct category (correct answer) entered in step S508.

[0138] Furthermore, in this embodiment, for example, if the work content identified by the work content identification unit 34 is incorrect, the work content identification unit 34 may be trained using machine learning by combining the operational information used to identify the work content and the correct work content (correct answer) entered in step S508 as a single dataset.

[0139] In this embodiment, by updating the category identification unit 31 and the work content identification unit 34 in this way, the accuracy of the identified categories and work content can be improved.

[0140] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the result of the fuel efficiency assessment is output to the display device 40, but this is not limited to this. The result of the fuel efficiency assessment may not be output to the display device 40, but may be transmitted to the management device 200. In this case, the result of the fuel efficiency assessment and information identifying the operator operating the shovel 100 may be associated and transmitted to the management device 200. In this way, users of the management device 200 can view information regarding the operating skills of the shovel 100 operator.

[0141] Furthermore, while the example in Figure 5 shows the excavator 100 acquiring distribution information from the control device 200, it is not limited to this. The excavator 100 may simply access the storage unit 210 of the control device 200 and refer to the distribution information without acquiring it from the control device 200.

[0142] The operation shown in Figure 5 will be explained in more detail below. In the following explanation, it is assumed that the shovel 100 has been delivered to a civil engineering and construction company, and that the shovel 100 contains information indicating the delivery destination.

[0143] In the management system SYS, when the shovel 100 is started, the category identification unit 31 acquires, for example, information indicating the delivery destination stored in the shovel 100 and location information indicating the current location of the machine. Then, the category identification unit 31 identifies the category as "Civil Engineering and Construction, Work Site in XX Prefecture" from the information indicating the delivery destination and the location information, and transmits the category information "Civil Engineering and Construction, Work Site in XX Prefecture" to the management device 200.

[0144] When the management device 200 acquires this category information, it extracts the distribution information 220-1 corresponding to the category information "Civil engineering and construction, work site in XX prefecture" from the distribution information group 220 stored in the memory unit 210 and transmits it to the shovel 100.

[0145] Shovel 100 performs work for a set period of time, identifies the work content from the operational information acquired during the work, and calculates fuel consumption. Here, we will explain assuming that the work content is identified as "loading work" and the calculated fuel consumption is X7 [L / h].

[0146] Since the work content of Shovel 100 is specified as "loading work," the distribution of fuel consumption for the work content "loading work" in distribution information 220-1 is referred to. Then, Shovel 100's fuel consumption X7 [L / h] falls within the range of X4 [L / h] to X45 [L / h] in the distribution of fuel consumption for the work content "loading work" (see Figure 4).

[0147] Therefore, the determination unit 35 of the shovel 100 determines that the shovel 100, after working for a certain period of time, is in a state of good fuel efficiency, and the display control unit 36 ​​causes the light-emitting element on the bezel 43 of the display device 40 to light up in a color corresponding to the determination result. The shovel 100 also transmits the determination result to the management device 200. Upon receiving the determination result, the management device 200 updates the distribution information 220-1 to include the determination result received from the shovel 100.

[0148] In this embodiment, by using distribution information generated for each customer category of the shovel 100, fuel efficiency can be evaluated based on distribution information corresponding to the usage environment of the shovel 100. Furthermore, in this embodiment, by using distribution information generated for each type of work performed by the shovel 100, distribution information corresponding to the type of work performed by the shovel 100 can be used as a basis. Therefore, according to this embodiment, fuel efficiency can be objectively evaluated without being affected by variations in fuel efficiency caused by the usage environment (customer category) or work performed by the shovel 100.

[0149] In this embodiment, the fuel efficiency of the shovel 100 can be objectively evaluated by comparing its fuel efficiency during operation with that of another operator performing the same task. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the operator's driving skills during operation can be objectively evaluated.

[0150] Next, we will explain how the judgment results are output, referring to Figure 6. Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating the layout inside the cabin.

[0151] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the interior of cabin 10, showing the view from the driver's seat looking forward inside cabin 10.

[0152] As shown in Figure 6, a driver's seat 90 is installed inside the cabin 10. A left console 90L is installed to the left of the driver's seat 90, and a right console 90R is installed to the right of the driver's seat 90. A left operating lever 26L is mounted on the upper front end of the left console 90L, and a right operating lever 26R is mounted on the right console 90R in the position corresponding to the left operating lever 26L. A main monitor 40M, one of the display devices 40, is mounted on the upper front end of the right console 90R. The main monitor 40M includes an image display unit 41M, an operating unit 42M, and a bezel 43M.

[0153] The cabin 10 also has a frame body 110. The frame body 110 is formed by combining vertical frames, horizontal frames, and connecting frames. The vertical frames have a pair of left and right pillars 111 (111L, 111R) located on the front side and a pair of left and right vertical frames (not shown) located on the rear side. The horizontal frames have a front ceiling frame 113 that is horizontally mounted between the left pillar 111L and the right pillar 111R on the front side, and a rear ceiling frame (not shown) that is horizontally mounted between the left and right pillars on the rear side. The pair of left and right pillars 111 on the front side and the pair of left and right pillars on the rear side are connected by a pair of left and right connecting frames.

[0154] In the cabin 10, a left monitor 40L, which is an example of a display device 40, is mounted on the left pillar 111L, and a right monitor 40R is mounted on the right pillar 111R. The left monitor 40L and the right monitor 40R may be mounted in a position that allows the operator to view the left monitor 40L and the right monitor 40R in their peripheral vision when the operator is viewing the bucket 6 in their central field of vision through the front window 62 of the cabin 10. Therefore, when the operator is performing excavation work while viewing the bucket 6 in their central field of vision, they can view the left rear and right rear of the shovel displayed on the left monitor and the right monitor in their peripheral vision without moving their eyes.

[0155] A selection dial 52 and an operating device 53 are installed on top of the left console 90L. If the operator wants to change the range displayed by the left monitor 40L, which displays an image of the left rear of the shovel 100, they operate the selection dial 52 to select the left camera S6L. Then, by operating the operating device 53 to change the orientation of the left camera S6L, the range displayed by the left monitor can be changed. The same procedure applies when changing the range displayed by the left rear mirror 10c.

[0156] Furthermore, a rearview monitor 40B is mounted on the upper part of the right pillar 111R so as to be positioned along the front ceiling frame 113 inside the cabin 10. Alternatively, the rearview monitor 40B may be mounted on the upper part of the left pillar 111L so as to be positioned along the front ceiling frame 113.

[0157] Thus, a left monitor may be positioned on the left side of the field of view of the excavator operator sitting in the driver's seat and looking straight ahead, as if it were a left rearview mirror. Similarly, a right monitor may be positioned on the right side of the field of view, as if it were a right rearview mirror.

[0158] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the back monitor 40B is positioned in the upper part of the field of view as if it were a rear-view mirror. Therefore, the excavator operator can intuitively recognize that the image displayed on the left monitor 40L is a mirrored image of the left rear of the excavator. Similarly, the operator can intuitively recognize that the image displayed on the right monitor 40R is a mirrored image of the right rear of the excavator, and the image displayed on the back monitor 40B is a mirrored image of the rear of the excavator.

[0159] The images displayed on the left monitor 40L, the right monitor 40R, and the rear monitor 40B correspond to the images captured by the left camera S6L, the right camera S6R, and the rear camera S6B, respectively. In other words, the left monitor 40L, the right monitor 40R, and the rear monitor 40B each display different directions independently. Furthermore, the displays on the left monitor 40L, the right monitor 40R, and the rear monitor 40B start simultaneously with the activation of the main monitor 40M when the operator turns the key on. However, they may also start simultaneously with the activation of the engine 11.

[0160] In Figure 6, the bezel 43M of the main monitor 40M illuminates a light-emitting element located on the bezel 43M in green, indicating that the system has determined that the fuel efficiency during operation is good.

[0161] In this embodiment, the operator can be notified of the fuel efficiency of the shovel 100 by illuminating the bezel 43 in this way. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the operator can be notified of the fuel efficiency of the shovel 100 while maintaining the amount of information displayed on the image display unit 41M of the main monitor 40M.

[0162] Furthermore, in this embodiment, for example, if the fuel efficiency is determined to be average, the light-emitting member may emit light in light green, and if the fuel efficiency is determined to be poor, the light-emitting member may emit light in blue. In addition, in this embodiment, if the fuel efficiency is determined to be very poor, the light-emitting member may emit light in red.

[0163] In this embodiment, the color of the light-emitting element is changed according to the fuel consumption status of the shovel 100, allowing the operator to visually understand whether the shovel 100 is fuel-efficient or not. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the operator can understand the results of comparing the fuel consumption of the shovel 100 when they performed the work with the fuel consumption of the shovel 100 when other operators performed the same work. Therefore, in this embodiment, the operator can understand the difference between their own driving skills and the driving skills of other operators.

[0164] In Figure 6, the operator is notified of the fuel efficiency evaluation results of the shovel 100 by illuminating a light-emitting element provided on the bezel 43 of the main monitor 40, but this is not limited to this configuration. The light-emitting element may be provided elsewhere than the bezel 43 of the main monitor 40. The light-emitting element only needs to be positioned in a location visible to the operator seated in the driver's seat 90.

[0165] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the fuel efficiency evaluation result of Shovel 100 may be output as audio. Specifically, in this embodiment, for example, audio data indicating the fuel efficiency evaluation result of Shovel 100 ("Good fuel efficiency," etc.) may be output. Also, in this embodiment, music or the like corresponding to the fuel efficiency evaluation result of Shovel 100 may be output.

[0166] In this embodiment, it is sufficient to allow the operator to understand the results of evaluating the fuel consumption of the shovel 100 during operation using the fuel consumption distribution information of the shovel 100, and the evaluation results may be output in any format.

[0167] In the embodiment described above, the shovel 100 is assumed to have a category identification unit 31, a work content identification unit 34, and a determination unit 35, but it is not limited to this. In this embodiment, the management device 200 may have a category identification unit 31, a fuel consumption calculation unit 33, a work content identification unit 34, and a determination unit 35.

[0168] In this case, for example, when the shovel 100 is started, it sends information identifying the shovel 100 (such as its machine identification number) to the management device 200 as a notification that it has started up.

[0169] When the management device 200 receives information to identify the machine, the category identification unit 31 of the management device 200 identifies the customer category of the excavator 100. The management device 200 may have category information indicating the customer category of the excavator 100 stored in advance.

[0170] Shovel 100 transmits operational information acquired during the operation to the management device 200 after a certain period of time or after performing work.

[0171] When the control device 200 receives the operational instructions, it calculates the fuel consumption using the fuel consumption calculation unit 33, identifies the work content using the work content identification unit 34, and evaluates the fuel efficiency of the excavator 100 by referring to distribution information corresponding to the customer category and work content using the judgment unit 35. The control device 200 then transmits the evaluation result to the excavator 100.

[0172] When the shovel 100 receives the evaluation result from the control device 200, the display control unit 36 ​​outputs the evaluation result to the display device 40.

[0173] In this embodiment, by providing the management device 200 with a category identification unit 31, a fuel consumption calculation unit 33, a work content identification unit 34, and a determination unit 35, the processing load on the controller 30 of the shovel 100 can be reduced, and the configuration of the shovel 100 can be simplified.

[0174] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the management device 200 is assumed to have a storage unit 210 for storing the distribution information group 220, but it is not limited to this. The storage unit 210 may be provided in the shovel 100.

[0175] In this case, the memory unit 210 provided in the shovel 100 only needs to store distribution information corresponding to the category of business to which the shovel 100 will be delivered.

[0176] Thus, because the excavator 100 has a memory unit 210 that stores distribution information corresponding to the customer category of the machine in advance, the excavator 100 can objectively evaluate its fuel consumption without communicating with the management device 200. Therefore, the communication load on the excavator 100 can be reduced. Furthermore, even in work sites where a communication environment between the excavator 100 and the management device 200 is not established, such as in mountainous areas, the fuel consumption of the excavator 100 can be objectively evaluated.

[0177] Furthermore, although the shovel 100 was described as an example of a work machine in this embodiment, the work machine may be, for example, a crane, forklift, backhoe, etc.

[0178] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and substitutions can be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0179] 10 cabins 11 Engine 30 controllers 31 Category Identification Section 32 Operation Information Acquisition Unit 33 Fuel Efficiency Calculation Unit 34 Work content identification department 35 Judgment section 36 Display Control Unit 100 Shovel 200 Management device 210 Storage section 211 Information Acquisition Department 212 Distribution information generation unit 213 Distribution information extraction part 214 Distribution Information Transmission Unit 215 Distribution information update section 220 Distribution information group

Claims

1. A management system for work machines, including work machines and a device for managing work machines, The aforementioned control device is A storage unit that stores distribution information showing the distribution of fuel consumption of the work machine when each of multiple operators operates the work machine and performs work, A transmitting unit that transmits the distribution information to the aforementioned work machine, A management system for a work machine, comprising: an update unit that updates the distribution information when it receives information indicating the fuel consumption of the work machine from the work machine.

2. The aforementioned control device is The storage unit has a generation unit that generates the distribution information stored in the storage unit, The generating unit is A work machine management system according to claim 1, comprising: collecting operational information of the work machine from the work machine when each of the plurality of operators operates the work machine and performs work; and using the collected operational information, generating distribution information showing the distribution of fuel consumption of the work machine for each type of work performed by the work machine.

3. The aforementioned work machine is A fuel consumption calculation unit that calculates the fuel consumption of the work machine during operation, A work content identification unit that identifies the work content during the aforementioned work, An evaluation unit evaluates the fuel consumption of the work machine by referring to the distribution information corresponding to the specified work content from the distribution information stored in the memory unit, A management system for a work machine according to claim 2, comprising an output unit that outputs the evaluation results from the evaluation unit.

4. The aforementioned storage unit includes: The distribution information for each type of work is stored for each customer category of the aforementioned work machine. The aforementioned work machine is It has a category identification unit that identifies the customer category of the aforementioned work machine, The evaluation unit, A management system for a work machine according to claim 3, which evaluates the fuel consumption of the work machine by referring to the distribution information corresponding to the identified customer category and the work content from the distribution information stored in the memory unit.

5. The aforementioned work machine is The system includes a communication unit that transmits the fuel consumption of the work machine, information indicating the customer category of the work machine, and information indicating the work content to the management device. The update unit of the aforementioned management device is: The management system for a work machine according to claim 4, wherein the fuel consumption of the work machine is reflected in the distribution information associated with the customer category of the work machine and the work content of the work machine, among the distribution information stored in the memory unit.

6. The aforementioned work machine is The display device displays a screen including the fuel consumption calculated by the fuel consumption calculation unit, the work content identified by the work content identification unit, and the category identified by the category identification unit. When the screen accepts an operation to modify either or both of the specified work content and the specified category, the management device transmits information indicating the customer category of the modified work machine and information indicating the work content. The update distribution information of the aforementioned management device is, The management system for a work machine according to claim 5, wherein the fuel consumption of the work machine is reflected in the distribution information corresponding to the information indicating the customer category of the work machine and the information indicating the work content, among the distribution information stored in the memory unit.

7. The previous work machine was, A display device comprising an image display unit, a frame supporting the image display unit, and a light-emitting member provided on the frame, A management system for a work machine according to claim 3 or any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the light-emitting member is made to emit light in a color corresponding to the result of the evaluation by the evaluation unit.

8. A work machine that communicates with a management device, A fuel consumption calculation unit that calculates fuel consumption during operation, A storage unit that holds distribution information showing the distribution of fuel consumption of the work machine when each of multiple operators operates the work machine and performs work, An evaluation unit that evaluates the fuel consumption of the work machine calculated by the fuel consumption calculation unit, A work machine having an output unit that outputs the evaluation results from the evaluation unit.

Images