Adaptive Vehicle Control Architecture for Autonomous Earth-Movers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing earth-moving construction and mining vehicles face limitations in fully autonomous operations due to limited sensed data, inability to navigate on-site obstacles, and the need for bulky and expensive hardware systems, hindering coordinated operations between multiple vehicles.
Innovation Solution
An adaptive control system (ACS) utilizing a hardware architecture with diverse sensors and modular daughtercards to modify input and output signals, enabling fully autonomous operations and obstacle navigation, and coordinating multiple vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If limited autonomous operations are implemented using existing techniques, then some level of automation is achieved, but the system requires bulky and expensive hardware
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical autonomous control systems with an electronic control system that uses a processor to receive sensor data and generate control signals. This substitution of mechanical systems with electronic/intelligent systems reduces hardware complexity while maintaining autonomous operation capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses sensor data to create a digital representation of the environment and vehicle state, which the processor then uses to make control decisions. This copying of physical reality into digital form enables autonomous operations without requiring complex mechanical sensing and response systems.
2Extent of automation
If existing autonomous control techniques are used, then basic automation is achieved, but the system cannot perform fully autonomous operations when faced with on-site obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback loop where sensors continuously monitor the environment and vehicle state, this data is processed to detect obstacles and determine appropriate responses, and control signals are generated to navigate around obstacles. This closed-loop feedback system enables fully autonomous obstacle handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically adjusts its behavior based on real-time sensor data, changing navigation paths and operational parameters in response to detected obstacles. This dynamic adaptation enables the system to handle unexpected on-site conditions autonomously.
3Extent of automation
If existing autonomous techniques are deployed, then individual vehicle control is achieved, but coordination between multiple vehicles is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a universal control system architecture that can be implemented across multiple different earth-moving vehicles, enabling them to all operate autonomously and coordinate with each other. This multi-functional platform supports both individual vehicle control and inter-vehicle coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The processor acts as an intermediary that receives data from multiple sources including other vehicles, processes this information, and generates coordinated control signals. This intermediary processing layer enables communication and coordination between multiple autonomous vehicles.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and techniques are described for an adaptive control system of powered earth-moving construction and/or mining vehicles. In some situations, the systems/techniques may receive signals from various controls of the powered earth-moving construction and/or mining vehicles that provide signals at various high-level voltages and low-level voltages and provide commands to the various controls by modifying command signals to various high-level voltages and low-level voltages. The systems/techniques may employ various modular input/output daughtercards to modify the various signals and commands.