Aerial Ladder Control System With Haptic Feedback And Speed Limiting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Operators of aerial apparatuses, such as turnable ladders on firefighting vehicles, face challenges in controlling the movement speed effectively due to limited feedback and the need for skilled operation, especially in complex situations where maximum speed and safety are critical.
Innovation Solution
A control system that provides haptic feedback by determining the possible maximum speed of the aerial apparatus using sensors and applying a restoring force to the input device, limiting its deflection and preventing excessive movement, thus offering intuitive control and preventing speed exceedance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the operator controls the turnable ladder at maximum speed to reach remote points quickly, then the rescue time is reduced, but the risk of collision and overload increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the actual movement speed of the aerial apparatus and compares it with the determined maximum permissible speed. When the actual speed exceeds the maximum speed, the control system automatically reduces the speed back to the permissible level, providing closed-loop feedback control that prevents collisions while enabling operation at maximum safe speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system automatically determines the maximum permissible speed based on current operational parameters (extension range, load conditions, position) and self-regulates the movement speed without requiring continuous manual adjustment by the operator. The system serves itself by autonomously adapting speed limits to current conditions.
2Productivity
If the operator manually controls the input device without restrictions to achieve maximum speed, then the operational efficiency is improved, but the system may exceed safe speed limits
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-determines the maximum permissible speed based on current operational parameters (extension range, load conditions, position) before the operator attempts to exceed it. The determining means calculates the safe speed limit in advance, and the restricting means is prepared to enforce this limit, preventing excessive speed before it occurs rather than reacting after.
Solution Approach 2:
The restricting means continuously monitors the operator's input and the actual movement speed, comparing it against the pre-determined maximum speed. When the operator attempts to exceed the safe speed limit, the system provides immediate feedback by limiting the deflection of the input device or directly controlling the actuating unit to maintain speed within permissible bounds.
3Loss of information
If the system provides detailed information about all parameters to the operator, then the operator can make better decisions, but the complexity of the control system increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring the operator to manually assess and balance multiple parameters (extension range, load conditions, position, speed limits), the control system automatically determines the maximum permissible speed by integrating all these parameters. The system serves itself by autonomously processing the complex parameter assessment and presenting only the essential speed information to the operator.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the maximum speed parameter based on current operational conditions (extension range, load, position). Rather than presenting all raw parameters to the operator, the system processes these parameters internally and adjusts the speed limit parameter automatically, reducing information complexity while maintaining decision quality.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is related to a control system for controlling the movement of an aerial apparatus, in particular for controlling a turnable ladder of a firefighting vehicle, comprising a manually operable input device that is deflectable in at least one spatial direction by a deflecting force, an processing unit for converting the amount of deflection of the input device into a corresponding speed signal and an actuating unit for moving the aerial apparatus with a speed corresponding to the speed signal. The invention is characterized by determining means for determining a possible maximum speed and restricting means for counteracting or limiting the deflection of the input device according to the determined possible maximum speed.