Angled Pile Platforms for Autonomous Pile Driving Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current heavy equipment vehicles for earthwork operations, such as pile driving, require manual operators, leading to high costs, labor shortages, limited operating hours, and increased risk of human error.
Innovation Solution
Autonomous off-road vehicles (AOVs) equipped with platforms for carrying piles and tools for driving them into the ground, capable of navigating, loading, and driving piles autonomously, with integrated sensors for quality control and obstacle mapping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If manual operators are used to operate heavy equipment vehicles, then the vehicles can be controlled with simple mechanisms, but the operation costs increase and labor shortages occur
Solution Approach 1:
The heavy equipment vehicle is equipped with autonomous driving capabilities including sensors (cameras, LIDAR, GPS), processors, and control systems that enable the vehicle to navigate, position, and operate pile driving equipment without human intervention. The system autonomously detects obstacles, plans paths, controls hydraulic systems, and monitors pile driving operations, making the vehicle self-sufficient and eliminating dependency on manual operators.
2Device complexity
If manual operators are required for vehicle operation, then the vehicle system remains simple, but operating hours are limited and project duration extends
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical control system requiring human operators with an autonomous control system comprising processors, memory, sensors (cameras, LIDAR, GPS receivers), and communication modules. This electronic and software-based system enables continuous operation without human fatigue, extending operating hours and reducing project duration while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular architecture.
3Device complexity
If manual operation is used, then the control system is straightforward, but human error risk increases and work quality decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous vehicle incorporates multiple sensors (cameras, LIDAR, GPS, inertial measurement units) that continuously monitor the environment, vehicle status, and pile driving operations. This sensor data feeds back to processors that adjust control signals in real-time, enabling precise positioning, obstacle avoidance, and quality control of pile installation. The feedback loop eliminates human error by maintaining constant automated supervision of all operations.
Data Source
AI summary
An autonomous off-road vehicle (AOV) includes a vehicle body, and a first platform and second platform configured to carry one or more piles for transport by the AOV. The first platform and second platform are coupled to opposite sides of the vehicle body. A base of each of the first platform and the second platform is angled upwards and away from the vehicle body. The AOV further includes a vehicle tool coupled to the vehicle body and configured to pick up a pile carried by the first platform or the second platform and drive the pile into ground.