Autonomous Worksites In Situ Calibration for Machine Downtime
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous worksites face challenges in efficiently calibrating vehicle models due to the need for transporting machines to distant calibration areas, which results in prolonged downtime and limited capacity for simultaneous calibration across multiple machines.
Innovation Solution
A method where a worksite management system identifies calibration needs and modifies existing site characteristics or constructs new calibration sites within the worksite, allowing autonomous machines to calibrate in situ, thereby reducing downtime and increasing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If machines are transported to distant calibration areas for vehicle model calibration, then calibration can be performed using dedicated calibration facilities, but machine downtime increases and calibration efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of transporting machines to remote calibration facilities, the patent inverts the approach by bringing calibration facilities to the machines at their operational locations. Mobile calibration units are deployed to various worksite areas, allowing calibration to occur in situ without requiring machine transport, thereby eliminating downtime while maintaining calibration accuracy through equipped mobile facilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a centralized calibration model (single fixed location) to a distributed calibration model (multiple mobile locations throughout the worksite). This dimensional change in calibration facility deployment allows machines to be calibrated at their operational positions across different spatial locations, eliminating the need for transport while maintaining calibration capabilities through mobile units equipped with necessary calibration equipment.
2Manufacturing precision
If machines are transported to remote calibration facilities, then specialized calibration equipment can be used, but the capacity for simultaneous calibration of multiple machines is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized calibration facility into multiple distributed mobile calibration units deployed throughout the worksite. Each mobile unit is equipped with calibration capabilities, allowing multiple machines to be calibrated simultaneously at different locations rather than queuing at a single facility, thereby increasing calibration throughput while maintaining specialized calibration capabilities in each mobile unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile calibration units are designed with universal calibration capabilities that can service multiple machine types and models. Each mobile unit functions as a complete calibration facility that can be deployed to various locations, providing multi-functional calibration services to different machines simultaneously, thereby increasing overall calibration capacity without requiring separate specialized facilities for each machine type.
3Reliability
If dedicated calibration areas are established away from worksite operations, then calibration can be performed without disrupting machine operations, but transport time and resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile calibration units are self-contained and self-deploying systems that can autonomously navigate to required locations and set up calibration facilities. The units carry their own equipment and power supplies, requiring no external support infrastructure, thereby enabling calibration to occur at operational locations without disrupting worksite activities while eliminating transport requirements through self-sufficient mobile design.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is disclosed of modifying a worksite for calibrating a vehicle model used to autonomously control a first machine on the worksite. The method may include receiving a signal from the first machine indicative of an aspect of the vehicle model in need of calibration. The method may also include determining, in response to receipt of the signal, that the worksite includes a calibration site having a characteristic corresponding to the aspect of the vehicle model, and that calibrating the aspect of the vehicle model requires modifying the characteristic of the calibration site. The method may further include autonomously modifying the characteristic of the calibration site with a second machine at the worksite, and directing the first machine to the modified calibration site for autonomous calibration of the aspect of the vehicle model.