Autonomous Excavation Vehicle Control for Continuous Digging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current excavation methods rely heavily on manual operators, leading to high costs, limited operational hours, and increased risk of human error due to labor shortages and the need for manual operation during the day.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous or semi-autonomous excavation system that integrates sensors into excavation vehicles to navigate and control the excavation process, reducing the reliance on manual labor by using sensor data to execute precise excavation routines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual operators are used to operate excavation vehicles, then the vehicles can be controlled with simple systems, but the operation costs increase and productivity decreases due to labor shortages and limited working hours
Solution Approach 1:
The excavation vehicle is equipped with sensors, processors, and control systems that enable it to autonomously perform excavation tasks without continuous human intervention. The system self-monitors its operational state, self-navigates to target locations, and self-adjusts excavation parameters based on real-time sensor data, thereby eliminating the need for manual operators and significantly improving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical control system operated by human operators with an automated control system based on sensors, processors, and algorithms. The sensor assembly detects environmental and operational parameters, the processor analyzes this data, and the control system automatically adjusts vehicle operations, substituting human mechanical control with an intelligent automated system.
2Duration of action of moving object
If manual operators work during the day only, then the operation costs are lower, but the duration of excavation projects extends and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous excavation system enables continuous operation without the limitations of human working hours. The vehicle can operate day and night, weather permitting, without breaks, shifts, or fatigue-related interruptions. This continuous operation significantly reduces project duration and increases overall productivity compared to manual operation constrained to daytime hours only.
3Reliability
If manual operators are required, then the system design remains simple, but the quality of work decreases due to human error and labor shortages
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous system incorporates sensor assemblies that continuously monitor excavation parameters, vehicle position, and operational status. This real-time feedback is processed by control algorithms that automatically adjust operations to maintain precision and quality. The closed-loop feedback system eliminates human error by continuously correcting deviations from the planned excavation path and parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces human operators with an automated control system comprising sensors, processors, and actuators. This substitution eliminates human factors such as fatigue, distraction, and skill variability that lead to errors. The automated system consistently executes excavation tasks with high precision and reliability, maintaining uniform work quality throughout the project duration.
Data Source
AI summary
This description provides an autonomous or semi-autonomous excavation vehicle that is capable of navigating through a dig site and carrying an excavation routine using a system of sensors physically mounted to the excavation vehicle. The sensors collect one or more of spatial, imaging, measurement, and location data representing the status of the excavation vehicle and its surrounding environment. Based on the collected data, the excavation vehicle executes instructions to perform an excavation routine by excavating earth from a hole using an excavation tool positioned at a single location within the site. The excavation vehicle is also able to carry out numerous other tasks, such as checking the volume of excavated earth in an excavation tool, navigating the excavation vehicle over a distance while continuously excavating earth from a below surface depth, and preparing a digital terrain model of the site as part of a process for creating the excavation routine.