Autonomous Machine Perception System for Self-Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous heavy industrial mobile machinery lacks the capability to load or unload itself onto or from transportation vehicles, requiring human operators for these tasks.
Innovation Solution
A perception system equipped with sensors that determine environmental characteristics, including structural features of towing vehicles, to autonomously guide the machine's movement and interaction with the towing vehicle, using a controller to actuate movement based on sensor data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If autonomous machines are equipped with basic operational capabilities, then they can perform required functions at the work site, but they cannot autonomously load or unload themselves onto transportation vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The machine is equipped with sensors and a controller that enable it to autonomously detect transportation vehicles, determine loading positions, and execute self-loading and self-unloading operations without human intervention, allowing the machine to serve itself
Solution Approach 2:
The perception system with multiple sensors (cameras, LIDAR, GPS) and the controller are designed to perform multiple functions including detecting various vehicle types, determining orientation, identifying loading ends, and coordinating movement, making the system adaptable to different transportation scenarios
2Productivity
If human operators are used to load and unload machines, then loading and unloading tasks can be completed, but operational efficiency and safety are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The perception system using sensors and controllers replaces the mechanical human-operated loading and unloading process with an automated electronic control system that detects environmental characteristics and actuates machine movement accordingly
Solution Approach 2:
The sensors continuously monitor the environment and provide feedback to the controller, which adjusts the machine's movement in real-time based on detected vehicle characteristics, ensuring accurate and safe autonomous loading and unloading operations
Data Source
AI summary
A perception system for an autonomous machine to be hauled by a towing vehicle includes sensors that are configured to determine characteristics of an environment associated with the machine. Such characteristics associated with the machine include at least structural characteristics of the towing vehicle. The sensors are further configured to detect a presence of the towing vehicle on a job site, an orientation of the towing vehicle on the job site, and a loading end of the towing vehicle. The perception system further includes a controller that is communicably coupled to each of the sensors. The controller is configured to actuate movement of the machine in relation to the towing vehicle based on the characteristics of the environment determined by the sensors.