Autonomous Power Trowel With Surface Feedback and Boundary Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current concrete finishing technologies, including power trowels, require skilled operators and are labor-intensive, leading to a shortage of skilled workers due to long and difficult working hours, and existing autonomous solutions are difficult to use and do not consistently achieve desired finish quality.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous power trowel equipped with onboard rotors, actuators, sensors, communication systems, and cameras that can operate independently, allowing for remote control and navigation within predetermined boundaries to ensure a smooth and even concrete finish without the need for an operator on-site.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an autonomous power trowel is implemented to eliminate the need for skilled operators, then labor shortages are addressed and working conditions improve, but the device complexity increases significantly due to the need for sensors, communication systems, and autonomous control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The power trowel is equipped with autonomous navigation capabilities including sensors, communication systems, and control mechanisms that enable it to operate independently without requiring a skilled operator to be present on-site, thereby eliminating labor shortages while managing the inherent complexity through automated self-service functionality
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical control by an operator is replaced with an autonomous control system that uses sensors to detect boundaries and obstacles, communication systems to receive guidance, and automated mechanisms to navigate and operate the power trowel, substituting human mechanical operation with an integrated automated system
2Productivity
If existing autonomous solutions are used to replace skilled finishers, then labor availability improves, but the manufacturing precision of the concrete finish does not consistently meet desired parameters
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous power trowel incorporates sensors that continuously monitor the concrete surface and provide feedback to the control system, enabling real-time adjustments to maintain the desired finish quality and precision that skilled operators previously achieved through experience and observation
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts operational parameters such as rotor speed, blade angle, and movement speed based on real-time sensor data about the concrete condition, allowing the autonomous trowel to adapt to varying concrete properties and maintain consistent finish quality across different job sites
Data Source
AI summary
An autonomous power trowel includes a frame supported by at least one rotor having a plurality of troweling blades, at least one power source for selectively rotating the rotor to finish an upper surface of the concrete, at least one actuator onboard the frame for selectively tilting the rotor, and a communication system onboard the frame for communicating with at least one remote communication device. Also included are a plurality of sensors onboard the frame for sensing exterior boundaries of the concrete, and at least one inspection camera for viewing the upper surface of the concrete. A controller onboard the frame is configured to selectively operate the power source, to selectively operate the actuator, to receive communications from the remote communication device, to receive signals from the sensors, and to receive signals from the inspection camera to detect any surface blemish in the concrete.