Box Bed Distance Imaging for Conveyance Vehicle Position Assessment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing transport vehicle position estimation techniques fail to accurately determine the position of a transport vehicle with respect to a working machine when the type of transport vehicle changes, as they rely on specific length measurements that vary by vehicle type.

Innovation Solution

A transport vehicle position estimating device that includes a distance image acquiring part and a calculation part, which acquires a distance image of the box bed and sets a box bed scope based on this image, determining whether it falls within a dischargeable region of the working machine's attachment, allowing for accurate positioning regardless of the transport vehicle type.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If image processing techniques are used to detect vehicle position, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to requirement of multiple cameras and complex calibration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle position detection accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical/image processing systems with a magnetic field-based detection system. Instead of using multiple cameras and image processing algorithms, the invention uses a magnetic sensor to detect the position of a magnet attached to the vehicle, providing accurate position detection with simpler hardware and no calibration requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the essential function of position detection from complex image processing systems and implements it through a simple magnetic field interaction system. By separating the detection function from the vehicle and placing a magnet on the vehicle, the system achieves position detection without requiring cameras or complex processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Device complexity

If magnetic sensor is used to detect conveyance vehicle position, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision may be affected by external magnetic fields

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidposition detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a magnet as an intermediary carrier that transfers position information from the vehicle to the magnetic sensor. The magnet serves as a mediator that enables the sensor to detect vehicle position without being directly attached to or influenced by the vehicle's mechanical systems, thereby maintaining detection accuracy while preserving system simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent compensates for potential magnetic interference by using a differential measurement approach. The magnetic sensor detects both the Earth's magnetic field and the magnet's field, and by analyzing the combined field patterns, the system can distinguish and compensate for external magnetic influences, maintaining position detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables automatic determination of the transport vehicle's position relative to the working machine, ensuring reliable loading and discharge operations even when the type of transport vehicle changes, by setting the box bed scope based on distance images and dischargeable regions.

Implementation Method 1

a magnetic sensor to detect a position of the conveyance vehicle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field sensing: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentEP4023823B1Device for assessing position of conveyance vehicle
Publication Date: 2023.09.06 KOBELCO CONSTR MASCH CO LTD
  • EP4023823B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4023823B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4023823B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The transport vehicle position estimating device includes: a distance image acquiring part for acquiring a distance image of a box bed; and a calculation part. The calculation part sets a box bed scope indicative of a positional extent of the box bed on the basis of the distance image of the box bed acquired by the distance image acquiring part. The calculation part acquires a dischargeable region indicative of a dischargeable extent of the attachment under the condition that the attachment is operated but the lower travelling body is not travelled. The calculation part determines whether the box bed scope falls within the dischargeable region.