Bucket Dump Control Switching by Work State Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Automatic drive control for work equipment can lead to the unintended falling of a work object, such as when bucket dumping is performed erroneously.

Innovation Solution

A control device that determines the work state based on traction force, boom and bucket angles, and operation duration to switch between automatic dump prohibition and permission modes, preventing work object fall by inhibiting automatic drive control during excavation and enabling it during dumping.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If automatic drive control is enabled for bucket dumping operation, then operational efficiency and automation level are improved, but the risk of work object falling increases due to erroneous operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic drive controlVSAvoidwork object falling
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the operational parameters of automatic drive control based on the detected work state. When excavation state is detected (through traction force, boom angle, bucket angle, and operation duration parameters), the system prohibits automatic dump control. When dumping state is detected, the system enables automatic dump control. This dynamic parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction by enabling automation only when safe.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If automatic drive control is restricted during excavation to prevent work object fall, then safety is improved, but operational efficiency deteriorates due to inability to perform automatic dumping

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvework object fallingVSAvoidoperational efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the availability of automatic drive control based on real-time work state detection. The control availability is not fixed but changes according to the current operation phase (excavation vs. dumping). This dynamic approach allows the system to maintain safety during excavation while enabling efficient automatic operation during dumping, thus resolving the productivity-safety contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If the system accurately determines work state to control automatic dump availability, then safety and precision are improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple sensors and control logic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvework state determinationVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control device utilizes existing sensors (traction force sensor, boom angle sensor, bucket angle sensor) that serve multiple functions in the overall vehicle operation. By integrating work state determination logic into the existing control system, the patent achieves precise work state detection without adding dedicated complex hardware for each measurement function, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3892782B1Working machine control device, working vehicle, and method for controlling working machine
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 KOMATSU LTD
  • EP3892782B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3892782B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3892782B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A state determination unit determines a work state of a work vehicle based on a traction force of the work vehicle and a posture of work equipment. An automatic dump determination unit determines an automatic dump availability mode indicating the availability in performing automatic dump control for automatically driving a bucket to a predetermined dump angle, in accordance with the work state.