Bucket Loading Position Control for Dump Truck Vessel Capacity

Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge is to increase the loading capacity of a dump truck vessel, which often has a length greater than the width of a work machine's bucket, by effectively managing the loading position in the fore/aft direction.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for a work machine that includes an information obtaining unit and a controller to determine the loading position of the work implement relative to the container based on the dimensions of the implement and container, optimizing the loading process to avoid interference and maximize capacity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of stationary object

If the vessel length is greater than the bucket width, then the container capacity is increased, but the loading efficiency decreases due to difficulty in managing loading positions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer capacityVSAvoidloading efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of stationary objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical positioning with an automated control system that uses sensors to detect container dimensions and automatically calculates optimal loading positions. The control unit processes dimension information and generates guidance signals, substituting human judgment and manual positioning operations with automated electronic control and computation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a control unit as an intermediary between the work machine operator and the loading process. This control unit receives dimension information from sensors, calculates optimal loading positions, and provides guidance information to the operator, acting as a mediator that bridges the gap between raw data and actionable loading decisions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If manual loading position management is used, then the system complexity is low, but the loading precision is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveloading position precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical positioning with an automated control system that uses sensors to detect container dimensions and automatically calculates optimal loading positions. The control unit processes dimension information and generates guidance signals, substituting human judgment and manual positioning operations with automated electronic control and computation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a digital representation or model of the container by measuring its dimensions with sensors and storing this information in the control unit. This digital copy of the container's physical dimensions allows the system to calculate and simulate optimal loading positions without physically testing each position, thereby improving precision while managing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS20260015817A1System including work machine and method of controlling work machine

Publication Date: 2026.01.15 KOMATSU LTD

AI summary

A system that allows increase in amount of loading of loads in a container is provided. A work machine includes a bucket. The system including the work machine includes an information obtaining unit that obtains information on a vessel of a dump truck into which loads carried in the bucket are to be loaded and a controller. The controller determines a loading position which is a position of the bucket relative to the vessel in loading the loads into the vessel, based on dimension information on a dimension in a width direction of the bucket and the information on the vessel.