Autonomous Haulage Dispatch Using Bucket Tip Loading Zone Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle management systems struggle to efficiently issue departure instructions to unmanned vehicles, leading to decreased productivity due to limited operational controls and potential for erroneous operations by inexperienced operators.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle management system that includes a vehicle information management section, an autonomous traveling control section, a bucket tip position calculator, a machine information management section, and an unmanned vehicle instruction section, which calculates the bucket tip position and loading zone of the unmanned vehicle to issue calling or departure instructions based on these calculations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a switch for the instruction function to the unmanned vehicle is added to the loading machine, then the instruction capability is improved, but the device complexity increases and erroneous operation risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The operating lever switch is designed to perform multiple functions: it controls both the loading machine operations and issues instructions to the unmanned vehicle. By making the switch multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate dedicated switches for vehicle instructions, thereby maintaining simplicity while enhancing instruction capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically determines and issues appropriate instructions (calling instruction or departure instruction) based on the calculated loading zone and bucket tip position, without requiring the operator to manually select between different instruction types. This self-determining mechanism reduces the risk of erroneous operations while maintaining full instruction functionality.
2Ease of operation
If multiple functions are allocated to switches of the operating lever, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability decreases due to potential erroneous operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the loading zone and bucket tip position, and based on this feedback, automatically determines the appropriate instruction type to issue. This feedback mechanism ensures that even though the switch performs multiple functions, the system responds appropriately to the current operational state, preventing erroneous instructions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically selects and issues the correct instruction type (calling or departure) based on real-time calculation of loading zone and bucket position, eliminating the need for the operator to manually determine which instruction to issue. This self-determining feature maintains reliability while keeping the interface simple.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle management system 1 includes an unmanned vehicle 20 capable of autonomous traveling, a loading machine 10 performing a loading work for the unmanned vehicle 20, and a management station 30 performing dispatch management and traffic control of the unmanned vehicle 20. The loading machine 10 includes a bucket tip position calculator 111 that calculates a bucket tip position of a bucket based on information on a position, an orientation, and an angle of each joint of the loading machine. The management station 30 includes an unmanned vehicle instruction section 313 that calculates a loading zone of the unmanned vehicle 20 and issues a calling instruction or a departure instruction to the unmanned vehicle 20 based on the calculated loading zone and the bucket tip position of the loading machine 10.