Computer Vision Heavy Equipment Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
It is challenging for a single entity, such as a construction manager or owner, to track the productivity of heavy equipment across multiple contractors and subcontractors at earthmoving sites, as existing monitoring systems are often provider-specific and require data transmission across different platforms, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
An image capturing system using computer vision and machine learning to identify and track heavy equipment at earthmoving sites, allowing for the capture of images and data without provider-specific monitoring devices, with image capturing devices positioned to analyze and classify equipment, determine 3D positions, and selectively send data to a remote server for further processing, thereby improving data efficiency and reducing bandwidth usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If provider-specific monitoring devices are used on each heavy equipment, then equipment productivity can be tracked, but system complexity increases and versatility decreases due to multiple provider platforms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by creating a single monitoring system that can track multiple types of heavy equipment from different providers. The system uses a centralized server with database that can store and process data from various equipment types (excavators, dump trucks, loaders, bulldozers, mixers) regardless of their original provider, eliminating the need for multiple provider-specific platforms while maintaining comprehensive tracking capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs an intermediary approach by introducing a centralized server as a mediator between heavy equipment and users. The server receives data from equipment via communication modules, processes it through a unified system, and provides it to users through a common interface. This intermediary layer abstracts away the complexity of individual equipment providers, allowing unified monitoring without requiring integration into multiple provider-specific systems
2Loss of information
If data from all heavy equipment is transmitted to a central system, then comprehensive productivity tracking is achieved, but data transmission volume and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies extraction by selectively capturing and transmitting only the essential productivity data needed for monitoring. The system extracts key parameters such as equipment location, operational status, and productivity metrics from the raw data stream, transmitting only this processed information to the central server. This reduces the overall data transmission volume while maintaining the completeness of critical productivity information
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by transmitting data at selective intervals and only when changes occur, rather than continuously streaming all available data. The system monitors equipment status and transmits updates only when productivity-relevant changes are detected, reducing unnecessary data transmission while ensuring that complete productivity information is captured when needed
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments describe a method for capturing objects in action at an earthmoving site. The method includes capturing an image of a region of the earthmoving site including an object, the image being recorded as captured digital data; identifying a classification of the object using a trained algorithm existing in memory of the image capturing device; sending the classification of the object to a remote server through a network; determining a pixel location and a boundary of the object within a field of view of the image capturing device based on positions of pixels of the object in the image; sending a set of images including the image to the remote server; determining an activity being performed by the object based on an analysis of digital data associated with the classification of the object and the movement of the object at the earthmoving site; and outputting a report to a user.