Construction Machine Display System Predicting Bucket Movement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Construction machine operators face difficulties in visualizing the shape of target surfaces located outside their current display range, leading to inefficient finishing work, as existing display systems require the work tool to be moved closer to display the target surface, limiting the display space for other essential information.

Innovation Solution

A display system for construction machines that predicts the moving direction of the work tool and adjusts the display to show a wider region ahead, allowing operators to grasp the target surface shape without moving the tool, while maintaining limited display space for other critical information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the display range is determined using the current position of the work tool as a reference, then the work tool and target surface can be displayed clearly, but the target surface located outside the current display range cannot be visualized

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay accuracyVSAvoidtarget surface shape information
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by predicting the moving direction of the work tool in advance and adjusting the display range proactively. The display control unit calculates the predicted position based on current movement trends and pre-adjusts the display range to include the future target surface area, allowing operators to see the target surface shape before actually arriving at that position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of information

If the display range is expanded to show the target surface ahead, then the operator can grasp the target surface shape in advance, but the display space for the work tool and machine position is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetarget surface shape informationVSAvoiddisplay space
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The display range is made dynamic rather than static. The system continuously adjusts the display range based on the predicted moving direction and speed of the work tool. This dynamic adjustment allows the display to expand in the direction of movement while maintaining appropriate visibility of the work tool and machine position, optimizing the use of limited display space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of information

If the operator moves the work tool closer to display the target surface, then the target surface shape can be visualized, but the work efficiency is reduced due to unnecessary movements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetarget surface shape informationVSAvoidwork efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The display control unit acts as an intermediary that bridges the gap between the work tool position and the target surface information. Instead of requiring the work tool to physically move closer to the target surface to see it, the system uses prediction algorithms to calculate and display the target surface shape at the predicted position, eliminating unnecessary physical movements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3284870B1Construction machine
Publication Date: 2024.07.17 HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO LTD
  • EP3284870B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3284870B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3284870B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A display system for a construction machine includes: a moving direction computing section (111b) for computing a predictive moving direction of a bucket (1c); a work-tool display control section (111e) that, if the moving direction computing section predicts a movement of the bucket, changes the display position of a bucket image (50) based on the predictive moving direction such that the area of a region located on the predictive moving direction side from the bucket image on the display screen of a monitor (12) is displayed wider than when the bucket image is displayed at a reference position and that displays the bucket image at the reference position (C) on the display screen if a movement of the bucket is unpredictable by the moving direction computing section; and a target-surface display control section (111d) for displaying on the display screen an image (52, 54, 56) of a target surface included in the display screen when the bucket image is displayed at the display position determined by the work-tool display control section.