Operation control device for construction machine

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing operation control systems for construction machines, such as hydraulic excavators, face complexity and difficulty in preventing false operations due to inadvertent contact of the operator's body with manipulation levers or distracted manipulation, requiring multiple sensors like pressure and touch sensors, and visual direction detectors, leading to a complicated configuration.

Innovation Solution

An operation control system that includes an image-taking part to capture images of the operator, a manipulation determination part to assess if the manipulation part is operated by the operator, a distraction determination part to detect operator distraction, and an operation control part that suspends operations when the manipulation part is not manipulated by the operator or when the operator is distracted, using a simple configuration that eliminates the need for multiple sensors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple sensors (pressure sensor, touch sensor, camera, image calculation device) are used to detect operator state and prevent false operations, then the reliability of preventing false operations is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefalse operation preventionVSAvoidsystem configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple detection functions (operator presence detection, manipulation detection, and visual direction detection) into a single integrated system that uses image information from a camera to simultaneously determine whether the operator is present and whether the operator is distracted. This merging approach maintains high reliability in false operation prevention while reducing device complexity by eliminating the need for separate pressure sensors, touch sensors, and image calculation devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The image taking part serves multiple functions: it detects operator presence, determines whether the manipulation part is being operated by the operator, and assesses operator distraction through visual direction analysis. This multi-functionality reduces the need for multiple specialized sensors and devices, thereby simplifying the overall system configuration while maintaining comprehensive safety monitoring.

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

2Measurement precision

If multiple detectors and sensors are deployed to monitor operator state, then the measurement precision of operator state detection is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperator state detectionVSAvoidsensor configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple detection functions (operator presence detection, manipulation detection, and visual direction detection) into a single integrated system that uses image information from a camera to simultaneously determine whether the operator is present and whether the operator is distracted. This merging approach maintains high reliability in false operation prevention while reducing device complexity by eliminating the need for separate pressure sensors, touch sensors, and image calculation devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The image taking part serves multiple functions: it detects operator presence, determines whether the manipulation part is being operated by the operator, and assesses operator distraction through visual direction analysis. This multi-functionality reduces the need for multiple specialized sensors and devices, thereby simplifying the overall system configuration while maintaining comprehensive safety monitoring.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3889363B1Operation control device for construction machine
Publication Date: 2023.05.03 KOBELCO CONSTR MASCH CO LTD
  • EP3889363B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3889363B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3889363B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An operation control system (101) includes: an operator seat (31); a manipulation part (30); an image taking part (40); a manipulation determination part (51) which determines, based on image information concerning an image taken by the image taking part (40), whether the manipulation part (30) is manipulated by an operator; a distraction determination part (52) which determines, based on the image information, whether the operator is distracted; and an operation control part (54) which suspends an operation corresponding to a manipulation applied to the manipulation part (30) in at least one of a case where the manipulation determination part (51) determines that the manipulation part (30) is not manipulated by the operator and a case where the distraction determination part (52) determines that the operator is distracted.