Construction Machine Signaling Lights for Safe Unmanned Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Construction machines performing unmanned operations face challenges in safely notifying nearby workers and managers of their operational states, leading to potential safety hazards and inefficiencies, especially when unexpected stops or malfunctions occur due to misinterpretation of machine states or remote operation disruptions.
Innovation Solution
A construction machine equipped with a machine controller, external operation controller, approach permission signaling light, and action request signaling light, which communicate via a communication terminal to inform workers and managers of safe approach and necessary actions, ensuring safety and efficiency by clearly indicating operational states and requesting specific actions when needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rotating lights are used to notify nearby workers of machine operation, then worker safety is improved, but the machine cannot clearly indicate whether unmanned operation is currently active, leading to worker misinterpretation and potential unsafe approaches
Solution Approach 1:
The notification system is segmented into multiple distinct signaling lights, each conveying specific operational information: rotating lights indicate general machine operation, the first signaling light indicates active unmanned operation mode, and the second signaling light indicates standby state. This segmentation allows workers to clearly distinguish between different operational states, preventing misinterpretation while maintaining safety notifications.
2Reliability
If the construction machine stops unmanned operation in response to worker approach requests, then worker safety is improved, but work efficiency deteriorates due to unintended suspension of operational tasks
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback through signaling lights that continuously communicate the machine's operational state to workers. The first signaling light indicates when the machine is in unmanned operation mode and will not stop upon worker approach, while the second signaling light indicates standby state. This feedback mechanism eliminates the need for the machine to stop operations, as workers can understand the machine's state through the signaling lights, thereby maintaining work efficiency while ensuring worker safety through informed awareness.
3Ease of operation
If the manager remotely manages unmanned operation, then operational control is improved, but response time to malfunctions deteriorates when the manager is far from the construction machine
Solution Approach 1:
The system prepares for potential malfunctions by implementing a visual alert system with signaling lights that immediately notify workers of abnormal states. The first signaling light indicates active unmanned operation, and the second signaling light indicates standby state, allowing workers to proactively respond to situations. This preliminary notification system reduces response time compared to remote communication, as workers are instantly aware of machine states and can take immediate action without waiting for manager instructions.
Data Source
AI summary
A machine controller that controls an action of the construction machine; an external operation controller that controls unmanned operation that does not require operation by an operator riding in an operation room, by generating a control signal according to an operation signal received from an outside via a communication terminal, and sending the control signal to the machine controller; an approach permission signaling light that signals permission for a worker to approach the construction machine; and an action request signaling light that signals a request for riding in the operation room and performing a particular action to a nearby worker are provided, and the external operation controller is configured to control the approach permission signaling light to be turned on when it is decided that approach of the worker to the construction machine can be tolerated according to information collected by the machine controller, and also control the action request signaling light to be turned on when it is decided that it is necessary to request a nearby worker to take a particular action. Thereby, it is possible to succinctly notify nearby workers and a manager of a machine-body action state, and to realize both the safety and work efficiency of the workers near the machine body and the manager.