Construction Machine Obstacle Monitoring With Accumulated Approach Display

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing obstacle monitoring systems for construction machines lack the capability to effectively display approach information of obstacles sensed around the machines, which is crucial for ensuring safety during operations.

Innovation Solution

An obstacle monitoring system comprising one or more construction machines, a server, and an information processing device connected via a network, where each machine includes obstacle sensing sensors, a monitoring region setting unit, a storage unit, and an output processing unit to accumulate and display approach information sensed within a specific period, allowing for real-time monitoring and safety enhancements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If obstacle sensing sensors are installed on construction machines to detect obstacles, then safety monitoring capability is improved, but the system complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety monitoring capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The obstacle sensing sensors are integrated into the existing construction machine control system, allowing the same sensor network to serve multiple functions including obstacle detection, proximity monitoring, and safety control, thereby reducing overall system complexity while improving safety monitoring capability

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

Solution Approach 2:

A centralized control unit acts as an intermediary that receives data from multiple obstacle sensing sensors and processes the information, simplifying the system architecture by consolidating processing functions rather than requiring separate independent systems for each sensor

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If approach information is accumulatively stored and displayed for all construction machines, then safety awareness and operational control are improved, but information processing load and communication requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety information availabilityVSAvoiddata processing load
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The approach information data stream is segmented by construction machine identifier, allowing the system to process and store information in organized segments rather than as a single large data mass, reducing processing complexity while maintaining comprehensive safety information

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Approach information is accumulatively stored in real-time during construction machine operations, so that when safety assessments or reports are needed, the information is already prepared and available, eliminating the need for intensive post-processing and reducing overall data processing load

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3366847B1Obstacle monitoring system, construction machine, and obstacle monitoring method
Publication Date: 2022.06.08 KOBELCO CONSTR MASCH CO LTD
  • EP3366847B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3366847B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3366847B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A monitoring region for monitoring entry of an obstacle is set around a machine main body. A plurality of obstacle sensing sensors sense an obstacle in the monitoring region and sense an obstacle in different directions with respect to the machine main body. A construction machine accumulatively stores approach information indicating that an obstacle has been sensed by any of the plurality of obstacle sensing sensors in a specific period, and outputs the approach information to be displayed on a display device.