Handheld Control Orientation Estimation for Direction-Correct Machine Motion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Operators of overhead cranes and machine tools face safety issues due to the mismatch between the direction of control device buttons and the actual movement direction, especially when the operator's orientation differs from the indicated direction, leading to potential accidents and operational challenges.
Innovation Solution
A method using a control device equipped with a three-axis accelerometer, magnetometer, and gyroscope to estimate its attitude, allowing for real-time reassignment of button functions to match the operator's orientation, thereby ensuring movements align with the intended direction and compensating for magnetic disturbances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the control device is made movable and hand-carried by the operator, then the operator can move freely and operate the machine from different positions, but the control buttons may no longer correspond to the intended movement direction when the operator's orientation changes
Solution Approach 1:
The control device dynamically adapts its button functions based on the operator's real-time orientation detected by inertial sensors. The system continuously monitors the operator's attitude through accelerometers and gyroscopes, and automatically reassigns button commands to match the current directional context, ensuring control accuracy is maintained despite operator movement and orientation changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback from inertial measurement units (accelerometers, gyroscopes, and optionally magnetometers) to continuously determine the operator's orientation. This feedback loop enables the control device to understand the operator's spatial context and adjust button mappings accordingly, resolving the contradiction between mobility and control reliability.
2Measurement precision
If magnetic compass data is used to determine operator orientation, then directional accuracy can be improved, but magnetic disturbances from nearby metallic masses can distort the measurements and reduce reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges data from multiple sensor types (accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers) to determine operator orientation. By combining these complementary measurement sources, the system achieves more robust and accurate orientation detection that is less susceptible to magnetic disturbances alone, as the inertial sensors provide alternative reference information.
Solution Approach 2:
The inertial measurement units serve as intermediaries that bridge the gap between magnetic field measurements and actual operator orientation. When magnetic disturbances are detected or when magnetic data is unavailable, the inertial sensors provide intermediary orientation information that maintains system reliability despite magnetic interference.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution ensures that the control device's buttons always correspond to the natural direction for the operator, enhancing safety and operational efficiency by maintaining accurate movement alignment regardless of the operator's orientation and mitigating the impact of magnetic interference.
Implementation Method 1
preliminary estimating the attitude of the control device using data from an accelerometer and a magnetometer onboard of the control device
Implementation Method 2
provides for the use of a magnetic compass suitable to provide a signal representative of the orientation of the control device with respect to the magnetic north, in addition to an inertial platform comprising an accelerometer and a gyroscope
Implementation Method 3
updating of the preliminary estimate of the attitude of the control device using data from a gyroscope onboard of the control device
Data Source
AI summary
A method of estimating an attitude of a control device for controlling operating machines, where the control device has a plurality of pushbuttons for controlling the movement of an operating machine along respective directions, the method having the following steps: —preliminary estimating the attitude of the control device using data from an accelerometer and a magnetometer onboard of the control device; —updating of the preliminary estimate of the attitude of the control device using data from a gyroscope onboard of the control device.