Conveyor Throughput Calculation Using LiDAR Belt Shift Correction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing volume measurement systems for conveyor objects, such as those described in Patent Literature 1, are costly due to the use of line lasers and digital cameras, and require complex image analysis, increasing installation and adjustment costs.
Innovation Solution
A method using a conveyance amount calculation device that calculates the cross-sectional area of a conveyance object based on belt point-group data and conveyance object point-group data, and multiplies this by the belt speed to determine the conveyance amount, accounting for belt shifts using LiDAR sensors to obtain accurate two-dimensional point-group data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If line laser and digital camera are used to measure the volume of conveyance object, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential measurement function from the complex line laser and digital camera system. It uses a simple distance sensor to measure only the height of the conveyance object, while the width and length are derived from the belt conveyor parameters, thereby achieving volume measurement with significantly reduced device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified computational model that copies the essential geometric information needed for volume calculation. Instead of using complex image processing to capture the object's shape, it uses point-group data representing the belt surface and overlaying the object height measurements to calculate volume through mathematical computation
2Measurement precision
If line laser and digital camera are used to measure the volume of conveyance object, then measurement precision is improved, but cost is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, sophisticated measurement equipment (line laser and digital camera) with inexpensive, simple distance sensors. This substitution dramatically reduces both equipment cost and installation complexity while maintaining adequate measurement precision for the application
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the optical-mechanical measurement system (line laser projecting patterns and digital camera capturing images) with a simpler electronic sensing system using distance sensors. The measurement function is achieved through electronic distance measurement and computational geometry rather than complex optical projection and image processing
3Measurement precision
If image analysis is used to calculate cross-sectional area from digital camera shots, then measurement precision is improved, but processing complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the height dimension measurement from the complex image analysis process. Instead of analyzing the entire cross-sectional shape through image processing, it measures only the vertical height of the conveyance object using distance sensors, while obtaining width and length from belt conveyor parameters
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the image analysis processing system with a simpler computational approach. Instead of processing digital camera images to extract cross-sectional geometry, it uses point-group data representing the belt surface and combines it with distance sensor measurements to calculate cross-sectional area through mathematical operations on coordinate data
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
Enables accurate calculation of conveyance amounts with lower costs by simplifying the equipment and processing, correcting for belt shifts to maintain precision.
Implementation Method 1
using LiDAR sensors to obtain accurate two-dimensional point-group data
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
A conveyance amount calculation device (100) comprises a conveyance amount calculation unit (113) that calculates a cross-sectional area of a conveyance object on the basis of belt point-group data indicating the shape of a belt of a belt conveyor for conveying the conveyance object and conveyance object point-group data indicating the shape of the conveyance object, and that calculates the volumetric conveyance amount of the conveyance object on the basis of said cross-sectional area and the belt speed of the belt conveyor. The conveyance amount calculation device (100) further comprises a detection unit (112) that calculates the position of the belt on the basis of point-group data indicating belt end points included in the conveyance object point-group data. The conveyance amount calculation unit (113) may calculate the belt point-group data on the basis of the position of the belt.