Crane Boom Geometry Determination via Sensor Fusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Operators of heavy equipment, such as cranes, face challenges in determining the stability of machines under varying loads and boom extensions, as heavier loads can destabilize the equipment, and existing systems lack effective methods for real-time geometry determination and reporting.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising sensor nodes and a hub that collect and fuse positional data from various points on the crane, including the auger, boom, and claw mechanism, to determine angles, distances, and load moments, providing real-time feedback to prevent unsafe operating conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple sensor nodes are deployed to measure boom geometry and load position, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the measurement task into multiple independent sensor nodes, each measuring specific parameters (boom angle, load position, horizontal distance) at different locations. This segmentation allows precise local measurements to be combined into comprehensive geometry determination, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor hub serves multiple functions: collecting data from various sensor nodes, fusing measurements from different sources, calculating boom geometry parameters, and determining load position. This multi-functionality consolidates complex operations into a single device, improving measurement precision without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
2Reliability
If real-time data collection and fusion is implemented across multiple sensor nodes, then reliability of stability assessment is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor hub continuously maintains readiness to receive and process data from all sensor nodes, pre-establishing the data fusion framework and geometry calculation algorithms. This preliminary preparation ensures reliable real-time stability assessment without requiring energy-intensive computations to be initiated only when needed, thus improving reliability while controlling energy consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
A first sensor node is fixed to a tool on a derrick truck, and a second sensor node fixed to the derrick truck at a location that does not move when either of the boom and the tool move. The first sensor node measures a position of the tool and a distance between the tool and the first sensor the second sensor node. The measured position of the tool and the distance between the first and second sensor node is reported to a load moment computer.