Crane Ground Surface Estimation With Non-Adjacent Region Checks

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing crane systems fail to accurately estimate whether a region separated by another region is a ground surface, leading to potential misjudgment by operators.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that estimate a ground surface by comparing altitude values of non-adjacent continuous regions, using a threshold to distinguish ground surfaces from other regions, and adjust grid width for detailed recognition, especially in crane work environments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If a distance measurement section measures height information of objects around a suspended load, then the operator can confirm the state around the load, but the system cannot accurately estimate whether a separated region is a ground surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveground surface informationVSAvoidground surface estimation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The measurement region is divided into multiple grids, and each grid is independently analyzed for ground surface estimation. This segmentation allows the system to handle separated regions by evaluating each grid's altitude characteristics individually, enabling accurate ground surface identification even when regions are disconnected.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A ground surface estimation unit acts as an intermediary between the distance measurement section and the display system. This unit calculates altitude values for each grid, compares them with reference ground surface altitude values, and determines whether separated regions are ground surfaces, thereby bridging the information gap.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If the system provides height information for all detected regions, then comprehensive information is available, but erroneous recognition may occur when separated regions are not correctly identified as ground surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation quantityVSAvoidground surface identification reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Different quality control is applied to different regions based on their characteristics. Ground surface grids are identified by comparing altitude values within a threshold range, while non-ground surface regions are distinguished by altitude differences exceeding the threshold. This local quality approach ensures reliable identification while maintaining comprehensive information coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides feedback by comparing each grid's altitude value with reference ground surface altitude values and determining whether the difference is within a threshold range. This feedback mechanism allows the system to reliably distinguish ground surfaces from non-ground surfaces while maintaining comprehensive information about all detected regions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If the measurement region is divided into a plurality of grids, then detailed recognition of densely close regions is improved, but the complexity of data processing increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveregion recognition detailVSAvoiddata processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The measurement region is divided into multiple grids to enable detailed recognition of densely close regions. Each grid is independently evaluated for ground surface characteristics by comparing altitude values, which systematically manages the complexity of processing multiple regions while maintaining high measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes parameters by comparing altitude values within a threshold range to determine ground surface characteristics. This parameter-based approach simplifies the processing complexity by using a clear decision criterion (threshold comparison) rather than complex analysis of each grid's characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Accurately identifies ground surfaces in complex environments, reducing erroneous estimations and enhancing operational safety and efficiency of crane operations.

Implementation Method 1

a laser scanner 62 that radiates laser on a measurement target object and receives reflected light of the laser from the measurement target object

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLIDAR: LIDAR

Implementation Method 2

receives reflected light of the laser from the measurement target object

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3896391B1Ground surface estimation method, measurement area display system, and crane
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 TADANO LTD
  • EP3896391B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3896391B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3896391B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A ground surface estimation method include: performing first estimation in which the continuous region having a largest number of the grids among the continuous regions is estimated as a ground surface; and performing second estimation including: calculating an average altitude value of the representative point of the grids in the non-adjacent continuous region for each of the non-adjacent continuous regions; calculating an average altitude value of the representative point of the grids in the predetermined range of the continuous region estimated as the ground surface; and estimating that a non-adjacent continuous region as the ground surface when a difference between the average altitude value of the representative point of the grids in the non-adjacent continuous region and the average altitude value of the representative point of the grids in a predetermined range of the continuous region estimated as the ground surface is equal to or less than a threshold.