Drilling Machine Safety Zone Detection Using Optical Scanners
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems for drilling machines cause significant downtime and safety risks for workers due to the need to stop the machine frequently for rod insertion and lack of adaptive safety measures based on worker position.
Innovation Solution
A system that divides the area surrounding a drilling machine into subzones with varying safety levels, using optical scanners and a controlling device to detect entities and trigger commands such as deceleration or stop commands based on their position, allowing for continuous operation while ensuring worker safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the drilling machine is stopped frequently for drill rod insertion, then worker safety is improved, but machine productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The detection area is segmented into multiple subzones (first subzone, second subzone, third subzone) with different safety levels. This segmentation allows the system to apply different safety responses based on the worker's specific location, enabling continuous operation in lower-risk zones while protecting high-risk zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts machine operation based on real-time detection of worker position. The controlling device continuously monitors which subzone the worker is in and dynamically changes machine state (deceleration, stop, or continue operation) accordingly, rather than using a static stop-all-operations approach.
2Device complexity
If conventional safety systems are used without adaptive measures, then system simplicity is maintained, but safety effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different safety levels are assigned to different spatial locations (subzones) around the drilling machine. The first subzone has the highest safety level (most restrictive), the second subzone has medium safety level, and the third subzone has the lowest safety level. This local differentiation of safety requirements improves safety effectiveness without requiring complete system shutdowns.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical scanner continuously provides feedback about worker position to the controlling device, which then adjusts machine operation in real-time. This closed-loop feedback system enables adaptive safety measures that respond to actual conditions rather than using fixed, overly conservative protocols.
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 reduces downtime and enhances safety by allowing the drilling machine to operate continuously when workers are in lower-risk zones, minimizing the risk of accidents and increasing productivity.
Implementation Method 1
at least one optical scanner optically covering the detection area and operable to capture the entity within the detection area
Data Source
AI summary
A system and associated method for detecting an entity in a detection area surrounding a drilling machine is provided. The detection area is being divided into a plurality of subzones, with each of said plurality of subzones being associated with a corresponding safety level. The system comprises at least one optical scanner optically covering the detection area and operable to capture the entity within the detection area; a controlling device, operatively connected with the at least one optical scanner, the controlling device is configured to: determine a position of the entity captured by the at least one optical scanner within at least one of the plurality of subzones of the detection area; and trigger at least one action signal based on the safety level of the subzone corresponding to the determined position of the entity.