Dynamic Contact Range Control for Work Machine Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques for controlling work machines, such as hydraulic excavators, fail to ensure safe operation as they do not accurately account for the actual work content and obstacles, leading to potential contact issues.
Innovation Solution
A control method and system that obtain work information and position data to specify a contact range based on the work content, allowing for controlled motion to avoid obstacles effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rotation restrictive region is determined based on loading position and excavation position regardless of actual work content, then the control system can prevent contact with transport vehicles, but the contact avoidance capability is insufficient when the actual work content differs from the assumed work pattern
Solution Approach 1:
The notification region is dynamically adjusted based on the detected work content. The control device specifies different notification regions corresponding to different work contents (e.g., loading work, excavation work, idle state), allowing the system to adapt to actual working conditions rather than using a fixed rotation restrictive region
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameters of the notification region (position, size, shape) according to the detected work content. When work content changes, the control device updates the notification region parameters to match the actual operational context, improving both reliability and adaptability
2Ease of operation
If an approach notification area is determined based on magnetic field range, then the system can issue approach notifications, but the notification area does not accurately correspond to the actual area where contact should be avoided
Solution Approach 1:
The notification region parameters are adjusted based on work content rather than being fixed to the magnetic field range. The control device specifies notification regions that accurately reflect the actual contact risk areas for different work contents, improving the precision of the notification area
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using the magnetic field range as the notification area, the system creates a virtual copy or representation of the actual work machine operation range and uses this to define the notification region, which more accurately reflects where contact should be avoided
3Device complexity
If a fixed rotation restrictive region is used, then the control system is simple to implement, but it cannot sufficiently avoid contact with obstacles depending on actual work content
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a fixed rotation restrictive region to a dynamic notification region that changes based on detected work content. The control device automatically adjusts the notification region according to the current work content, maintaining simplicity while improving reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The control device automatically detects work content and adjusts the notification region without requiring external intervention or complex manual configuration. The system serves itself by adapting to different work contents autonomously
Data Source
AI summary
In order to operate a work machine more safely, a control method (S1) includes: an obtaining step (S11) of obtaining first work information that indicates a content of work to be carried out by a work machine and position information that pertains to the first work machine; a range specifying step (S12) of specifying, in accordance with the content of the work which content is indicated by the first work information, a first range that includes a range in which the first work machine operates and a vicinity of the range; and a motion controlling step (S13) of controlling a motion of the first work machine with reference to the first range and the position information that pertains to the first work machine.