Earth-Moving Vehicle Trigger Handling With Risk-Based Autonomy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current earth moving vehicles rely on manual operators, leading to high operational costs and increased risk due to unpredictable earth movement and limited sensor data, resulting in reduced quality and safety at dig sites.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous or semi-autonomous earth moving system that integrates sensors into earth moving vehicles to record positions, orientations, and site conditions, allowing for autonomous navigation and operation, with risk assessment and adaptive behavior based on detected states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual operators are used to operate earth moving vehicles, then human judgment and flexibility are available, but operational costs increase and human error risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The earth moving vehicle autonomously performs earth moving operations by detecting triggering conditions through sensors and automatically executing pause actions without continuous human intervention. The system serves itself by making autonomous decisions based on sensor data and pre-programmed logic, eliminating the need for manual operators while maintaining operational safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of manual operation with an automated control system that uses sensors, processors, and actuators. The automated system detects triggering conditions and executes pause actions through electronic control, substituting human mechanical operation with an integrated sensor-processing-actuation system that reduces human error risk.
2Productivity
If manual operators are deployed continuously, then operational monitoring is possible, but operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous earth moving vehicle performs operations independently without requiring continuous human presence or intervention. The system autonomously detects triggering conditions, assesses risks, and executes pause actions, enabling uninterrupted productivity while eliminating the energy cost associated with human operators.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated system enables continuous earth moving operations by rapidly detecting triggering conditions and executing pause actions without human intervention delays. The system maintains continuous productive action by automatically resuming operations after pause actions, maximizing productivity while minimizing operational costs.
3Reliability
If sensors and autonomous systems are integrated, then operational safety and quality improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system is designed to detect multiple types of triggering conditions including unexpected earth movement, equipment malfunctions, and environmental hazards using a unified sensor array. This multi-functional sensor system improves detection accuracy across various operational scenarios while managing integration complexity through a standardized sensing platform.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines sensors, processors, and actuators into an integrated autonomous control system that functions as a unified entity. By merging these components into a cohesive system, the patent manages complexity through integration while achieving high detection accuracy and reliable autonomous operation.
4Reliability
If autonomous pause actions are implemented, then risk management improves, but operational time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous system implements pause actions selectively based on risk assessment, not for every detected condition. The system applies partial pausing only when triggering conditions indicate genuine risks, allowing operations to continue uninterrupted for normal variations. This approach improves risk management while minimizing unnecessary operational delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors operational conditions and provides feedback to the control processor, which adjusts pause action duration based on real-time risk assessment. The feedback mechanism allows the system to resume operations quickly once safety is confirmed, improving risk management while minimizing operational time loss through adaptive pause duration.
Data Source
AI summary
An earth moving vehicle (EMV) autonomously performs an earth moving operation within a dig site. If the EMV determines that a state of the EMV or the dig site triggers a triggering condition associated with a pause in the autonomous behavior of the EMV, the EMV determines a risk associated with the state or triggering condition. If the risk is greater than a first threshold, the EMV continues the autonomous performance and notifies a remote operator that the triggering condition was triggered. If the risk is greater than the first threshold risk but less than a second threshold risk, the EMV is configured to operate in a default state before continuing and notifying the remote operator. If the risk is greater than the second threshold risk, the EMV notifies the remote operator of the state pauses the performance until feedback is received from the remote operator.