Excavator Work Support With 3D Site Modeling for Adaptive Excavation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing excavator work support systems struggle to adapt to changing earth and sand conditions during excavation, leading to inefficiencies despite pre-set motion planning based on initial soil information.

Innovation Solution

A work support system for excavators that includes an environment detection device to update environment information in real-time, allowing for dynamic adjustment of motion contents based on current conditions, using a simulation device to generate a three-dimensional virtual space model for precise excavation control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If pre-set motion planning based on initial soil information is used, then excavation motion can be supported, but the system cannot adapt to changing earth and sand conditions during excavation

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAdaptability to changing soil conditionsVSAvoidLoss of real-time environment information

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary investigation and recognition of earth and sand information at the work site before excavation begins. This advance detection allows the system to pre-plan excavation motions based on initial soil conditions, while the pre-collected information serves as a baseline that can be compared against real-time changes during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously detects environment information during excavation operations and uses this feedback to adjust and update the excavation motion plan in real-time. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures the system adapts to changing soil conditions by comparing actual conditions against the initial plan and making dynamic adjustments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If environment detection is performed continuously during excavation, then real-time adaptation is achieved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveExcavation efficiencyVSAvoidComplexity of detection and control system

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The environment detection device is designed to perform multiple functions: it investigates earth and sand information, detects changing conditions during excavation, and provides data for both motion planning and real-time adjustment. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized devices, thereby limiting the increase in system complexity while maintaining continuous detection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses its own operation data and environment detection data to automatically adjust its excavation motions without requiring external intervention. The work support system autonomously processes the detected information and modifies the excavation plan, reducing the need for complex external control mechanisms and manual adjustments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20250305251A1Work support system for excavator

Publication Date: 2025.10.02 SUMITOMO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY

AI summary

A work support system for an excavator, including the excavator; an environment detection device configured to detect environment information of a work site of the excavator; and a simulation device configured to acquire the environment information detected by the environment detection device during a motion of the excavator, and to generate a three-dimensional virtual space model of the work site.