Excavator Autonomous Parking Using Space and Orientation Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional shovels can only automatically change the posture of an attachment but are unable to move to a parking location autonomously.

Innovation Solution

A shovel equipped with a lower-part traveling body, an upper-part swing body, a traveling actuator, a space recognition device, an orientation detection device, and a control device that operates the traveling actuator based on inputs from these devices to facilitate autonomous movement to a parking location.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If the shovel is equipped with only attachment posture adjustment capability, then the device complexity is low, but the extent of automation is insufficient for full autonomous parking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautonomous parking capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple independent systems (space recognition device, orientation detection device, traveling actuator, and control device) into an integrated autonomous parking system. The control device receives inputs from both the space recognition device and orientation detection device, processes this information, and automatically controls the traveling actuator to execute parking maneuvers, merging these components into a cohesive autonomous operation system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The shovel system performs self-parking autonomously without requiring external guidance or manual intervention. The control device uses data from the space recognition device and orientation detection device to automatically determine the parking position and control the traveling actuator, enabling the system to serve itself in the parking operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Extent of automation

If the shovel adds space recognition and orientation detection devices, then the autonomous parking capability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautonomous navigation capabilityVSAvoidnumber of sensors and actuators
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control device serves multiple functions: it processes spatial information from the space recognition device, integrates orientation data from the orientation detection device, calculates the optimal parking trajectory, and controls the traveling actuator. This multi-functional approach consolidates control logic into a single device, reducing overall system complexity despite adding sensing capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The control device acts as an intermediary that integrates information from the space recognition device and orientation detection device, processes this combined data, and translates it into actionable commands for the traveling actuator. This intermediary role simplifies the system architecture by providing a centralized processing node rather than requiring direct communication between all components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3770335B1shovel
Publication Date: 2026.01.07 SUMITOMO HEAVY IND LTD
  • EP3770335B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3770335B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3770335B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A shovel (100) according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a lower-part traveling body (1), an upper-part swing body (3) that is turnably mounted on the lower-part traveling body (1), a hydraulic traveling motor (2M) as a traveling actuator that drives the lower-part traveling body (1), a space recognition device (70) that is provided in the upper-part swinging body (3), an orientation detection device (71) that detects information related to a relative relation between an orientation of the upper-part swing body (3) and an orientation of the lower-part traveling body (1), and a controller (30) as a control device that is provided in the upper-part swing body (3).