Excavator Control System for Precise Bucket Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Operators of hydraulic excavators face difficulties in performing accurate operations, especially when excavating steep walls or adjusting excavation height, as conventional distance information alone is insufficient for guiding appropriate arm and boom movements, leading to challenges in maintaining excavation accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A construction machine equipped with an articulated front work implement, posture information sensors, and an information processing device that computes and displays recommended operation amounts and directions for the boom and arm, aiding the operator in understanding the necessary operations for precise excavation work.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If only distance information between the bucket and design surface is provided, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates when excavating steep walls or adjusting excavation height
Solution Approach 1:
The information processing device segments the excavation operation into two independent control dimensions: primary operation (boom or arm) and secondary operation (the other component). This segmentation allows the operator to focus on one primary control while receiving automated guidance for the secondary control, reducing the cognitive load and improving ease of operation without adding complex hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The information processing device acts as an intermediary between the simple distance information and the operator's control decisions. It computes recommended operations based on distance information and target surface geometry, then presents this processed guidance to the operator, bridging the gap between simple data input and complex operational requirements.
2Device complexity
If the operator manually determines appropriate boom and arm operations, then the device complexity remains low, but the manufacturing precision (excavation accuracy) deteriorates in complex terrain
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously receives feedback from posture information sensors that detect the current positions of the boom, arm, and bucket. This real-time feedback is processed to compute recommended operations that maintain the work point on the target surface, enabling high excavation accuracy through automated guidance while keeping the physical control system simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The information processing device performs preliminary computation of recommended operations before the operator executes them. By pre-calculating the appropriate boom or arm movement based on current position and target surface geometry, the system provides advance guidance that improves excavation accuracy without requiring complex real-time control mechanisms.
3Manufacturing precision
If the system provides detailed recommended operations for both boom and arm, then the excavation accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the level of control guidance provided to the operator based on the operational context. It determines which component (boom or arm) should be the primary operation and which should be the secondary operation, providing detailed recommendations only for the secondary operation while allowing full operator control of the primary operation. This dynamic adaptation maintains high excavation accuracy while minimizing the complexity of the information processing system.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a work point position computing section configured to compute the relative position of a work point set on a bucket with respect to an upper swing structure on the basis of posture information, a target surface setting section configured to set a target surface as a target of excavation work on the basis of design surface information, a primary operation determining section configured to determine which of operations of a boom and an arm is a primary operation as a main operation when the work point is moved along the target surface, and a recommended operation computing section configured to compute a recommended operation amount and a recommended operation direction of a secondary operation as another operation different from the primary operation in the operations of the boom and the arm according to an operation amount and an operation direction of the primary operation.