Excavator Upper-Body Rotation Detection With Dead-Zone Correction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing excavators face issues with inaccurate rotation detection of the upper body due to dead zones, leading to increased errors and reduced efficiency, and the use of multiple sensors to cover these zones increases cost and part volume.

Innovation Solution

An excavator system that includes a sensor device and processor to detect dead zones and correct sensing information, using previous sampling period data to improve rotation detection accuracy by replacing abnormal values with corrected data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single sensor is used to detect upper body rotation, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to dead zone errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor quantityVSAvoidrotation detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of sensor output interpretation by detecting abnormal values (e.g., maximum or minimum threshold values) that indicate dead zone occurrence. When such abnormal parameters are detected, the system switches to using previous sampling data, thereby adapting the measurement approach based on the detected parameter state to maintain accuracy without adding sensors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If multiple sensors are provided to cover dead zones, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotation detection accuracyVSAvoidsensor quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The single sensor serves multiple functions: it detects normal rotation values and also detects abnormal values that indicate dead zone occurrence. By monitoring its own output for abnormal patterns, the sensor effectively performs self-diagnosis, allowing the system to compensate for dead zones without requiring additional sensors to cover those zones.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the sensor output and using the detected abnormal values as feedback signals to trigger corrective action. When a dead zone is detected through abnormal sensor readings, the system feeds back by switching to previous sampling data, creating a closed-loop correction mechanism that maintains measurement accuracy without additional hardware.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of time

If sensor data is used directly without correction, then processing time is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to dead zone errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing timeVSAvoidrotation detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial correction by selectively processing sensor data based on quality assessment. Instead of always correcting or always using raw data, it performs correction only when abnormal values indicate dead zone occurrence. This partial action approach maintains processing efficiency while improving accuracy for problematic measurements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP4242383B1Excavator for detecting rotation of upper body and operation method thereof
Publication Date: 2025.10.15 HD HYUNDAI INFRACORE CO LTD
  • EP4242383B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4242383B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4242383B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an excavator for detecting the rotation of an upper body and an operation method thereof. According to an embodiment, the excavator comprises: a lower body; an upper body rotatably mounted on the lower body; a sensor device configured to collect sensing information related to a rotation of the upper body relative to the lower body; and a processor electrically connected to the sensor device, wherein the processor is configured to detect occurrence of a dead zone based on the sensing information collected by the sensor device, correct the sensing information in response to detection of the dead zone occurrence, and calculate a rotation angle of the upper body based on the corrected sensing information.