Excavator Operation Control for Unmanned Aircraft Collision Avoidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

The possibility of contact between a work machine, such as an excavator, and an unmanned aircraft increases when the excavator is operated without regard to the aircraft's position, leading to potential collisions.

Innovation Solution

A work machine equipped with a control unit that includes a contact possibility recognition element to assess the likelihood of contact with an unmanned aircraft and a contact avoidance operation control element to adjust the operation mode of the machine's lower traveling body, upper pivoting body, and working mechanism to minimize this risk, along with a support server that communicates with both the machine and the aircraft to transmit control signals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the excavator operates without regard to the flying body position, then the operation efficiency is maintained, but the possibility of contact between the excavator and the flying body increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontact possibilityVSAvoidoperation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit continuously receives position information from the flying body and adjusts the excavator's operation mode in real-time based on the relative position and contact possibility assessment, creating a closed-loop feedback system that balances safety and productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the operation mode of the excavator (traveling body, upper body, working mechanism) based on real-time spatial relationships with the flying body, allowing flexible adaptation between safety constraints and operational efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the control unit adjusts the operation mode to avoid contact, then the contact possibility reduces, but the operation flexibility is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontact avoidanceVSAvoidoperation flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes operational parameters (position, speed, operation mode) of the excavator's components based on the assessed contact possibility, allowing continuous adjustment between safety and flexibility rather than binary restrictions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the system continuously monitors and adjusts operation modes, then the contact possibility reduces, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontact possibilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit serves as an intermediary that processes position information and coordinates between the flying body operator and the excavator operator, simplifying the overall system architecture by centralizing the decision-making logic

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11560694B2Work machine and work machine support server

Publication Date: 2023.01.24 KOBELCO CONSTR MASCH CO LTD

AI summary

Provided is a work machine and the like that can reduce the possibility of contact with an unmanned aircraft flying around. The degree of possibility of contact between a working mechanism (140) and an unmanned aircraft (40) is recognized on the basis of the relative position of the unmanned aircraft (40) with reference to the working mechanism (140). If it is recognized that the contact possibility is high, then the operation mode of at least one of a lower traveling body (110), an upper pivoting body (120), and the working mechanism (140) is controlled so as to reduce the contact possibility.