Excavator Operator Fatigue Estimation Using Biometric Correlation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shovel fatigue estimation methods are inaccurate as they do not account for varying work environments, such as sunlight exposure, leading to inconsistent fatigue levels even with similar work times and contents.
Innovation Solution
A shovel system that includes an operating information obtaining device and a control device to correlate biological and operating information, using sensors like pulse sensors, body pressure sensors, and cameras to accurately assess operator fatigue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If fatigue estimation is based only on operating times (turning, traveling, excavation), then the estimation method is simple, but the estimation accuracy is low because it does not account for varying work environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple data sources including operating time data from the operating information obtaining device, biological information from sensors (pulse, body pressure), and environmental information from the environment information obtaining device into a comprehensive fatigue estimation model. This integration of multiple information streams resolves the contradiction by achieving high estimation accuracy through combined data while managing system complexity through coordinated operation of multiple components.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device serves as an intermediary that collects, processes, and integrates data from multiple sources including the operating information obtaining device, biological information sensors, and environment information obtaining device. This intermediary processing layer enables accurate fatigue estimation by harmonizing diverse data types without requiring direct complex interactions between all components.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors and information sources are integrated to improve fatigue estimation accuracy, then estimation accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device performs multiple functions including collecting operating information, acquiring biological information from sensors, obtaining environmental information, processing and integrating all these data streams, and generating fatigue estimates. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by consolidating diverse operations into a single coordinating component rather than requiring separate dedicated systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system divides fatigue estimation into distinct functional modules: an operating information obtaining device for work data, biological information sensors for physiological data, an environment information obtaining device for contextual factors, and a control device for integration. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in specific data collection tasks while maintaining manageable individual complexities.
Data Source
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AI summary
A shovel (100) according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a lower traveling body (1), an upper turning body (3) turnably mounted on the lower traveling body (1), a cabin (10) serving as a cab and mounted on the upper turning body (3), an operating information obtaining device (S7) configured to obtain operating information, and a controller (30) configured to store the operating information. The controller (30) is configured to obtain the biological information of an operator in the cabin (10) and to correlate the biological information and the operating information.