Excavator Implement Heading Control via Dynamic Sensor Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing excavator technologies lack efficient automation for tilt and rotation control, particularly in avoiding obstacles during operation, which can lead to operator fatigue, reduced productivity, and increased risk of machine damage.
Innovation Solution
An excavator system comprising a machine chassis, excavating linkage assembly, rotary excavating implement, and control architecture with dynamic sensors and actuators that utilize position signals and map information to adjust the implement heading and rotate the excavating implement away from obstacles, ensuring safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual tilt and rotation control is used, then operator flexibility is maintained, but operator fatigue increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system automatically monitors implement position using dynamic sensors and autonomously adjusts tilt and rotation angles to avoid obstacles, enabling the system to service itself without continuous manual intervention. This automation resolves the contradiction by maintaining operational flexibility while eliminating operator fatigue associated with manual control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously receives feedback from dynamic sensors regarding implement position and obstacle proximity, processes this information through controllers, and automatically adjusts control signals to optimize tilt and rotation angles. This closed-loop feedback mechanism improves productivity by eliminating manual monitoring while maintaining precise control flexibility.
2Reliability
If manual monitoring of implement position is used, then system complexity is low, but risk of machine damage increases due to collision risk
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously calculating predicted implement positions and identifying potential obstacle overlaps before collisions occur. The controllers proactively adjust tilt and rotation angles to prevent harmful overlaps, resolving the contradiction by reducing machine damage risk through advance intervention while managing system complexity through automated computations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical monitoring and adjustment with an automated electronic control system that uses dynamic sensors, processors, and actuators. This substitution reduces machine damage risk by providing continuous automated surveillance and response, while the electronic system manages complexity more efficiently than manual mechanical systems.
3Ease of operation
If automated control is implemented, then operator fatigue is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system performs multiple functions including position monitoring, obstacle detection, angle calculation, and automated adjustment through a integrated controller architecture. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by consolidating complex tasks into a single automated system that reduces operator fatigue while managing overall system complexity through functional integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces intermediary components including dynamic sensors that measure implement position, controllers that process data and calculate angles, and actuators that execute adjustments. These intermediaries automate control functions to reduce operator fatigue while distributing system complexity across specialized components rather than requiring complex manual systems.
4Reliability
If dynamic sensor monitoring is used, then collision avoidance capability is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors implement position and calculates predicted positions for collision avoidance, which may exceed the minimum necessary action. This partial/excessive monitoring approach improves collision avoidance capability by providing redundant verification, while the energy consumption is managed through efficient sensor and processor utilization that balances safety with energy efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
An excavator includes a chassis, an implement, control architecture, and an assembly to swing with, or relative to, the chassis and including a boom, stick to curl relative to the boom, and coupling between the implement and stick. The implement rotates about an axis R such that a leading edge LE defines a heading Î. The control architecture comprises sensors, actuators, and controllers to utilize sensor signals to generate a LE position relative to a reference based on reference data and map information, utilize sensor implement edge signals and the excavator position relative to the reference and map information to generate a nearest implement edge (NIE) signal indicative of a LE NIE position relative to the reference, and utilize the actuators for divertive implement rotation about R to adjust Î to account for divertive rotation away from an actual or projected overlap of the NIE and reference.