Excavator Light Guide Projection for Attachment Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Excavators face challenges in aligning the position of attachments with intended operation positions due to lack of means to indicate relative positions, leading to inefficiencies and potential safety hazards, especially in remote operation scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A light guide system comprising an angle sensor, a projection module, and a light guide device that determines the position of an excavator attachment based on joint angles, projects a corresponding light pattern onto the terrain, and displays this information on an operator screen for improved alignment and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If no means for indicating relative position is provided, then the device complexity is reduced, but the alignment time increases and operational efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A light guide device is introduced as an intermediary component between the attachment and the terrain. This device receives position information from sensors and projects visual guidance patterns onto the terrain, serving as a mediator that translates abstract position data into intuitive visual feedback for operators, thereby reducing alignment time without significantly increasing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical alignment methods with an optical-based light guide system. Instead of using mechanical indicators or physical alignment tools, the system uses light projection to provide visual guidance, substituting mechanical systems with optical fields to achieve faster and more intuitive alignment
2Productivity
If visual feedback for alignment is provided, then operational efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide device is designed to perform multiple functions: it not only provides alignment guidance but also indicates the position of the attachment relative to the terrain and can display various operational information. By consolidating multiple functions into a single device, the system improves operational efficiency without proportionally increasing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide device creates a visual copy or representation of the attachment's position and orientation by projecting light patterns onto the terrain. This optical copy provides intuitive visual feedback that mirrors the actual physical state, enabling operators to quickly understand alignment status without complex mechanical indicators
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The light guide system enhances operational efficiency by providing real-time visual feedback for aligning attachments with intended operation positions, thereby reducing alignment time and improving safety, especially in remote operations.
Implementation Method 1
a projection module configured to implement a projected object by using light
Data Source
AI summary
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a light guide device may determine the type of attachment attached to an excavator, determine a position of the attachment attached to the excavator based on an angle of each of joint parts of the excavator acquired by an angle sensor, determine a shape of a projected object based on the determined type of the attachment, generate a control signal for projecting the projected object onto a projection position on an operation surface corresponding to the position of the attachment, transmit the control signal to a projection module, and the projection module may implement the projected object at the projection position on the operation surface based on the received control signal.