Excavator Payload Destination Identification via RFID
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current excavator-based weighing systems cannot determine if the payload is delivered to the truck and fail to establish the payload destination, leading to inefficiencies in monitoring transport productivity, and retrofitting communication systems to trucks is expensive and not commercially viable.
Innovation Solution
A system with sensors and an identifying module on the lifting machine, such as an excavator, that receives inputs from audio, visual, movement, and wireless sensors to define and match identifiers, determining the payload destination by comparing these inputs with stored identifiers, and estimating delivery portions to calculate productivity factors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If excavator-based weighing systems are used without truck communication, then the system complexity is reduced and costs are lowered, but the ability to determine payload delivery and establish destination is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces RFID tags as intermediary objects that carry destination information. The excavator's sensor system reads these tags to obtain destination information without requiring complex communication systems in the trucks. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by enabling information transfer while keeping the excavator's system relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical/electronic communication systems between excavator and truck with a simpler sensor-based reading system. Instead of establishing bidirectional communication channels, the system uses sensors to read passive RFID tags, substituting a complex communication mechanism with a simpler detection mechanism.
2Loss of information
If communication systems are retrofitted to trucks, then payload destination can be established, but the cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
RFID tags serve as intermediaries that carry destination information without requiring the truck itself to have complex communication systems. The tags are simple passive or active devices that can be read by the excavator's sensor system, enabling destination tracking while keeping truck modifications minimal and cost-effective.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of equipping trucks with full communication systems, the patent uses RFID tags that contain copies or representations of the destination information. This allows the excavator to obtain the necessary information without the truck having sophisticated communication capabilities.
3Device complexity
If current weighing systems are used without destination tracking, then the system remains simple, but productivity monitoring capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system on the excavator is enhanced to serve multiple functions: it continues to weigh payloads and now also reads RFID tags to determine destinations. This multi-functional approach enables productivity monitoring without requiring separate dedicated systems, thereby improving capability while limiting complexity growth.
Solution Approach 2:
RFID tags act as intermediaries that provide destination information to the excavator's sensor system. This allows the system to gain productivity monitoring capabilities through a relatively simple addition - the ability to read tags - rather than through complex system restructuring.
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
Accurately identifies payload destinations, monitors delivery efficiency, and prevents overloading without the need for expensive communication system retrofits on trucks, enhancing productivity and reducing operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
the wireless receiver is configured to read a passive or active radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag
Data Source
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AI summary
A system of identifying a payload destination, the system including: one or more sensors; and an identifying module configured to: receive a plurality of inputs from the one or more sensors, the plurality of inputs being associated with payload delivery from a lifting machine; define a plurality of input destination identifiers based on the plurality of inputs; compare the plurality of input destination identifiers with stored identifiers in order to establish one or more destination match estimates; and identify the payload destination based on the one or more destination match estimates.