Excavator Travel Direction Control for Slope Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional excavator control systems do not effectively prevent overturning when traveling on inclined or slippery surfaces, especially in remote operation scenarios where the operator's perception of the terrain is limited.

Innovation Solution

A control system for excavators that includes an inclination recognition device and a controller to adjust the lower traveling body's direction to maintain parallelism with the ground's inclination, using sensors and automatic correction mechanisms to prevent overturning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the excavator travels on inclined ground without automatic direction control, then the operator can freely choose travel direction, but the excavator may overturn due to improper alignment with the slope

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidoperator control freedom

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The inclination recognition device continuously detects the ground slope and provides feedback to the control part. The control part automatically adjusts the lower traveling body's direction based on this feedback, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains the excavator within a safe angle range relative to the inclined direction, thus preventing overturning while reducing operator burden.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables the excavator to automatically adjust its own travel direction without requiring constant operator intervention. The control part autonomously corrects the traveling direction by controlling the traveling motors based on inclination data, allowing the machine to self-regulate its orientation on sloped terrain.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If the operator remotely operates the excavator without automatic inclination control, then communication flexibility is improved, but the operator's perception of terrain inclination is delayed or limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveremote operation capabilityVSAvoidterrain perception

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The inclination recognition device mounted on the excavator enables the machine to independently detect and recognize ground inclination. This eliminates the need for the remote operator to visually assess the terrain, as the system autonomously gathers and processes inclination data to make directional adjustments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides real-time feedback about ground inclination to the control part, which automatically adjusts the traveling direction. This feedback loop compensates for the operator's limited terrain perception during remote operation, ensuring safe travel direction control without requiring the operator to directly observe or interpret slope conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If manual direction control is used on slippery surfaces, then operator judgment is required, but reaction time is insufficient to prevent overturning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability on slippery surfacesVSAvoidoperator reaction time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The inclination recognition device operates continuously to monitor ground conditions, and the control part continuously adjusts the traveling direction based on real-time inclination data. This continuous monitoring and adjustment mechanism ensures that the excavator maintains safe orientation without interruption or delay, unlike manual control where adjustments are discrete and time-delayed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements real-time feedback control where the inclination recognition device continuously provides data to the control part, which immediately adjusts the traveling direction. This closed-loop feedback mechanism eliminates the reaction time delay inherent in manual control, allowing instantaneous response to changing terrain conditions on slippery surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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

Enhances safety by automatically adjusting the excavator's travel direction to prevent overturning, even in remote operations where operator perception is delayed or limited.

Implementation Method 1

an inclination recognition device configured to recognize an inclination of a ground on which the excavator is traveling

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInclination detection:

Data Source

PatentUS20250207369A1Control system for excavator and excavator

Publication Date: 2025.06.26 SUMITOMO HEAVY IND LTD

AI summary

A control system for an excavator includes the excavator including a lower traveling body, and an upper turning body mounted rotatably with respect to the lower traveling body; an inclination recognition device configured to recognize an inclination of a ground on which the excavator is traveling; and a control part configured to control the lower traveling body such that an inclination of a traveling direction of the excavator with respect to an inclined direction of the ground is within a predetermined angle.