Excavator Work Area Control for Dynamic Restriction Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing work machine control systems face inefficiencies in setting and managing complex work areas, leading to potential interference with other machines and reduced work efficiency, especially when inputting or disabling work areas in complicated workspaces.

Innovation Solution

A work machine control system that includes a work area setting device, a position/attitude acquisition device, a controller for enabling/disabling operation restriction control, and a designated area setting device, allowing the system to dynamically adjust operation restrictions based on the work machine's position and attitude within designated areas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If operation restriction control is enabled in a complicated work area, then safety is improved, but work efficiency deteriorates due to machine stops

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidwork efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The operation restriction control is made dynamic by enabling it only when the work machine is located within the complicated work area, and disabling it when outside. The controller dynamically switches between enabled and disabled states based on real-time position detection, allowing safety restrictions to be applied selectively rather than continuously, thus preventing unnecessary stops and maintaining work efficiency while ensuring safety when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If work area settings are made complex to handle complicated workspaces, then adaptability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to complicated work areaVSAvoidease of setting work area
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The work area is segmented into two distinct types: complicated work areas where operation restriction control is enabled, and ordinary work areas where it is disabled. This segmentation allows the system to handle different workspace complexities with appropriate control strategies, improving adaptability while maintaining ease of operation through clear classification and automated control switching based on location.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If operation restriction control is continuously enabled, then safety is improved, but loss of time increases due to unnecessary stops

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidtime loss from stops
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The operation restriction control is applied locally only to the complicated work area rather than uniformly across the entire workspace. The controller enables restrictions specifically when the machine enters the complicated work area boundaries and disables them when outside, ensuring safety is maintained in high-risk zones while avoiding unnecessary time loss in ordinary areas where restrictions are not needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4098807B1Work machine and work machine control system
Publication Date: 2024.12.25 HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO LTD
  • EP4098807B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4098807B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4098807B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a work machine and a control system for the work machine capable of preventing reduction of a work efficiency when inputting a complicated work area. The work machine includes a work area setting device 501, a work machine position/attitude acquisition device 502 and a work device position/attitude acquisition device 503, a controller 500, and a designated area setting device 504. When a hydraulic excavator (work machine) 1 intrudes on a designated area 401, the controller 500 puts operation restriction control in a work area 111 to an enabled state or disabled state according to an enable or disable setting of the operation restriction control depending on the designated area 401 set in the designated area setting device 504.