Handling Device with Sensor Feedback for Operator Guidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing handling devices require operators to manually coordinate and control the handling process, leading to operator burden, increased risk of damage, and fatigue, especially for physically impaired individuals, due to the lack of support and guidance in object handling.

Innovation Solution

A handling device equipped with a sensor device to detect position and movement data, an evaluation device to generate instructions, and an output device to provide real-time guidance to the operator, including haptic feedback, ensuring correct object handling and reducing operator workload.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual control of handling device is used, then operator can coordinate and control handling process, but operator burden increases and fatigue occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperator burdenVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors operator physiological parameters (heart rate, muscle activity, temperature) and provides real-time feedback through the output device. When fatigue or stress thresholds are detected, the system automatically adjusts handling parameters or alerts the operator, creating a closed-loop control system that reduces operator burden while maintaining safe operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The evaluation device acts as an intermediary between the operator and the handling device control system. It processes physiological data and translates it into control adjustments, serving as a mediator that reduces the direct cognitive and physical burden on the operator while maintaining precise control over the handling operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If real-time monitoring and instruction output are added, then handling accuracy improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling accuracyVSAvoidsystem structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The evaluation device performs multiple functions: it monitors physiological parameters, evaluates handling accuracy in real-time, generates instructional outputs, and adjusts control parameters. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional device, the system achieves high handling accuracy without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically monitors its own operation and the operator's state, generating corrections and adjustments without external intervention. The evaluation device self-regulates handling parameters based on real-time data, reducing the need for complex external control systems while maintaining high precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If support and guidance are provided to operator, then handling safety improves, but information processing load increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling safetyVSAvoidinformation processing
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements closed-loop feedback by continuously monitoring handling parameters and operator state, then providing targeted instructional output only when corrections are needed. This selective feedback mechanism improves safety by alerting operators to specific issues without overwhelming them with continuous information streams.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The instructional output is tailored to the specific local conditions detected by the evaluation device. Rather than providing generic information, the system generates targeted guidance based on the current handling task, operator physiological state, and detected anomalies, maximizing safety information relevance while minimizing unnecessary information processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3351501B1Handling device and method for operating same
Publication Date: 2023.04.26 J SCHMALZ GMBH
  • EP3351501B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3351501B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3351501B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A handling device (10) for handling an object (12) by means of manual control of the handling device (10) by an operator (14), with a sensor device (16) and an evaluation device (18), is designed and further developed with a view to further simplifying the handling of objects with a handling device such that the sensor device (16) has sensors (20) for detecting the position of the handling device (10) and movement data of the handling device (10) in the form of measured values, that the evaluation device (18) is configured to generate instructions for action and/or handling-related information for the operator (14) by evaluating the detected measured values, and that an output device (22) is provided for outputting the instructions for action and/or handling-related information to the operator (14).A method for operating a handling device (10) is specified.