Construction Machine Haptic Lever Guidance for Target Track Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing construction machine operation teaching systems interrupt the operator's line of sight, make it difficult to hear teaching sounds, and are cumbersome to operate, particularly when using electromagnetic actuators to assist with lever operation.

Innovation Solution

A construction machine equipped with a vibration applying device that provides distinct vibration patterns to the operator based on calculated index values, indicating deviations from the operation target, without interrupting the operator's line of sight or making it difficult to hear teaching sounds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If display device shows target position, then operation teaching is provided, but operator's line of sight is interrupted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetarget position informationVSAvoidline of sight continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes visual display feedback with tactile vibration feedback. The vibration motor provides haptic information about target track deviation directly to the operator's hand, eliminating the need for visual displays that would interrupt line of sight, thus resolving the contradiction between providing target position information and maintaining continuous line of sight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Loss of information

If sound generation device provides teaching sound, then operation teaching is provided, but operator cannot hear due to construction site noises

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveteaching soundVSAvoidnoise interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces acoustic feedback (sound generation device) with haptic feedback (vibration motor). Vibrations are transmitted directly through the operation lever to the operator's hand, bypassing the noisy construction site environment, thus resolving the contradiction between providing teaching sound and overcoming noise interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Manufacturing precision

If electromagnetic actuator moves operation lever, then attachment alignment with target track is improved, but operation becomes cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment alignmentVSAvoidoperation lever smoothness
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical actuation (electromagnetic actuator moving the lever) with haptic guidance (vibration motor providing tactile feedback). The vibration pattern indicates deviation from target track, allowing the operator to manually align the attachment smoothly while receiving precise alignment guidance, thus resolving the contradiction between improving alignment precision and maintaining operation smoothness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 system effectively teaches operators how to maintain alignment with a target track by providing tactile feedback through vibrations, enhancing operability while reducing operational clumsiness and maintaining uninterrupted line of sight and auditory awareness.

Implementation Method 1

a vibration motor that applies vibrations to the operation lever when the attachment deviates from a target track

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP3744907B1Construction machine
Publication Date: 2025.05.07 KOBELCO CONSTR MASCH CO LTD
  • EP3744907B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3744907B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3744907B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A storage part (74) of a construction machine (10) stores an operation target which is set as a target of an operation of the construction machine for moving a specific portion of the construction machine (10) to a target position set as a destination to which the specific portion moves. A calculation part (55) calculates an index value which serves as an index indicating a deviation between the operation target and an actual state of the construction machine (10). A control device is configured to cause a vibration applying device to perform a first vibration applying operation when the index value satisfies a predetermined first condition, and to cause the vibration applying device to perform a second vibration applying operation when the index value satisfies a predetermined second condition different from the first condition.