Haul Road Debris Density Mapping for Dual-Tyre Puncture Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heavy-duty vehicles often experience tyre punctures and safety risks due to objects like stones and debris getting stuck between dual wheels on haul roads, leading to vehicle downtime and potential accidents in construction, quarry, or mining sites.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method using detection systems on vehicles to identify and report foreign objects between dual wheels, determining number density along travelling paths, and suggesting or initiating clearing operations when thresholds are met, either manually or automatically, to prevent object accumulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If objects are allowed to accumulate on haul roads, then the area remains undisturbed and maintenance operations are minimized, but vehicles experience tyre punctures and downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of foreign objects on haul roads using detection systems mounted on vehicles. By identifying objects before they cause tyre punctures, the system enables preventive clearing operations, thereby avoiding vehicle downtime and maintaining continuous productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a feedback loop where detection systems continuously monitor for foreign objects, report their locations to a computer system, and trigger clearing operations when objects are detected. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures timely response to object accumulation, preventing tyre damage and maintaining vehicle operational time
2Reliability
If detection systems are installed on all vehicles, then foreign objects are detected more reliably, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges detection resources by allowing any vehicle in the fleet to detect foreign objects and report to a centralized computer system. This shared detection approach achieves reliable monitoring coverage without requiring every vehicle to have full detection capabilities, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining detection reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The detection system is designed to be universal and multi-functional, where any vehicle can serve as a detection platform. The same detection hardware serves multiple purposes: detecting foreign objects, gathering location data, and contributing to the collective monitoring network, thereby reducing the need for specialized equipment on each vehicle
3Object-affected harmful factors
If clearing operations are performed frequently, then foreign objects are removed effectively, but productivity is reduced due to more maintenance interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection and assessment of foreign object density before initiating clearing operations. By using number density calculations and predetermined conditions, the system determines the optimal timing for clearing, ensuring operations are performed only when necessary to remove harmful objects while minimizing disruptions to vehicle productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts clearing operation timing based on changing parameters such as foreign object number density, vehicle traffic patterns, and detected object locations. This parameter-based decision-making allows the system to optimize clearing frequency, performing operations only when density thresholds are exceeded, thereby balancing safety with productivity
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for use in a defined area (1) trafficked by a plurality of vehicles (2a, 2b, 2c) comprising a detection system (3) for detecting foreign objects (10) located between a pair of tyres of the vehicle, the method comprising: - receiving information from at least one vehicle relating to the detection of a foreign object by the detection system, and to a geographic position of the vehicle at a time of the detection, - determining a number density of foreign objects along at least one travelling path (11, 12, 13) within the defined area based on the information received from the vehicle, - suggesting or initiating a clearing operation to remove foreign objects from at least one portion (11a, 13a) of the travelling path once the determined number density of foreign objects in the portion of the travelling path fulfils a predetermined condition.