Hazard Sensing Device for Construction Equipment Blind Spot Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Construction equipment operators, particularly those using excavators, face blind spots due to limited visual fields, which can lead to accidents as existing technologies only notify operators of potential risks without actively preventing them.
Innovation Solution
An everywhere risk detection apparatus for construction equipment that uses cameras to detect moving objects within a set radius or distance, generating signals to compulsorily stop the equipment through an Instrumental Electronic Control Unit and Vehicle Electronic Control Unit, ensuring the equipment is stopped even if the operator is unaware of the hazard.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If monitoring cameras are mounted to observe surroundings, then operator awareness of risky situations is improved, but the operator remains unable to actively cope with emergency situations
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables the construction equipment to automatically detect hazardous situations through camera-based object recognition and compulsorily stop itself without requiring operator intervention. The equipment serves its own safety needs by autonomously monitoring its surroundings and taking corrective action when risks are detected, resolving the contradiction between improved awareness and active emergency response capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical operation with electronic control systems. Cameras and processors substitute for human visual monitoring, while electronic control signals replace manual operator actions. This substitution enables automatic emergency stopping by replacing the operator's physical response capability with an electronic control system that can react instantly to detected hazards
2Ease of operation
If the operator relies on visual field and manual monitoring, then equipment operation control is maintained, but blind spots cause accidents involving loss of life and property damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the monitoring function into multiple segments: cameras mounted at different locations (front, rear, left, right) capture different visual fields, and a processor integrates these segmented views. This segmentation eliminates blind spots by combining multiple perspectives while maintaining operator control, resolving the contradiction between operational control and safety reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces cameras and a processing system as intermediaries between the operator and the surrounding environment. These intermediaries capture visual information from areas the operator cannot directly see and transmit this information to the control system, which then compels stopping when hazards are detected. This intermediary system bridges the gap between limited human visual field and comprehensive safety monitoring
3Reliability
If cameras and control units are added to detect and stop equipment, then accident prevention capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control units (IECU and VECU) perform multiple functions: they receive data from various cameras, process object detection, determine hazardous situations, and execute compulsory stopping commands. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby improving accident prevention capability while limiting the increase in device complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
An everywhere risk detection apparatus for construction equipment is disclosed, which includes an IECU generating and outputting a prevent signal to a VECU if a moving object in an image input from a camera is positioned within a set radius (or area) from the equipment, and generates and outputs the prevent signal to the VECU if a distance between the moving object in the image input from the camera and the equipment is shorter than a set distance. Accordingly, the equipment is compulsorily stopped regardless of an operator's equipment operation, and thus the occurrence of an accident is prevented.