Hydraulic Excavator Work Implement Control by Detected Work Status

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional machine control systems for work machines like hydraulic excavators fail to accurately switch between enabling and disabling automatic control based on work content and environment, leading to potential excavation beyond design surfaces and reduced work accuracy due to erroneous operator settings.

Innovation Solution

A work machine equipped with a controller that utilizes sensors and actuators to sense posture and load information, allowing for operation correction control to maintain the work implement's position and posture relative to a target surface, and adjusts operation forms based on work status to enhance accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the operator manually switches between enabling and disabling automatic control by operating the operating member, then the operator can control the machine control system, but the operator may forget to operate the operating member causing excavation beyond design surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of automatic control switchingVSAvoidease of manual switching operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically determines whether to enable or disable machine control based on the current work status (excavation mode, transport mode, etc.) without requiring manual operator intervention. The control unit automatically switches between automatic control modes according to the determined work status, making the system self-regulating and eliminating the need for manual switching operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors work status through sensors and feedback signals from the work implement actuators and swing actuator. Based on this feedback information about current operations, the control unit automatically adjusts the control mode, creating a closed-loop system that adapts to changing work conditions without manual input.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If the operator sets work contents and assistance contents, then the machine control can be configured for specific tasks, but erroneous settings cause the work device to be set in wrong posture

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability of work content settingsVSAvoidprecision of work device posture
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically determines work status and selects appropriate control modes without requiring operator input for setting work contents. The control unit autonomously configures the machine control parameters based on detected work conditions, eliminating human error in settings while maintaining adaptability to different work scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The control system dynamically adjusts its operation based on real-time work status detection. Rather than relying on static pre-set parameters that may be incorrectly configured, the system continuously adapts its control behavior to match the current work phase, ensuring accurate posture control regardless of initial settings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the machine control maintains fixed assistance contents, then the control system is simple to operate, but the work accuracy decreases when work contents change

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of control operationVSAvoidwork accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The control system dynamically changes its assistance contents based on detected work status. When the work implement transitions between excavation, transport, and other modes, the control unit automatically adjusts the control parameters and assistance level accordingly. This maintains operational simplicity for the operator while ensuring high work accuracy through automatic adaptation to changing work conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses continuous feedback from work status sensors to automatically adjust assistance contents. The control unit monitors operational parameters and work phase information, then modifies control assistance in real-time to match current work requirements, maintaining both simplicity and precision without requiring operator intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4257754B1Work machinery
Publication Date: 2025.10.22 HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO LTD
  • EP4257754B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4257754B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4257754B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A working status indicating a status related to the present work of a hydraulic excavator 1 is determined on the basis of operation signals output from a control lever 24, posture information output from inertial measuring devices 27 to 30, load information output from pressure sensors 32 and 33, and a work area set by a display input device 26, an operation form indicating contents of an operation in operation correction control of a front work implement 12 is decided from a plurality of operation forms set in advance, according to the determined working status, and the operation correction control is performed such that the front work implement moves according to the operation form. Thus, an appropriate assisting operation can be performed in machine control, so that the work accuracy can be improved.