Lead-Follow Work Machine Control for Automated Route Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current control systems for work machines face inefficiencies when moving multiple machines to a designation area, as they lack terrain information outside the designated area, leading to increased manhours required for manual operation.
Innovation Solution
A control system and method where one or more work machines follow a lead machine based on acquired movement data, utilizing sensors and processors to determine positions and control travel routes, reducing the need for manual operation and minimizing manhours.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If terrain information is acquired up to the designation area, then the controller can decide a movement route, but the controller lacks terrain information outside the designation area requiring manual operation
Solution Approach 1:
The lead machine travels ahead to acquire terrain information outside the designation area before the following machines arrive. This preliminary action enables the following machines to receive pre-acquired terrain data, eliminating the need for manual operation and expanding automated control beyond the original information boundary
Solution Approach 2:
The lead machine acts as an intermediary that collects terrain information outside the designation area and transmits it to the controller. This intermediary role allows the controller to access terrain data beyond its original coverage area, enabling automated route planning for the following machines
2Productivity
If multiple work machines are moved to the designation area, then work capacity increases, but manual operation time increases proportionally
Solution Approach 1:
The following machines copy the movement route and terrain information acquisition process of the lead machine. Each following machine receives pre-acquired terrain data and automatically follows the same route pattern, enabling multiple machines to be deployed simultaneously without proportional increase in manual operation time
Solution Approach 2:
The terrain information acquisition function is merged into the lead machine, which then shares this information with all following machines. This merging allows all machines to operate autonomously using shared terrain data, eliminating the need for separate manual operations for each machine
Data Source
AI summary
A first process acquires movement data including a position of a lead machine. A second process controls one or more work machines so that the one or more work machines follows the lead machine based on the movement data.