Milling Drum Area Tracking With GNSS Overlap Deduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining the area or volume milled by construction or mining machines are inaccurate and time-consuming, often resulting in discrepancies between contracted and actual work, which disadvantages contracting companies due to the three-dimensionality of terrain and unforeseen additional work not reflected in surveying documents.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves determining the length of milling trajectories using continuous machine position evaluation, calculating partial areas, checking for overlaps, and deducting them to accurately calculate the milled area or volume, utilizing GNSS receivers and machine control systems for precise positioning without separate overlap recording, and accounting for varying milling depths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If simple measuring instruments (odometer, folding rule) are used to determine milled area, then the measurement process is simple, but the measurement precision is insufficient and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical measuring instruments (odometer, folding rule) with a computer-based evaluation system that processes positioning data from GNSS receivers. This substitution enables automatic, precise calculation of milling trajectories and areas without manual measurement, resolving the contradiction between operational simplicity and measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy of the milling process by recording and evaluating positioning data along milling trajectories. This digital representation allows for precise area calculation through computer processing, eliminating the need for physical measurement while maintaining high accuracy
2Loss of time
If milling area is determined from surveying documents or maps, then the process is simple and quick, but the measurement precision is insufficient due to three-dimensionality of terrain and unforeseen work
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous recording of positioning data during the milling process, ensuring that all milling activities are captured in real-time. This continuous data collection provides complete and accurate information about the actual milling area, eliminating the need for post-processing surveys while maintaining high precision
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides immediate feedback by automatically calculating and storing milling area data during operation. This real-time feedback mechanism ensures accurate documentation of the actual milling area, including any unforeseen work, without requiring time-consuming post-operation surveys
3Measurement precision
If separate sensors are used to record overlap of milling trajectories, then the measurement precision would be high, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the positioning data serve multiple functions: it is used both to calculate the milling area and to detect overlaps between trajectories. This multi-functional use of the same data eliminates the need for separate overlap sensors, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the area calculation function and overlap detection function into a single computer-based evaluation system. By merging these functions and using the same positioning data for both purposes, the system achieves high precision without increasing device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
In a method for determining an area milled by at least one construction machine or at least one mining machine by means of a milling drum (2) by means of working a predetermined area in several milling trajectories by at least one machine (1), determining the length of the milling trajectories along which a milling operation has taken place by evaluating the continuous machine positions, adding up the previously milled partial areas taking into account the length of the milling trajectory and the installed width of the milling drum (2), wherein the partial area currently milled along the milling trajectory is checked, either continuously or subsequently, for overlapping or multiple overlapping with any previously milled partial areas, and any partial areas which overlap are deducted, as overlapping areas, from the added-up previously milled partial areas, the total added-up partial areas milled minus the total overlapping areas established give the milled area.