Mining Machine Navigation Error Correction via Landmark Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unmanned mining machines face increased positional errors with longer travel distances when relying solely on navigation systems like dead reckoning, leading to limited operational ranges and reduced productivity in mines due to the inability to correct these errors using GPS or landmarks.
Innovation Solution
A management system for mining machines that includes a detecting unit for landmark positioning, a travel control unit for dead reckoning navigation, a travel limiting unit to stop the machine at a predetermined distance, and a travel limitation relaxing unit to extend the operational range when landmarks are within a certain distance, allowing for correction of positional errors and increased operational efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the mining machine travels by dead reckoning navigation, then the machine can operate autonomously without GPS or landmarks, but the positional error increases with travel distance limiting operational range
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between dead reckoning navigation and landmark-based correction modes. The travel control unit monitors positional error accumulation and activates landmark detection when correction is needed, making the navigation system adaptive rather than static. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining autonomous operation while dynamically correcting position accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by detecting landmarks during autonomous travel and using their known positions to correct accumulated navigation errors. The travel control unit receives feedback from the landmark detection unit and adjusts the position estimation accordingly, maintaining accuracy over extended operational distances while preserving autonomous operation.
2Measurement precision
If the mining machine is stopped frequently to correct positional errors, then position accuracy is maintained, but productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-storing landmark position information in advance. When the mining machine approaches a landmark detection zone, the correction can be executed quickly using pre-loaded data, minimizing disruption to continuous operation and maintaining productivity while ensuring position accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuity of useful action by implementing seamless transitions between dead reckoning travel and landmark-based correction. The travel control unit ensures that correction operations are integrated into the continuous workflow without requiring machine stops, thereby maintaining both position accuracy and productivity.
3Productivity
If the first distance is extended to increase operational range, then productivity improves, but position accuracy deteriorates due to error accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces landmarks as intermediary reference points along the travel path. These landmarks serve as mediators between the start and end points, providing periodic correction opportunities that enable extended operational distances while maintaining position accuracy. The travel control unit uses these intermediary points to reset error accumulation without limiting overall range.
4Measurement precision
If GPS or landmarks are used for position correction, then position accuracy is improved, but the system becomes dependent on external references reducing versatility
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements multi-functionality by integrating both dead reckoning navigation and landmark-based correction capabilities within a single travel control unit. This universal system can operate independently using dead reckoning when needed and switch to landmark correction when available, providing both position accuracy and navigation independence without requiring constant external references.
Data Source
AI summary
A managing method of a mining machine includes: detecting a position of a landmark; and extending a first distance when a position of the landmark obtained in advance is present within a range of a second distance in a travel direction of the mining machine from a position, as a reference, where the mining machine reaches when the mining machine travels the first distance after the mining machine starts traveling by the dead reckoning navigation, when the mining machine travels in an unmanned state in a mine in which a plurality of the landmarks is located, the mining machine travels based on a detected self position and uses the dead reckoning navigation while correcting a current position of the mining machine based on a position of the landmark obtained in advance and a detected position of the landmark when the self position cannot be detected.