Computer-Aided Route Determination for Mining Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for teaching routes to mobile mining machines are laborious and time-consuming, often coinciding with mounting and foundation work in production areas, leaving limited time for testing and requiring manual driving to establish routes.
Innovation Solution
A computer-aided route determination system that uses an environment model, user inputs for starting and end points, and machine properties to calculate and store route points, allowing for autonomous guidance without manual teaching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual teaching method is used to establish routes for mining machines, then the route can be accurately taught to the machine, but the time required for teaching and testing is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a digital copy of the production area through laser scanning to generate an environment model, which serves as a virtual replica. Route points are then determined in this virtual copy rather than through manual teaching in the physical area, eliminating the time-consuming manual route teaching process while maintaining accuracy through the precise digital representation
Solution Approach 2:
The environment model is created in advance before route teaching is needed. This preliminary action allows route points to be determined computationally without requiring actual mining machine presence in the production area, enabling route planning to occur beforehand and reducing on-site teaching time
2Measurement precision
If manual route teaching is performed in production areas, then accurate route data can be obtained, but production area closures are required which reduce productivity
Solution Approach 1:
By creating a digital copy (environment model) of the production area through laser scanning, the system enables route determination to occur in the virtual model rather than requiring physical presence in the production area. This eliminates the need to close production areas for route teaching, maintaining both accuracy and productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The environment model acts as an intermediary between the physical production area and the route planning process. All route determination activities occur in this intermediate digital representation, eliminating the need for mining machines to physically occupy the production area during route teaching while preserving route accuracy
3Loss of time
If computer-aided route determination is used, then route teaching time is reduced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical manual teaching process (operator driving the machine while teaching route points) with a computational system that automatically determines route points based on laser scan data and machine properties. This substitution eliminates manual intervention while reducing overall system complexity through automation
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically determining route points through computational algorithms that process the environment model and machine properties. The computer-aided determination system serves itself by generating accurate route data without requiring external manual teaching, reducing both time and operational complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
The present method relates to a method of determining a route for automatically controlling a mobile mining machine. The route is determined computer- aidedly by executing,by a data processing machine configured for generating routes, the following steps of: retrieving an environment model comprising wall location data, receiving from a user at least an input for determining a starting point of the route and an input for determining an end point of the route, determining the route between the starting point and the end point on the basis of the environment model and data concerning properties of the mining machine, wherein the route is determined as route points at least for which position data are calculated, and storing the data determining the route to be used for automatically guiding the mining machine.