Mobile Mining Vehicle State-Based UI for Safer Control Transitions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current mobile mining vehicle user interfaces are overly complex, leading to potential operation failures, damage, or inefficiencies due to the need for deep understanding of vehicle properties and operations, making it difficult for operators to control the vehicles effectively.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method that determine the current state of a mobile mining vehicle, identify state transition options, gather contextual information, and provide controlled user interface elements based on this information to facilitate safe and efficient transitions between predefined states, allowing operators to make informed decisions through a simplified interface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a comprehensive user interface with all control options is provided, then the vehicle can be fully controlled, but the interface becomes overly complex and difficult to operate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol capabilityVSAvoidinterface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The user interface dynamically adapts its complexity based on the vehicle's current state. Different states (e.g., idle, operation, transport) present different sets of control elements, so the interface structure changes dynamically rather than remaining static. This resolves the contradiction by providing full control capability when needed while maintaining simplicity during routine operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control interface is segmented into multiple state-specific interface configurations. Each state has its own tailored set of control elements and parameters relevant to that state. This segmentation allows the system to present only necessary controls at any given moment, reducing overall complexity while maintaining comprehensive control capability across different states.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of information

If detailed information about vehicle properties and operations is provided, then the operator can make informed decisions, but the information flow becomes overwhelming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation completenessVSAvoidinformation flow
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The information presentation uses local quality by tailoring the type, detail, and format of information to the specific vehicle state and operational context. Different states receive different information configurations - for example, operational states may show detailed technical parameters while transport states show simpler status indicators. This ensures information completeness is maintained locally for each context without creating overwhelming global information flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The information flow is dynamically adjusted based on the current state and operational needs. The system selectively presents information relevant to the current context, filtering out unnecessary details while maintaining completeness of essential data. This dynamic adaptation prevents information overload while ensuring operators have access to all necessary information for decision-making.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Manufacturing precision

If the operator must understand deep vehicle properties and operations, then control precision is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoidoperator skill requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically determining the current state, identifying valid state transitions, and pre-configuring the appropriate control elements before the operator needs to act. This preliminary processing of state information and control configuration allows the operator to simply select from pre-validated options, achieving high control precision without requiring deep understanding of vehicle properties or complex operational procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control system serves itself by automatically managing state determination, transition validation, and interface configuration. The system self-adjusts the available controls based on its own state, eliminating the need for the operator to manually configure complex parameters or understand deep vehicle properties. This self-service approach maintains control precision while dramatically improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4332709A1Controlling a mobile mining vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.03.06 SANDVIK MINING & CONSTR OY
  • EP4332709A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4332709A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4332709A1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

An apparatus, method and computer program product for: determining information on a first state of a plurality of predefined states of the mobile mining vehicle, determining, based on the first state, a plurality of state transition options for transitioning the mobile mining vehicle from the first state to a second state of the plurality of predefined states of the mobile mining vehicle, determining contextual information associated with the plurality of state transition options, controlling, based on the plurality of state transition options and the contextual information associated with the plurality of state transitions options, provision of at least one control element on a user interface for controlling the mobile mining vehicle, and controlling a transition of the mobile mining vehicle from the first state to the second state based on a user input received via the at least one control element.