Mobile Command Station for Autonomous Construction Vehicle Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current construction technologies lack efficient systems for controlling and coordinating autonomous construction vehicles in real-time, leading to reduced productivity and increased human resource requirements on construction sites.
Innovation Solution
A mobile command and control station equipped with a controller, wireless communication module, and user interface that creates and transmits worksite plans to autonomous construction vehicles, allowing for remote operation, monitoring, and editing of plans based on real-time data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If autonomous construction vehicles are deployed to reduce human operators, then productivity is enhanced and human resource requirements are reduced, but real-time control and coordination capabilities are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
A command and control station serves as an intermediary between human operators and autonomous construction vehicles. This station receives work plan data, generates control instructions, transmits them to autonomous vehicles via wireless communication, and receives status information back, enabling indirect real-time control without requiring human operators to be physically present on the vehicles
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct mechanical control systems (human operators physically controlling vehicles) with electronic and wireless communication systems. The command and control station uses processors to generate control instructions and wireless transmission modules to communicate with autonomous vehicles, substituting the mechanical control paradigm with an electronic information-based control system
2Extent of automation
If multiple autonomous machines are coordinated to perform various tasks, then human resource requirements are reduced, but system complexity and coordination requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The command and control station is designed as a universal control system capable of managing multiple different types of autonomous construction vehicles (pavers, compactors, cold planers) with diverse functions. It performs multiple tasks including generating control instructions, transmitting data wirelessly, receiving status information, and coordinating operations across different machine types, thereby managing system complexity through a multi-functional centralized platform
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is segmented into independent modular components: a command and control station for centralized coordination, individual control systems on each autonomous vehicle, and wireless communication modules. This segmentation allows each component to operate independently while maintaining overall system coordination, reducing the complexity burden on any single element
3Productivity
If work plans are pre-defined for autonomous vehicles, then operational efficiency is improved, but adaptability to real-time site conditions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The command and control station implements a feedback mechanism where it receives status information from autonomous vehicles and site condition data in real-time. Based on this feedback, the system can dynamically adjust control instructions and modify work plans to adapt to changing site conditions while maintaining the efficiency benefits of pre-defined operational frameworks
Solution Approach 2:
The control system transitions from static pre-defined work plans to dynamic adaptive planning. The command and control station continuously receives real-time data from autonomous vehicles and site sensors, dynamically generates or modifies control instructions, and transmits updated commands to maintain optimal operation as site conditions change, making the system both efficient and adaptable
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling multiple autonomous construction vehicles on a work site are described. The systems include a command and control station located on a mobile construction vehicle working on the worksite. The command and control station provides the ability to control operation of the autonomous construction vehicles.