Mobile Crane Collision Avoidance With Proximity Thresholds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing collision avoidance systems for cranes in construction sites suffer from significant productivity losses when a mobile crane fails to communicate its position correctly, leading to the entire site being halted due to the expansion of forbidden zones, thus causing delays and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A collision avoidance management system that activates only when a second mobile crane is within a specific proximity threshold of a first crane, using real-time communication and threshold-based activation/deactivation to manage collisions effectively, distinguishing between fixed and displacement modes of the mobile crane to limit forbidden zones and maintain productivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the collision avoidance system activates positive safety by treating the entire job site as a forbidden zone when a mobile crane fails to communicate its position, then collision safety is improved, but productivity is severely reduced as all cranes must stop operating
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different safety rules to different spatial zones: when a mobile crane's position is unknown, only the local area around the last known position is treated as a forbidden zone, while other areas remain accessible for normal operations. This localized approach maintains collision safety in the uncertain area without halting productivity across the entire site.
Solution Approach 2:
The job site is segmented into multiple zones based on the mobile crane's last known position and communication status. The system divides the site into a forbidden zone (around the uncertain position), a warning zone (intermediate area), and a safe zone (remaining area), allowing differentiated control measures in each segment.
2Reliability
If the collision avoidance system treats the entire job site as a forbidden zone to ensure safety, then collision risk is eliminated, but the complexity of managing site operations increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the forbidden zone boundaries based on the mobile crane's last known position and communication status. Rather than statically treating the entire site as forbidden, the system continuously updates the restricted area, allowing operational flexibility while maintaining safety. This dynamic approach reduces management complexity compared to a static all-or-nothing forbidden zone.
3Productivity
If the system limits forbidden zones to immediate vicinity only, then productivity is maintained, but the risk of collision with mobile crane increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system establishes a warning zone surrounding the mobile crane's last known position before the forbidden zone. This preliminary warning area allows other cranes to be alerted and take preventive actions before entering the high-risk forbidden zone, reducing collision risk while maintaining productivity in areas outside the warning zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The warning zone acts as a buffer or cushion between the safe operating areas and the forbidden zone. This intermediate layer provides a safety margin that absorbs potential positioning errors or unexpected movements, reducing the likelihood of collisions while allowing broader operational freedom compared to an immediately restrictive forbidden zone.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a system for managing collision avoidance of a first crane on a work site on which a second crane is located, the second crane being mobile, the system comprising: —a collision avoidance system of the first crane, configured so as to prevent a collision between the first crane and its environment; —a communication device configured to receive from the second crane an indication of the position of the second crane on the work site and to send to the second crane a confirmation of receipt of the indication of the position of the second crane on the site, when the indication of the position of the second crane corresponds to a distance, relative to the first crane, less than or equal to a first threshold value Zc; —a collision avoidance management module of the first crane, configured so as to activate the collision avoidance system of the first crane when the indication of the position of the second crane corresponds to a distance, relative to the first crane, less than or equal to a second threshold value Zd less than the first threshold value Zc.