Mobile Crane Wireless Location Tracking and Software Updates
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Modern mobile cranes face challenges in minimizing downtime and ensuring efficient operation due to limited real-time monitoring and maintenance capabilities, particularly in regards to location tracking, software updates, and diagnostic services.
Innovation Solution
Equipping mobile cranes with wireless data transmission means for location identification, software updates, and diagnostic data transmission, including GPS modules and automated reporting mechanisms, to enable remote monitoring, efficient theft protection, software management, and proactive maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If wireless data transmission means are equipped for real-time location monitoring, then operational efficiency and theft protection are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless data transmission means serve multiple functions simultaneously: location monitoring, theft protection, and software update delivery. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by maximizing productivity benefits while justifying the added device complexity through consolidated utility.
Solution Approach 2:
The crane system automatically transmits location data and receives software updates without requiring manual intervention. This self-service capability improves operational efficiency by enabling continuous monitoring and maintenance while the system handles the complexity of wireless communication autonomously.
2Loss of time
If wireless transmission is used for software updates, then downtime is reduced, but reliability of update delivery is worsened in areas with limited network coverage
Solution Approach 1:
Software updates are transmitted and stored in advance when network coverage is available, before the crane needs them. This preliminary action ensures that updates are ready for installation, reducing downtime while the advance transmission compensates for unreliable network conditions in remote areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system periodically checks for and receives software updates at intervals when network coverage is present. This periodic action allows the crane to accumulate updates during periods of good connectivity and install them during maintenance windows, thereby reducing overall downtime despite intermittent network reliability.
3Reliability
If data buffering is implemented for location tracking, then continuity of location data is improved during transmission outages, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A buffer store is implemented to cushion against transmission outages by holding location data temporarily. This beforehand cushioning ensures that location tracking remains continuous even when wireless transmission is unavailable, improving reliability while the buffer acts as a simple intermediate storage mechanism.
4Loss of information
If connection quality monitoring is added to manage data transmission, then data loss is reduced, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
Connection quality is monitored periodically rather than continuously, allowing the system to assess transmission conditions at regular intervals. This periodic monitoring reduces energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring while still enabling the system to detect connection quality changes and adjust data transmission accordingly, minimizing information loss.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution allows for real-time location tracking, ensures continuous software updates, and enhances maintenance efficiency, reducing downtime and operational costs by enabling remote monitoring and autonomous operation.
Implementation Method 1
The means by which the position at which the crane is located can be determined can be formed e.g. by a GPS receiver
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a mobile crane having means for wireless reception or for the determination of data identifying the location of the crane as well as having transmission means which are in communication with these means or can be connected to them, wherein the transmission means are configured such that they transmit the data identifying the location of the crane from the crane to a receiver in a wireless manner.