Mobile Device-Based Construction Machine Productivity Tracking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for tracking machine productivity in construction sites, especially those with rented or short-term equipment, often rely on expensive and complex telemetry hardware, leading to incorrect data or manual validation, which is inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
A management platform that uses processors and memory devices to receive and process information about moving load zones, assign loads and materials to machines, and provide location information to user devices, enabling automated tracking and assignment of tasks without the need for expensive hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If expensive embedded or retrofit telemetry hardware is installed on machines, then machine productivity tracking capability is improved, but cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a digital copy of the physical worksite environment using photogrammetry and LiDAR to generate 3D models and geo-fences. This digital twin allows virtual tracking of machine locations and productivity metrics without requiring complex physical telemetry hardware on each machine, thereby achieving accurate tracking while reducing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical telemetry hardware systems with a software-based solution that uses mobile devices with cameras and sensors to capture worksite data. The system processes images and sensor data to track machine locations and productivity, substituting complex mechanical telemetry systems with lighter computational and optical methods
2Measurement precision
If manual validation of material load quantities is performed, then data accuracy can be improved, but time consumption and labor costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service automated tracking where machine operators simply use mobile devices to capture worksite images and data. The system automatically processes this data through image recognition and sensor fusion to validate material load quantities without requiring manual verification, allowing the system to self-validate data accuracy while reducing time consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback loops where the system continuously monitors machine locations, compares them against geo-fenced zones, and automatically validates productivity data. The system provides real-time feedback on material load quantities and machine performance, enabling automated accuracy verification without manual intervention and reducing validation time
3Adaptability or versatility
If rented or short-term machines are used at job sites, then flexibility and adaptability are improved, but reliable tracking becomes difficult without permanent hardware installation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal tracking system that works across multiple machine types and ownership models. The mobile device-based platform can be deployed on rented, short-term, or owned machines without requiring permanent hardware installation. The system uses standard mobile device cameras and sensors that are already present on most modern devices, providing reliable tracking across diverse and flexible machine fleets
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts to different machine configurations and job site requirements. Rather than requiring fixed hardware installations, the solution uses software that can be quickly deployed and removed from mobile devices, matching the dynamic nature of rented and short-term machine usage while maintaining reliable tracking throughout the rental or project period
Data Source
AI summary
A device for managing material handling productivity is disclosed. The device may receive information identifying a moving zone for a job site, a quantity of loads for the moving zone, and a material for the moving zone, and may identify a first machine, from multiple machines, to assign to the moving zone, the quantity of loads, and the material. The device may provide, to a first user device associated with the first machine, information indicating that the moving zone, the quantity of loads, and the material are assigned to the first machine. The device may receive, from the first user device, location information associated with the first user device and the first machine, and may provide the location information to a second user device, associated with a second machine, to enable the second machine to travel to the first machine.