Mobile Machine Audio Sensor Collision Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated mobile machines lack effective collision avoidance systems that can detect and respond to non-programmed sounds, limiting their ability to navigate work sites with awareness of their environment, especially around corners, behind objects, or over hills.
Innovation Solution
The system employs audio sensors to detect non-ambient sounds, determine their direction, and react accordingly, integrating this information with collision avoidance sensors to enhance the machine's awareness and navigation capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If collision avoidance systems utilize lasers or other mechanisms for evaluating the surroundings, then the machine can detect obstacles within sight line, but the system has limited range and cannot detect obstacles around corners, behind objects, or over hills
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensing modalities (audio sensors, laser-based collision avoidance sensors, and other sensors) into an integrated environment evaluation system. The controller processes inputs from all sensors to compensate for individual limitations, allowing the machine to detect obstacles both within and beyond direct sight lines by merging the complementary detection capabilities of different sensor types
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements multi-functional sensing by using audio sensors to detect obstacles that lasers cannot detect (around corners, behind objects, over hills), while simultaneously using laser sensors for precise distance measurement within sight lines. This universal approach allows a single collision avoidance system to handle diverse obstacle scenarios that would be impossible for any single sensor type to address alone
2Device complexity
If automated machines operate without audio sensors, then the system complexity is reduced, but the machine lacks awareness of non-programmed sounds and cannot respond to unexpected environmental audio cues
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is pre-programmed with a library of sound patterns and their corresponding responses. When audio sensors detect sounds matching these pre-stored patterns, the system can immediately execute appropriate responses without requiring complex real-time analysis, thus maintaining relatively simple system architecture while enabling adaptive response to known sound types
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors audio inputs and compares them against the sound pattern library, creating a feedback loop that allows the machine to detect and respond to non-programmed sounds by identifying patterns that deviate from expected ambient noise. This feedback mechanism enables adaptive behavior without requiring overly complex predictive algorithms
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 enables mobile machines to better detect and avoid obstacles not within their sight line, improving safety and operational efficiency in automated work sites by utilizing audio inputs to guide collision avoidance systems.
Implementation Method 1
receiving an audio input from at least one audio sensor coupled to the machine
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, a method for operating a mobile machine may comprise: receiving an audio input from at least one audio sensor coupled to the machine; determining whether the audio input corresponds to a non-ambient sound; determining the direction between the source of the non-ambient sound and the machine; and reacting to the non-ambient sound based on the determined direction.