Mountable Operation Unit for Remote Heavy Equipment Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing unmanned control systems for construction heavy equipment face challenges such as complexity, high costs, and spatial restrictions when attempting to remotely operate machinery, limiting their applicability and accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A mountable operation unit is designed to be attachably and separably coupled to an operation lever, featuring a link adapter, base adapter, and drive unit, allowing for remote manipulation while maintaining manual operation freedom and reducing the center of gravity, thus enabling precise and intuitive control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a manipulator or humanoid robot is mounted in the existing construction heavy equipment to manipulate the operation lever, then remote operation is enabled, but it is difficult to develop and mount the manipulator, expensive actuators are required, and it is difficult for a worker to directly carry the manipulator
Solution Approach 1:
The operation unit is divided into a mountable operation unit with a manipulator and a base unit, allowing the manipulator to be detached and mounted on the operation lever as needed. This segmentation reduces the complexity of the overall system and makes it easier to transport and install
Solution Approach 2:
The mountable operation unit is designed to be universally applicable to different types of construction heavy equipment by mounting on the operation lever, which is a common component across various machines. This multi-functionality approach eliminates the need for custom manipulators for each equipment type
2Extent of automation
If the mountable operation unit is mounted above the operation lever, then remote manipulation is achieved, but spatial restriction occurs when a driver manually operates the operation lever and the center of gravity is located above the operation lever limiting accurate control
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of mounting the operation unit above the operation lever as in conventional systems, this invention mounts it below the operation lever. This inverted mounting approach resolves the spatial conflict by allowing the operation lever to pass through the mountable operation unit, enabling both manual and remote operation without spatial restrictions
Solution Approach 2:
The operation lever is designed to pass through the mountable operation unit in a vertical direction, creating a three-dimensional arrangement where the manipulator operates in one dimension while the lever moves in another. This dimensional separation allows both manual and remote operation to coexist without interference
3Extent of automation
If a mountable operation unit is mounted on the operation lever, then remote work is enabled, but a large amount of time is needed to mount the operation unit, mechanical mechanisms are complicated, and motion of the operation lever is difficult to be intuitively determined
Solution Approach 1:
The operation unit is segmented into a mountable operation unit and a base unit that can be quickly attached and detached. The mountable operation unit includes a manipulator mounted on a movable support that can be positioned and secured to the operation lever, enabling rapid deployment without complex mounting procedures
Solution Approach 2:
A movable support structure acts as an intermediary between the mountable operation unit and the operation lever. This intermediary component simplifies the mounting mechanism by providing a standardized interface that reduces mounting time and complexity while maintaining stable connection
4Extent of automation
If existing mechanical hydraulic apparatuses are replaced by electro-hydraulic apparatuses to remotely manipulate the system, then remote operation is enabled, but it is complicated and the existing system cannot be used
Solution Approach 1:
The mountable operation unit with manipulator serves as an intermediary device that interfaces with the existing mechanical hydraulic apparatuses. Rather than replacing the entire hydraulic system, the manipulator remotely operates the existing levers and controls, maintaining compatibility with the original mechanical system while enabling remote operation
Solution Approach 2:
The manipulator creates a remote copy of the operator's hand movements, translating them into corresponding lever movements. This copying approach allows remote operation without modifying the existing mechanical hydraulic system, as the manipulator simply replicates the physical actions that would be performed manually
Data Source
AI summary
An unmanned control system of an operation lever for operating a device includes: a mountable operation unit which is attachably and separably coupled to an operation lever for operating a device and manipulates the operation lever; and an operation unit control part which moves the operation lever coupled to the mountable operation unit by remotely controlling the mountable operation unit, in which the mountable operation unit has the same degree of freedom as the operation lever. The unmanned control system may lower a center of gravity of the mountable operation unit, thereby precisely controlling the operation lever and improving intuition with respect to the movement of the operation lever and the mountable unit.