Construction Machine Obstacle Sensing on Inclined Ground
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional obstacle detection devices for construction machines, such as hydraulic excavators, frequently misidentify inclined ground surfaces as obstacles, leading to inefficient operation and excessive alarm triggering, particularly in uneven terrain.
Innovation Solution
An obstacle detection device equipped with inclination sensors, slewing angle sensors, and adjustable monitoring areas that account for the machine's inclination relative to the ground, allowing for dynamic adjustment of the detection zone to exclude surrounding ground areas and prevent false obstacle detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the monitoring area is set to cover the vicinity of the machine body, then obstacle detection capability is improved, but ground surfaces on inclined terrain are mistakenly detected as obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an inclination sensor as an intermediary device that measures the tilt angle of the machine body. This sensor acts as a mediator between the ground condition and the obstacle detection system, providing inclination information that helps the control unit distinguish between actual obstacles and ground surfaces on inclined terrain. By using this intermediary measurement, the system can adjust the monitoring area dynamically to avoid false detections while maintaining obstacle detection capability.
2Area of stationary object
If the monitoring area includes surrounding ground areas, then detection coverage is improved, but operational interruptions increase due to false obstacle detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of the monitoring area based on real-time inclination data. Instead of using a fixed monitoring area, the control unit modifies the monitoring area's shape and coverage according to the measured tilt angle. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain comprehensive detection coverage when the machine is on level ground while reducing false detections on inclined terrain, thereby preserving working efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameters of the monitoring area (such as its boundaries and coverage scope) based on the inclination parameter measured by the sensor. When the tilt angle exceeds a predetermined threshold, the control unit adjusts the monitoring area parameters to exclude ground surfaces that would be misidentified as obstacles. This parameter-based adaptation resolves the contradiction between coverage and false detection.
3Reliability
If the monitoring area is adjusted to exclude surrounding ground areas, then false detection is reduced, but obstacle detection capability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality adjustment to the monitoring area by selectively excluding only those specific ground surfaces that cause false detections, while maintaining monitoring coverage over other areas where obstacles may exist. The control unit uses inclination information to identify and exclude only the problematic ground regions (such as sloped surfaces adjacent to the machine) while preserving detection capability in other zones. This localized adjustment maintains overall detection accuracy without sacrificing comprehensive obstacle detection.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is an obstacle detection device capable of appropriately setting an area for detecting an obstacle in the vicinity of a machine body of a construction machine in consideration of the state of inclination of the construction machine with respect to its surrounding ground area. The obstacle detection device includes an inclination information acquisition section (31) configured to obtain inclination information that is information indicating a state of relative inclination of the machine body with respect to a surrounding ground area that is an area of the ground extending in the vicinity of an area of the ground on which the construction machine is located, and an area setting section (32) configured to set a monitoring area AR for detecting an obstacle and modifying the monitoring area AR according to the inclination information.