Autonomous Road Paving Machine Trailer Loading Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a shortage of highly skilled drivers who can safely and quickly perform loading and unloading operations for road paving machines, leading to inefficiencies and safety concerns in road construction sites.
Innovation Solution
A road paving machine equipped with a tractor, hopper, screed, and control device that allows for automated loading and unloading onto and from a trailer without a driver, utilizing a controller to manage the machine's posture and travel based on predetermined instructions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated loading and unloading is implemented without a driver, then productivity and safety are improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The road paving machine performs loading and unloading operations autonomously without requiring a driver. The control device automatically controls the tractor to travel toward the loading platform or rear region of the trailer based on predetermined instructions, enabling the machine to serve itself during these operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical operation of a driver controlling the machine during loading and unloading is replaced with an automated control device that receives predetermined instructions and automatically controls the tractor's movement, substituting human mechanical control with an automated control system.
2Ease of operation
If a driver operates the machine during loading and unloading, then ease of operation is maintained, but safety risks increase due to manpower shortage and skill gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The machine performs loading and unloading operations autonomously without requiring a driver. The control device automatically controls the tractor to travel toward the loading platform or rear region of the trailer based on predetermined instructions, enabling the machine to serve itself during these operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical operation of a driver controlling the machine during loading and unloading is replaced with an automated control device that receives predetermined instructions and automatically controls the tractor's movement, substituting human mechanical control with an automated control system.
3Device complexity
If manual loading and unloading operations are performed, then device complexity is reduced, but loss of time increases due to skilled driver shortage
Solution Approach 1:
The road paving machine performs loading and unloading operations autonomously without requiring a driver. The control device automatically controls the tractor to travel toward the loading platform or rear region of the trailer based on predetermined instructions, enabling the machine to serve itself during these operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical operation of a driver controlling the machine during loading and unloading is replaced with an automated control device that receives predetermined instructions and automatically controls the tractor's movement, substituting human mechanical control with an automated control system.
Data Source
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AI summary
An object is to perform loading and unloading to/from a transport vehicle without a driver riding on a road paving machine (100). There is provided a road paving machine (100) including: a tractor (1); a hopper (2) that is provided in front of the tractor (1) and receives a paving material (PV); a screed (3) that levels the paving material (PV) behind a screw for spreading the paving material (PV); and a control device (50) that causes the tractor (1) to travel toward a loading platform of a trailer (1000) or toward a rear region of the trailer (1000) from the loading platform of the trailer (1000) in a case where a predetermined instruction is received.