Reach Placement Tool Using Reach Envelopes for Machine Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing reaching apparatuses, such as booms and telehandlers, lack the ability to accurately determine if they can reach specific points of interest at a worksite, leading to inefficient placement and potential operational limitations.
Innovation Solution
A reach and placement tool equipped with an eyepiece, orientation sensor, and distance sensor, which uses polar coordinates and reach envelopes to determine if points of interest are within the apparatus' range, providing real-time notifications to the user.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If reach apparatus are placed without precise range determination tools, then placement time is reduced, but placement accuracy and operational efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary range determination by comparing point coordinates against reach envelopes before actual apparatus placement. This pre-assessment eliminates trial-and-error placement, allowing operators to position equipment correctly on the first attempt, thus improving measurement precision without increasing placement time
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a digital model (reach envelope) that replicates the physical reach capabilities of the apparatus. By working with this accurate digital copy rather than physical trial placements, the system achieves precise range determination instantly, resolving the contradiction between measurement accuracy and time consumption
2Productivity
If manual trial-and-error placement methods are used, then equipment complexity is reduced, but productivity and operational efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual trial-and-error mechanical placement with an automated computational system. The controller automatically calculates coordinates, compares them with reach envelopes, and provides guidance, substituting physical trial placements with digital computation. This increases productivity while the added complexity is offset by the elimination of repeated manual adjustments
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides real-time feedback to operators about whether points of interest are within reach. This feedback mechanism guides precise placement without requiring complex manual judgment, improving operational efficiency while keeping the system relatively simple through intuitive binary feedback (within range/not within range)
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
Enables precise determination of reachable points of interest, allowing for optimal placement of the apparatus without physical movement, enhancing operational efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
an orientation sensor... configured to obtain an orientation angle of the reach and placement tool when the reach and placement tool is directed towards a point of interest
Implementation Method 2
a distance sensor... configured to obtain a distance to the point of interest when the reach and placement tool is directed towards the point of interest
Data Source
AI summary
A reach and placement tool includes an eyepiece, an orientation sensor, a distance sensor, and a controller. The controller is configured to obtain a distance value and an orientation from the distance sensor and the orientation sensor when the reach and placement tool is directed towards a point of interest at a particular location. The controller is also configured to determine a coordinate of the point of interest using the distance value and the orientation, and compare the coordinate of the point of interest to a reach envelope to determine if the point of interest is within range of a particular reach apparatus.