Remote Operation Assistance for Selective Engine Stop Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
When an engine stop instruction is made unexpectedly, remotely operated work machines often require restarts, leading to reduced work efficiency as operators need to manually restart the engine, potentially causing accidental operation state releases or prolonged stand-by situations.
Innovation Solution
A remote operation assistance server that assesses the intention of the operator through a remote operation apparatus to determine whether to stop only the work mechanism or both the engine and work mechanism, ensuring efficient operation by reflecting the operator's intent accurately.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an engine stop instruction is made through the remote operation apparatus, then the engine operation is stopped to prevent unexpected situations, but the work efficiency is reduced when the operator intends to continue remote operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system monitors operator presence through sensors (camera, microphone, weight sensor) and provides feedback to determine whether to execute engine stop instructions. This feedback mechanism allows the system to distinguish between intentional stop commands and accidental releases, resolving the contradiction by adapting the stop decision based on real-time operator status
Solution Approach 2:
The remote operation assistance server acts as an intermediary between the remote operation apparatus and the work machine. It receives engine stop instructions, evaluates operator presence through multiple sensors, and makes the final decision on whether to stop the engine. This intermediary role prevents direct automatic stopping while maintaining safety through monitored control
2Reliability
If the engine is stopped automatically upon receiving stop instruction, then safety is improved by preventing accidental operation, but manual restart is required which reduces work efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses self-service by automatically detecting operator presence through sensors and making autonomous decisions about engine stopping and resumption. When the operator returns, the system can automatically resume operations without requiring manual restart commands, eliminating time loss while maintaining safety through continuous monitoring
3Reliability
If the system always stops the engine when a stop instruction is received, then unexpected situations are avoided, but the operator's intention to continue work is not reflected
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts its response to stop instructions based on real-time operator presence detection. Instead of a fixed automatic stop rule, the control strategy changes according to whether the operator is present or absent, making the system adaptable to different operational contexts and preserving both safety and operational intent
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided a technology capable of improving work efficiency of a work machine that is remotely operated by an operator through a remote operation apparatus. If the first condition is satisfied, that is, if an engine stop instruction for a work machine 40 is made through a remote input interface 21 of the remote operation apparatus 20, operation of an engine 460 is stopped in principle, but the operation of the engine 460 is exceptionally not stopped. Specifically, when an operator does not exist at a specified position at the time of operating a remote operation mechanism 211 in the remote operation apparatus 20, the operation of the engine 460 is stopped. On the other hand, when the operator exists at the specified position at the time of operating the remote operation mechanism 211 in the remote operation apparatus 20, the operation of the engine 460 is continued without being stopped even if an engine operation instruction is made.