Remote Work Machine Assistance for Interference-Aware Operation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing remote operation assistance systems for construction machines do not adequately address interference from third parties during remote operation, requiring operators to interrupt operations manually.

Innovation Solution

A remote operation assistance system that includes a distance acquisition unit, an attribute acquisition unit, and an interference determination unit to assess the likelihood of interference, with an assistance control unit that automatically controls the work machine's operation to prevent or minimize interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual monitoring by operator is used, then system complexity is low, but interference detection capability is insufficient requiring operation interruption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference detection capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the monitoring task into multiple specialized units: distance acquisition unit for measuring distance to moving bodies, attribute acquisition unit for identifying moving body characteristics, interference determination unit for assessing interference likelihood, and assistance control unit for executing protective actions. This segmentation enables comprehensive interference detection while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit acts as an intermediary between the detection units and the work machine operation. It receives data from distance and attribute acquisition units, determines interference likelihood, and automatically executes protective control actions without requiring direct operator intervention, thereby improving reliability while keeping the operator's task simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If automatic interference control is implemented, then operation continuity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation continuityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by continuously acquiring distance and attribute data before interference actually occurs. The interference determination unit assesses likelihood in advance, and the assistance control unit executes protective control actions proactively to prevent interference, ensuring operation continuity without requiring complex real-time reaction systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback loops where the control unit continuously receives data from detection units, determines interference likelihood, executes protective actions, and monitors the results. This feedback mechanism enables automatic interference control that maintains operation continuity while managing complexity through iterative optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If comprehensive moving body detection is used, then interference determination accuracy is improved, but information processing load increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference determination accuracyVSAvoidinformation processing load
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The attribute acquisition unit focuses on acquiring specific local qualities of moving bodies that are most relevant to interference determination, such as distance, type, and key characteristics. By selectively acquiring only the most pertinent attributes rather than comprehensive data, the system achieves high determination accuracy while minimizing information processing load and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4050162B1Remote operation assistance system for work machine
Publication Date: 2023.11.15 KOBELCO CONSTR MASCH CO LTD
  • EP4050162B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4050162B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4050162B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A purpose of the present invention is to provide a remote operation assistance system used for assisting an operator OP in remotely operating a work machine. In order to achieve this purpose, the remote operation assistance system of the present invention includes: a distance acquisition unit 201 that obtains information on a distance from the operator OP to a moving body M; an attribute acquisition unit 202 that obtains an attribute to which the moving body M belongs; an interference determination unit 203 that determines a level of likelihood of interference occurring with the remote operation, based on the distance obtained by the distance acquisition unit 201 and the attribute obtained by the attribute acquisition unit 202; and an assistance control unit 204 that performs control to assist in the remote operation according to a result of the determination by the interference determination unit 203.