Ripper Shank Tip Angle Determination Using Video Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Monitoring the angle of a ripper shank tip in dozer machines is challenging due to its underground position, leading to difficulties in determining the angle of attack, which affects operation quality and causes sensor mispositioning and damage from vibrations, resulting in machine downtime and decreased productivity.
Innovation Solution
A method using a controller to estimate the angle of the ripper shank tip based on input commands and video feeds from image capturing devices, detecting objects in the video feed, and correlating their profiles to angular values in a map table to determine the actual angle of the shank tip.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensors are mounted on the ripper frame to monitor depth and angle, then measurement capability is improved, but sensor mispositioning and damage from vibrations occur leading to machine downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses video imaging to create a visual copy of the ripper shank and tip position, replacing physical sensors with an optical measurement system. The camera captures images of the ripper assembly, and image processing algorithms extract angle and position information from these visual copies, eliminating the need for physical sensors that are susceptible to vibration damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical sensor system with an optical-imaging-based measurement system. Instead of using physical sensors mounted on the ripper frame that are subject to mechanical vibrations, the system uses a camera to capture images and processes these images to determine the ripper shank angle and tip position, substituting mechanical measurement with optical measurement.
2Loss of information
If sensors are mounted on the ripper frame to monitor angle, then angle monitoring capability is improved, but vibrations cause mispositioning and damage resulting in decreased productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a visual copy of the ripper assembly through video imaging, allowing angle information to be extracted from image data rather than requiring physical sensors. This copying approach provides continuous angle information without the downtime associated with sensor damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical sensor-based information gathering system with an optical imaging system. The camera and image processing algorithms provide continuous angle information without being affected by vibrations, eliminating productivity losses from sensor maintenance and replacement.
3Ease of operation
If the shank tip is positioned underground to engage rock, then ripping effectiveness is improved, but the angle of attack becomes difficult to monitor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses video imaging to create a visual representation of the ripper shank and tip, allowing the angle of attack to be measured from images even when the tip is underground. The imaging system captures the visible portion of the ripper assembly, and image processing algorithms calculate the angle based on the detected profile and position of the shank.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces video imaging as an intermediary between the underground shank tip and the monitoring system. Rather than directly measuring the angle of the underground tip, the system uses images of the visible ripper assembly as an intermediary to infer and calculate the tip angle and position.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for determining an angle of a tip of a ripper shank includes a controller receiving an input command. The controller estimates an angle of the tip based on one or more parameters of the input command. Further, the controller acquires a video feed of the ripper shank and detects an object in the video feed. The controller identifies the object as one of the ripper shank or a component movable with a movement of the ripper shank based on a match of a color of the object to a predefined color and a match of a profile of the object to a predefined profile. The controller co-relates the profile to an angular value in a map table and sets the angular value to be an actual angle of the tip over the angle of the tip estimated based on the input command.