Shovel Actuator Control via Hand Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shovels fail to reliably prevent accidental operation of actuators when the operator is wearing a seat belt and in a proper sitting posture, as they cannot differentiate between intentional and accidental contact with the operating lever.
Innovation Solution
A shovel equipped with a controller and image capturing device that determines whether the operating apparatus is being operated with the operator's hand, restricting actuator movement if not, thereby preventing accidental operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the shovel uses traditional seat belt and posture detection systems, then operator safety is improved, but accidental operation cannot be reliably prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an image capturing device as an intermediary that captures images of the operator's hand and operating lever, and uses image processing to determine whether intentional operation is occurring. This intermediary system bridges the gap between simple contact detection and reliable intent verification, solving the contradiction by adding a specialized detection layer without requiring complete system redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical or simple sensor-based detection systems with an optical-based image processing system. By using image capturing devices and algorithmic analysis of hand-lever spatial relationships, the system substitutes mechanical contact detection with optical field analysis, achieving more reliable accidental operation prevention.
2Reliability
If the shovel restricts actuator movement to prevent accidental operation, then safety is improved, but operational efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of actuator movement by continuously monitoring image data to determine whether intentional operation is occurring. The restriction on actuator movement is not static but dynamically adjusted based on real-time analysis of hand-lever spatial relationships, allowing efficient operation when intent is confirmed while preventing accidental activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms where image capturing devices continuously monitor the operator's hand position relative to the operating lever, and this feedback information is used to dynamically control actuator movement. The feedback loop ensures that actuators are restricted only when accidental contact is detected, while allowing unrestricted operation when intentional use is confirmed.
3Reliability
If the shovel uses image processing to detect hand operation, then accidental operation prevention is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The image capturing device serves multiple functions: it captures images for intentional operation detection, provides visual records for operational verification, and can potentially be used for other monitoring purposes. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by providing several benefits from a single added component.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a visual copy (image) of the physical relationship between the operator's hand and the operating lever. By analyzing this optical copy rather than directly measuring physical contact forces, the system achieves reliable detection using standard image processing techniques, managing complexity through information representation rather than complex mechanical sensing.
Data Source
AI summary
A shovel includes a lower traveling body, an upper turning body turnably mounted on the lower traveling body, a cab mounted on the upper turning body, an operating apparatus installed in the cab, an actuator driven with the operating apparatus, and a processor configured to restrict the movement of the actuator. The processor is configured to determine the necessity of a restriction related to the movement of the actuator in accordance with whether the operating apparatus is operated with an operator's hand.