Excavator Slewing Angle Alignment Using Camera Overlay Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Remote control of working machines, such as hydraulic excavators, faces challenges in aligning the slewing angle of the upper slewing body with the lower traveling body due to limited visual information, making it difficult for operators to match the slewing angle with a target angle.
Innovation Solution
A working machine control device that includes a camera system providing visual feedback to the operator, a slewing operation lever, and a notification unit to assist in aligning the slewing angle, using image recognition to determine the degree of coincidence between the actual and target angles, and adjusting the display and notification accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If remote control is implemented, then operator safety and accessibility are improved, but visual information availability deteriorates making it difficult to match slewing angle
Solution Approach 1:
The system displays the captured image showing the lower traveling body on the display unit, providing real-time visual feedback to the operator about the actual slewing angle. This allows the operator to see the relationship between the upper slewing body and lower traveling body, enabling accurate angle matching despite remote operation
Solution Approach 2:
The camera captures an image of the lower traveling body and displays it on the display unit, creating a visual copy of the actual machine state. This copied visual information allows the operator to perceive the slewing angle relationship without direct visual access to the physical machine
2Device complexity
If only display is used to show travelling direction, then device complexity is reduced, but operator ability to match slewing angle deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The display unit shows the captured image of the lower traveling body in real-time, providing visual feedback that enables the operator to accurately match the slewing angle. This feedback mechanism significantly improves angle matching ability without adding complex control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces complex mechanical angle measurement and indication mechanisms with a camera-based visual display system. The camera captures and displays the lower traveling body, allowing the operator to visually determine the slewing angle without complex mechanical indicators
Data Source
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AI summary
A working machine control device 40 includes a camera 27 that obtains a captured image by imaging a particular part that is a part of a lower travelling body 10, and a controller 60, in which the controller 60 includes a setting unit 61 that sets a target slewing angle of an upper slewing body 20 with respect to the lower travelling body 10, and a display control unit 62 that causes a display unit 50 to display a display screen in which a target image indicating a target position of the particular part is displayed in a superimposed manner at a position on the captured image, the position being where the particular part is displayed when a slewing angle of the upper slewing body 20 with respect to the lower travelling body 10 reaches the target slewing angle.