Smartphone Sensor Validation for Safe Machine Remote Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Smartphones are not considered reliable for controlling safety-critical functions of machines due to their complexity and unanalyzable operating systems and hardware, posing risks in safety-critical applications like remote controlling a tractor's hitch or engine.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a safety concept that defers application logic from the smartphone to a reliable machine control entity, using redundant sensor data from multiple sensors on the smartphone to validate user inputs, and providing feedback to ensure safe operation, thereby reducing risks and ensuring compliance with standards like ISO 25119 and ISO 12100.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If smartphone is used for remote control, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a machine control entity as an intermediary between the smartphone and the machine's force transmission interface. The smartphone application sends control requests to this intermediary, which then validates the sensor data and executes the control actions on the machine. This mediator architecture allows the smartphone to provide ease of operation through its user interface while the control entity ensures reliability through validated sensor data processing.
2Reliability
If sensor data validation is implemented, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary validation of sensor data before the control entity executes machine control actions. The system checks sensor data from the smartphone's sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope, touchscreen) against expected patterns and ranges before acting on control requests. This preliminary action ensures reliability by filtering out invalid or erroneous inputs while maintaining relatively simple device architecture.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are used for validation, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines data from multiple smartphone sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope, touchscreen sensors) to validate control inputs. By merging information from these different sensor types, the system achieves higher measurement precision in determining user intent and device orientation. The control entity processes these combined sensor data streams to make more accurate control decisions, while the smartphone itself maintains its standard sensor configuration without added complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments relate to apparatuses, methods and computer programs for controlling a machine. The apparatus is suitable for a mobile communication device for providing a sensor input signal to a machine control entity to control a machine. The apparatus comprises one or more sensor modules for providing first user input sensor data and second user input sensor data. The apparatus further comprises a control module configured to determine the sensor input signal based on the first user input sensor data and the second user input sensor data. The control module is further configured to provide the sensor input signal for sensor data processing to the machine control entity to control at least one of a force transmission interface of the machine for an external component and an engine of the machine via an interface.