Stationary Structure Collision Sensor Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing collision sensors on machinery only provide on-board warnings and do not indicate which stationary structures within a building have been contacted, making it difficult for managers to assess the structural integrity after collisions with pallet racks or other stationary structures.
Innovation Solution
A collision sensor assembly attachable to stationary structures that generates output signals to alert personnel of potential damage, including location-specific alerts, using sensors like accelerometers or strain gauges connected to a processor and output signal generators for visual, textual, or remote notifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If collision sensors are only installed on powered machinery, then the machinery can detect collisions, but the stationary structures cannot be identified and their structural integrity cannot be assessed
Solution Approach 1:
The collision detection system is segmented into two independent parts: sensors on powered machinery and sensors on stationary structures. Each segment operates autonomously and reports to a central system, allowing identification of both the moving and stationary objects involved in a collision without requiring a completely complex integrated system.
Solution Approach 2:
A central processing system acts as an intermediary between the powered machinery sensors and the stationary structure sensors. This mediator receives data from both sources, correlates the information, and identifies which stationary structure was contacted, avoiding the need for direct complex integration between all moving and stationary components.
2Productivity
If no collision sensors are installed on stationary structures, then the system is simpler, but damage assessment requires extensive manual inspections
Solution Approach 1:
Collision sensors on stationary structures detect and record collision events in advance, storing information about the impact location, time, and intensity. This preliminary detection eliminates the need for immediate manual inspection, allowing damage assessment to be performed efficiently by reviewing pre-captured data rather than conducting extensive physical examinations.
3Loss of information
If powered machinery includes on-board collision sensors, then the machinery receives collision warnings, but external parties cannot determine which structure was struck
Solution Approach 1:
The stationary structure sensors provide feedback information about which specific structure was contacted, complementing the on-board machinery sensors. This feedback loop allows the system to not only detect that a collision occurred but also to identify the precise location and nature of the impact, making it easy to determine collision location without manual investigation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures timely examination of structural integrity by providing external warnings and location-specific information about collisions, reducing the need for extensive inspections and improving damage assessment in high-traffic warehouse environments.
Implementation Method 1
using sensors like accelerometers or strain gauges
Implementation Method 2
using sensors like accelerometers or strain gauges
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A collision sensor assembly is attachable to a stationary structure such as a pallet rack, a door frame, the corner of a wall, or the like. The collision sensor is configured to sense when a collision occurs with the stationary structure such as when a piece of movable machinery contacts the stationary structure. The collision sensor assembly includes a sensor operatively connected to a processor which determines when a collision occurs, and produces a signal to an output signal generator to provide an external indication of the collision.