Excavation Tool Fill-Level Sensing for Autonomous Earthmoving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current excavation methods rely heavily on manual operators, leading to high costs, extended project durations, and increased risk of human error due to labor shortages and the inability to operate excavation vehicles at night.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous or semi-autonomous excavation system equipped with sensors that navigate and control excavation vehicles, generating digital terrain models and target tool paths to automate the excavation process, reducing the need for manual labor and improving precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual operators are used to operate excavation vehicles, then the vehicles can be controlled with simple systems, but the operation costs increase and project duration extends due to labor shortages and inability to work at night
Solution Approach 1:
The excavation vehicle is equipped with sensors, processors, and control systems that enable it to autonomously perform excavation tasks without continuous human intervention. The system self-manages navigation, digging operations, and tool control, freeing operators from manual tasks while maintaining high productivity and enabling 24/7 operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operation with an automated control system that uses sensors to detect terrain and vehicle position, processes this data to determine excavation parameters, and controls hydraulic tools automatically. This substitution eliminates the need for continuous human presence while improving excavation efficiency and enabling night operations.
2Reliability
If manual operators are required for excavation vehicles, then operational flexibility is maintained, but the risk of human error increases and work quality decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously receives feedback from sensors monitoring vehicle position, terrain conditions, and tool status. This real-time data feeds into the processor, which adjusts control signals to maintain precise excavation operations. The feedback loop eliminates human error by automatically correcting deviations from the planned excavation path and maintaining consistent work quality.
3Duration of action of moving object
If excavation vehicles operate only during daytime with manual operators, then equipment complexity remains low, but project duration extends and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous system enables the excavation vehicle to operate independently during nighttime hours without requiring human operators. The vehicle's own sensors and control systems manage all excavation functions, allowing continuous 24/7 operation that extends project duration while maintaining safety and precision through automated control.
4Manufacturing precision
If sensors and processing systems are added to excavation vehicles for autonomous operation, then productivity and precision improve, but device complexity and initial costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system and processor are designed to perform multiple functions: detecting terrain features, determining vehicle position and orientation, calculating excavation parameters, and controlling hydraulic tools. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized systems, managing complexity while achieving high excavation precision through integrated autonomous control.
Data Source
AI summary
This description provides an autonomous or semi-autonomous excavation vehicle that is capable of navigating through a dig site and carrying out an excavation routine using a system of sensors physically mounted to the excavation vehicle. The sensors collects any one or more of spatial, imaging, measurement, and location data representing the status of the excavation vehicle and its surrounding environment. Based on the collected data, the excavation vehicle executes instructions to carry out an excavation routine. The excavation vehicle is also able to carry out numerous other tasks, such as checking the volume of excavated earth in an excavation tool, and helping prepare a digital terrain model of the site as part of a process for creating the excavation routine.