Tower Crane Navigation System for Collision Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tower crane operators face challenges in safely navigating cranes at construction sites due to limited visibility and the risk of collisions, both with surrounding structures and other cranes, which hinders efficient construction processes.
Innovation Solution
A tower crane navigation system that provides multiple views of the crane and its surroundings, searches for safe routes, generates alarms for potential collisions, and adjusts crane paths to prevent overlaps, using sensors and data processing to display critical information and control crane movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If tower cranes are arranged with predetermined distances from each other to prevent collision, then safety is improved, but construction productivity deteriorates due to unreachable areas
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary route planning and collision detection before crane operations begin. The navigation system calculates safe paths in advance and alerts operators to potential conflicts, allowing cranes to operate closer without increasing collision risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides real-time feedback to operators through visual displays showing the positions of multiple cranes and predicted movement paths. This feedback loop enables operators to adjust routes dynamically to avoid collisions while optimizing material transport efficiency.
2Ease of operation
If tower crane operators focus on operating cranes with limited visibility, then operational control is improved, but situational awareness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation system acts as an intermediary between the operator and the surrounding environment. It processes sensor data about cranes, buildings, and terrain, then presents this information through visual displays that enhance the operator's situational awareness without requiring direct visual contact with all elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates visual copies or representations of the real-world environment and crane positions on display screens. These graphical models allow operators to perceive the complete situational context that would otherwise be invisible due to the crane's height and operator position.
3Device complexity
If simple auxiliary devices provide basic crane operation information, then device complexity is reduced, but information recognition effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The display system uses color coding to convey critical information about crane positions, movement status, and potential conflicts. Different colors indicate different states (e.g., green for safe, yellow for caution, red for danger), enabling rapid operator recognition without complex interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from providing simple scalar data (height, angle) to multi-dimensional visual representations showing spatial relationships, movement trajectories, and environmental context. This dimensional enrichment allows operators to grasp complex situations at a glance.
Data Source
AI summary
A material position information measuring section measures a position of a material lifted up by a tower crane. A structure information measuring section measures position information about surrounding structures. A route searching section searches for a route of movement of the material from a start point to a destination. The route of movement determined by the route searching section is stored in a route storage. A data processor receives data of the material position information measuring section and the structure information measuring section, and calculates 2D or 3D image data about relative positions of the tower crane, the material lifted up by the tower crane and the surrounding structures. A display unit displays information about at least one of the tower crane, the material and the surrounding structures using the image data calculated by the data processor, and displays the route of movement determined by the route searching section.