Docking Assistance System for Truck Loading Precision
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for docking a truck at a loading location are often inaccurate and time-consuming, leading to increased truck spotting time and reduced loading efficiency due to reliance on visual judgment by the truck operator.
Innovation Solution
A docking assistance system comprising a first controller at a remote control station and a second controller on-board the truck, which generates and refines a list of loading locations, selects a target location based on relative distance and vehicle parameters, and displays a zoomed-in top view to aid in precise docking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If visual judgment method is used for docking, then the system complexity is low, but the docking precision and loading efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a docking assistance system comprising a first controller at a remote control station and a second controller on-board the truck, which act as intermediary devices between the truck operator and the loading location. The system processes position data, calculates optimal docking locations, and provides visual guidance through displays, thereby improving docking precision without requiring complex manual judgment from the operator.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/visual judgment method with an electronic control and display system. Instead of relying on the operator's visual assessment and manual maneuvering, the system uses controllers to receive position signals, process data, and provide automated guidance through visual displays, substituting human visual-mechanical judgment with electronic processing and visualization.
2Productivity
If visual judgment method is used for docking, then the equipment cost is low, but the loading efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The docking assistance system serves as an intermediary that accelerates the docking process by providing real-time position information and guidance. The first controller at the remote station and the second controller on the truck work together to rapidly determine optimal docking locations and guide the operator, significantly reducing truck spotting time and improving loading efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the controllers continuously receive position signals from the truck, process this data to determine optimal docking locations, and provide real-time visual feedback through displays. This closed-loop feedback system enables the operator to make rapid adjustments and achieve accurate docking quickly, thereby improving loading efficiency.
3Measurement precision
If automated location selection is implemented, then the docking precision improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the control system into two separate controllers: a first controller at the remote control station that generates the list of loading locations, and a second controller on-board the truck that selects the target location and displays guidance. This segmentation distributes computational complexity across multiple independent units, allowing each controller to perform specialized functions with manageable complexity while achieving high overall precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The first controller acts as an intermediary that prepares the list of candidate loading locations based on position data, which then feeds into the second controller for final target selection. This intermediary processing step breaks down the complex task of location selection into manageable stages, improving accuracy while keeping individual controller complexities reasonable.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for assisting in docking of a machine at a loading location is provided. The system includes a first controller and a second controller. The first controller is configured to generate a list of loading locations associated with one or more loading machines. The second controller is communicably coupled to the first controller, a position detection unit and a display unit. The second controller is configured to receive the list of loading locations, receive a signal indicative of a current position of the machine, display a subset of the list of loading locations, select a target loading location from the subset of the list of loading locations based on a relative distance between the current position of the machine and each of the loading locations and display a zoomed in top view of the current position of the machine and the target loading location, based on the selection.