Unmanned Vehicle Queue Timing for Faster Loading Zone Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle management systems for unmanned vehicles at strip mines require long replacement times at loading positions due to distant queuing points and inadequate timing of travel start considerations, leading to decreased productivity.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle management system that includes a traffic management station, unmanned vehicle controllers, and loading completion notification devices, which calculate and manage travel permissions to optimize the timing of vehicle replacements and reduce queuing times by coordinating the travel of multiple unmanned vehicles through wireless communication and precise route planning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the queuing point is set at a position well distanced from the loading point to prevent contact between unmanned vehicles, then safety is improved, but the time length required for replacement of unmanned vehicles at the loading point increases and productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The traffic management controller calculates and issues travel permissions in advance before the unmanned vehicle actually reaches the queuing point. By predicting the vehicle's arrival time at the loading point and considering the loading time, the system determines the optimal timing to grant travel permission, allowing the vehicle to maintain motion and reduce waiting time while still ensuring safe replacement operations
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the positions of multiple unmanned vehicles, their travel speeds, and loading status to dynamically adjust travel permissions. The traffic management controller receives feedback on vehicle locations and loading completion status, then optimizes the timing of travel permission issuance to coordinate vehicle arrivals and minimize replacement time while maintaining safety distances
2Productivity
If the unmanned vehicle is caused to keep traveling to the queuing point avoiding stops as much as possible, then production efficiency is enhanced, but the time length required for vehicle replacement at the loading point increases due to inadequate timing considerations
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculation of travel permissions by predicting when the unmanned vehicle will arrive at the loading point and how long loading will take. The traffic management controller issues travel permissions in advance with optimized timing that accounts for the vehicle's travel speed and distance to the loading point, ensuring the vehicle maintains continuous motion while arriving at the optimal moment for replacement
Solution Approach 2:
The travel permission timing is dynamically adjusted based on real-time vehicle position, travel speed, and loading status. The system continuously updates the optimal permission issuance time to coordinate with the vehicle's actual travel conditions, allowing the vehicle to keep traveling without unnecessary stops while ensuring timely replacement at the loading point
Data Source
AI summary
In a case where a travel permission request regarding a queuing zone for a first unmanned vehicle stopped in a queuing zone is received, on the basis of a time length taken for the first unmanned vehicle arriving at a deceleration start position and a time length taken for a second unmanned vehicle positioned in a loading zone going out of the loading zone from reception of a loading completion notification, a travel start time difference after which the second unmanned vehicle goes out of the loading zone before the first unmanned vehicle arrives at a deceleration start position is calculated, a travel start time of the first unmanned vehicle is calculated on the basis of a reception time of the loading completion notification and the travel start time difference, and a travel permission regarding the queuing zone for the first unmanned vehicle is output after the travel start time has come. As a result, it is possible to shorten a time length required for replacement of unmanned vehicles at a loading position and enhance productivity.