Vehicle Grid Light Projection for Autonomous Snow Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Operators face a significant burden when performing driving operations that require visual confirmation of laser light deformation on a road surface for navigating concavities and convexities, which can be cumbersome and inefficient, especially in snow removal tasks.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle equipped with a pattern light projection unit that projects a predetermined pattern, such as a grid-shaped light, onto the work area, and a control unit that adjusts the vehicle's operations based on the deformation of this pattern, allowing for autonomous control of the snow removal process, including auger rotation, height adjustment, and travel speed, to match the shape and conditions of the snow-covered area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the operator visually confirms the deformation of laser light to navigate road surface concavities and convexities, then the driving operation can be performed according to road surface shape, but the operator's burden increases and operation becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle performs self-measurement of the road surface shape using the laser light projection and image capture systems, eliminating the need for the operator to visually assess and manually adjust for road surface variations. The system automatically generates peripheral information about concavities and convexities, allowing the vehicle to navigate autonomously.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual visual assessment and operational adjustment process is replaced with an automated optical measurement system. The laser light projection unit, image capturing section, and image analyzing section work together to detect road surface shape, substituting the operator's visual confirmation and manual control with automated electronic systems.
2Measurement precision
If the operator visually confirms the deformation of laser light to perform driving operation, then the road surface shape can be judged, but the operation becomes inefficient and burdensome
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously projects laser light patterns onto the road surface, captures images of the deformed patterns, analyzes the deformation to determine road surface shape, and uses this information to automatically control vehicle operations. This closed-loop feedback system provides precise measurement of road surface features while enabling efficient autonomous operation without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The image capturing section and image analyzing section serve as intermediaries between the laser light projection and the control system. These components automatically process the optical information to generate peripheral information about road surface shape, eliminating the need for direct operator visual assessment and enabling automated control decisions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the vehicle controls snow removal operations based on visual confirmation of laser light deformation, then the operator can adjust to road conditions, but the system requires continuous manual attention
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle autonomously adapts to varying road conditions by continuously measuring the road surface shape using the laser projection and image analysis systems. The control unit automatically adjusts snow removal operations based on the detected concavities, convexities, and other road features, eliminating the need for continuous manual attention and adjustment by the operator.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary measurement and analysis of the road surface shape using the laser light projection and image capture systems before executing snow removal operations. This advance detection allows the control unit to pre-adjust operational parameters based on anticipated road conditions, enabling smooth and efficient snow removal without manual intervention.
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
This solution reduces the operator's burden by enabling precise and efficient snow removal operations, even when the operator cannot visually confirm the road surface shape, by automatically adjusting the auger's rotational frequency, height, and travel speed based on the projected pattern's deformation, effectively handling snow walls, lumps, slopes, and inclinations.
Implementation Method 1
a pattern light projection unit that projects light of a predetermined pattern to a projection spot and a control unit that controls the vehicle in accordance with deformation of the predetermined pattern according to a shape of the projection spot
Data Source
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AI summary
A burden on an operation of an operator is reduced. A working machine 10 includes a grid light 90 that projects a grid light of a grid-shaped pattern, and a control unit 40 that control the vehicle in accordance with deformation of the pattern of the grid light according to a shape of a projection spot P.