Commercial Vehicle Unloading Area Visualization System

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Operators of commercial vehicles, such as skip loaders and rear tippers, face challenges in accurately determining the unloading position of loads due to reliance on personal experience and environmental factors like poor visibility and uneven terrain, leading to potential misjudgments and damage.

Innovation Solution

A device that determines the unloading area using vehicle data and sensor inputs, displaying the area on a control unit-connected display device, allowing operators to visualize the unloading position and obstacles, enabling safer unloading processes even for inexperienced operators.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If operators rely on personal experience and assessment to determine unloading position, then operational flexibility is maintained, but accuracy and safety of unloading position deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunloading position accuracyVSAvoiddetermination system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical/physical assessment method (operator's personal experience and visual estimation) with an optical/electronic determination system. Sensors detect vehicle position and orientation data, which is processed by a control unit to calculate the unloading area, substituting human judgment with automated electronic measurement and computation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary determination system consisting of sensors, a control unit, and a display device. This intermediary processes vehicle data and presents the calculated unloading area to the operator, serving as a mediator between the vehicle's physical state and the operator's decision-making process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If operators use personal experience to estimate unloading position, then device complexity remains low, but reliability of unloading process deteriorates due to misjudgments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunloading process safetyVSAvoiddetermination system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback loop where sensors continuously monitor vehicle position and orientation, the control unit calculates the unloading area based on this data, and the display device presents this information to the operator. This closed-loop feedback system continuously updates the unloading area indication, allowing the operator to make informed decisions based on real-time vehicle state information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces unreliable human judgment with an automated electronic determination system that objectively measures vehicle position and orientation using sensors and calculates the unloading area through programmed algorithms, eliminating variability and error associated with human estimation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Loss of information

If no determination system is used, then device complexity is minimal, but information availability about unloading area deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunloading area informationVSAvoiddetermination system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Manufacturing precision

If operators rely on experience-based assessment, then ease of operation is maintained, but manufacturing precision of unloading position deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunloading position precisionVSAvoidoperation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The determination system performs self-service by automatically detecting vehicle position and orientation using onboard sensors, calculating the unloading area through programmed algorithms in the control unit, and displaying the result without requiring complex manual measurements or calculations by the operator. The system serves itself by utilizing its own sensors and processing capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3789241A1Device and method for representing an unloading area of a commercial vehicle

Publication Date: 2021.03.10 FRANZ XAVER MEILLER FAHRZEUG UND MASCHINENFABRIK GMBH & CO KG

Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4

AI summary

The present invention relates to a device (34) for displaying an unloading area (E) in the vicinity of a commercial vehicle (10), comprising determining means (30a, 30b) for the unloading area (E) of the commercial vehicle (10) at least on the basis of vehicle data relating to the commercial vehicle (10), a control unit which is configured to obtain the vehicle data from the determining means (30a, 30b), and a display device (32) controllable by the control unit for displaying the unloading area (E) in spatial relation to the commercial vehicle on a display surface (U). The invention further relates to a commercial vehicle equipped with such a device and a method for displaying an unloading area in the vicinity of a commercial vehicle.