Work Implement Boundary Control for Complex Limited Areas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing work machines face challenges in efficiently setting complex-shaped limited areas due to the time and effort required for manual input or object arrangement, which affects the usability of the area limiting function.
Innovation Solution
A work machine equipped with a posture sensor to compute the specific position of the work implement, a controller to set limited areas based on stored shape boundaries, and an input device for easy selection of these shapes, allowing operators to quickly define prohibited zones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a limited area of complex shape is to be set using manual coordinate input, then the area limiting function can accommodate complex work environments, but the time and effort required for setting becomes enormous
Solution Approach 1:
The work machine automatically sets the limited area using its own work implement position as reference, eliminating the need for manual coordinate input. The controller computes the specific position of the work implement and automatically defines the limited area boundary, making the system self-configuring rather than requiring operator input for each coordinate point
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a simplified representation of the limited area by copying the work implement's position data and using it to define the area boundary. Instead of requiring operators to input abstract coordinate values, the system uses actual positional data from the work implement to automatically generate the limited area definition
2Ease of operation
If objects are arranged for automatic recognition to set limited areas, then numerical value input operation is obviated, but time and effort for arranging objects is incurred and object recognition may fail when field of view is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The work machine uses its own work implement position information to automatically define the limited area, eliminating the need for external objects like road cones to be arranged. The system serves itself by using its operational data to configure the area limitation without requiring additional setup materials or procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the essential positioning information directly from the work machine's own sensors and control systems, removing the dependency on external objects for area definition. By taking out the position data from the work implement itself, the system eliminates the need for arranging external reference objects
Data Source
AI summary
A work machine includes a work implement provided to a machine body, a posture sensor that senses posture information regarding the work implement, a controller configured to compute a specific position of the work implement on the basis of the posture information, set a limited area that the work implement is prohibited from entering, compute a movable distance as a distance between the limited area and the specific position of the work implement, and limit operation of the work implement according to the movable distance to prevent the work implement from entering the limited area, and an input device for inputting to the controller input information input by an operation of an operator. The controller includes a storage device that stores boundary information related to a plurality of different kinds of shapes of limited area boundaries, and the controller is configured to select one from among the plurality of kinds of shapes of limited area boundaries included in the boundary information, on the basis of the input information input from the input device, and set a limited area boundary of the selected kind of shape.