Work Machine Notification Control for Excavation Context
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing work machine systems often provide unnecessary operation support information to operators, leading to annoyance and inefficiency, particularly when filling terrain, as current warnings are based solely on distance between the bucket and the design surface without considering the context of excavation or filling operations.
Innovation Solution
A system for a work machine that includes a notification control section to determine the vertical position relationship between the current terrain profile and the target surface, adjusting the notification content based on flags indicating whether the terrain is being excavated or filled, thereby preventing unnecessary warnings and optimizing operation support information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If warnings are emitted based solely on the distance between the bucket and the design surface, then the operator is notified of potential collision risks, but unnecessary warnings are emitted during filling operations causing operator annoyance
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameters used for warning determination from only distance-based parameters to include terrain profile parameters (excavation/filling state). The notification control section determines whether the terrain is being excavated or filled by comparing the current terrain profile with the design surface, and only emits collision warnings when excavation work is detected, thereby eliminating unnecessary warnings during filling operations
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the terrain profile and work state (excavation or filling) and using this information to dynamically adjust warning emission. The notification control section receives feedback about the current work condition and modifies the warning behavior accordingly, emitting warnings only when both distance conditions and excavation conditions are met
2Loss of information
If operation support information is provided continuously, then the operator receives comprehensive guidance, but unnecessary information is provided reducing operational efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes from providing continuous operation support information to providing conditional information based on work state parameters. The notification control section determines the terrain work state (excavation or filling) and selectively provides operation support information only when excavation work is detected, thereby eliminating unnecessary information during filling operations while maintaining information completeness when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial action by providing operation support information only in specific conditions (excavation work) rather than continuously. This selective provision of information avoids overwhelming the operator with unnecessary notifications during filling operations while ensuring comprehensive support when excavation work requires it
Data Source
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AI summary
A work machine (1) includes a controller (40) having a notification control section (374) that exercises control as to whether to notify an operator of operation support information in accordance with a distance between a predetermined target surface, out of a plurality of discretionally set target surfaces, and a work implement (1A), the work machine including a current terrain profile acquisition device (96) that acquires a position of a current terrain profile, the controller including a target surface comparison section (62) that compares the position of the current terrain profile (800) with a position of the predetermined target surface (700) to determine a vertical position relationship between the current terrain profile and the predetermined target surface. The notification control section (374) changes content of the operation support information in accordance with a result of determination by the target surface comparison section.