Work Machine Stability Warning System
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Work machines often encounter unstable conditions due to unknown payload weights, debris distribution, and topographical changes, leading to potential instability if the operator is unaware of these factors.
Innovation Solution
A work machine equipped with a chassis, payload sensor, controller, and various sensors (payload position assembly, orientation sensor, and topography sensors like GPS, camera, lidar, and radar) that determine the center of gravity and alert the operator to unstable conditions through auditory, visual, or haptic feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the user manually monitors and analyzes the work machine conditions and surrounding environment, then the operator can identify unstable conditions, but the complexity of operation increases and response time is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The work machine performs self-monitoring of its own conditions through integrated sensors that automatically detect payload weight, center of gravity position, and machine orientation without requiring operator intervention. The system serves itself by continuously assessing stability parameters and providing alerts when instability is detected.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback by monitoring machine conditions through sensors and providing real-time alerts to the operator when unstable conditions are detected. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures timely awareness of stability issues without requiring constant manual assessment by the operator.
2Reliability
If the user manually surveys the surrounding area for topographical changes, then the operator can identify potential instability risks, but the time required for monitoring increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment of topographical conditions by using sensors to detect changes in terrain and slope before the machine encounters them. This advance detection allows the operator to be alerted to potential instability risks ahead of time, enabling proactive response rather than reactive assessment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual visual surveying with automated sensor systems including orientation sensors and topography detection devices. These electronic sensing systems continuously monitor surrounding terrain conditions, substituting the mechanical action of manual surveying with automated electronic detection that operates continuously without time loss.
3Reliability
If the work machine lacks real-time center of gravity monitoring, then the system remains simple, but unstable conditions go undetected leading to potential accidents
Solution Approach 1:
The controller serves multiple functions by integrating payload weight measurement, center of gravity calculation, stability assessment, and alert generation into a single control unit. This multi-functional approach consolidates what could be separate complex systems into one universal controller, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive stability monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a controller as an intermediary that processes sensor data from payload sensors and orientation sensors to calculate center of gravity and assess stability. This intermediary component mediates between raw sensor inputs and operator alerts, providing the intelligence needed for accurate stability detection without requiring complex direct sensor-to-operator interfaces.
Data Source
AI summary
A work machine that has a chassis, a payload section, a controller, a payload sensor in communication with the controller, and an orientation sensor that identifies the orientation of the work machine to the controller. The controller determines a center of gravity for the work machine considering a payload weight identified by the payload sensor and sends an alert when the location of the center of gravity and the orientation of the work machine create an unstable condition.