Work Machine Steering Azimuth Switching for Orientation Failure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unmanned mining machines may deviate from their target traveling course when a failure occurs in the orientation detection device, leading to potential safety and operational issues.
Innovation Solution
A work machine control system that includes a steering device, posture detector, steering angle detector, azimuth calculation unit, and vehicle control unit, which allows the system to switch to using a second azimuth calculated from the steering angle when the posture detector fails, ensuring the machine stays on course.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the system uses only the posture detector for orientation detection, then the orientation detection is simple and direct, but the system cannot operate when the posture detector fails
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two different azimuth detection methods (posture detector and steering angle-based calculation) into a unified system. The vehicle control unit integrates both detection approaches, allowing the system to use either method depending on which is functional, thereby maintaining operation continuity while managing system complexity through unified control logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between different azimuth detection methods based on the operational status of the posture detector. When the posture detector is functional, the system uses its direct detection; when it fails, the system transitions to calculating azimuth from steering angle data, ensuring continuous operation adaptability.
2Reliability
If the system switches to using second azimuth from steering angle when posture detector fails, then the system maintains operation continuity, but the azimuth accuracy may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system prepares a backup azimuth detection method (steering angle-based calculation) in advance that can be activated when the primary posture detector fails. This pre-prepared alternative ensures operation continuity while accepting potential accuracy reduction, as the backup method is designed to maintain sufficient precision for safe operation even when less accurate than the primary method.
3Reliability
If the vehicle control unit monitors and switches between different azimuth sources, then the system reliability improves, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle control unit is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as the primary controller for normal operation and as a monitor/switch for failure conditions. By integrating the monitoring and switching functions into the existing control unit rather than adding separate systems, the patent increases reliability while minimizing the increase in overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A work machine control system includes a steering device configured to operate steering wheels of a work machine, a posture detector configured to detect a first azimuth as information on an orientation of the work machine, a steering angle detector configured to detect a steering angle of the steering device, an azimuth calculation unit configured to obtain a second azimuth of the work machine by using the steering angle detected by the steering angle detector, and a vehicle control unit configured to control the steering device by using either the first azimuth or the second azimuth, wherein the first azimuth or the second azimuth is switched to be transmitted to the vehicle control unit.