Work Machine Trolley Dispatch to Reduce Queuing and Empty Travel
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispatch systems for work machines in large-scale mining operations fail to reliably achieve production plans due to sub-optimal assignment of return legs, leading to resource waste, queuing, and deviations from production targets.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for dynamically allocating and reallocating work machines based on production circuits, using a central controller to monitor and adjust machine assignments in real-time, considering factors like energy availability, delays, and production plan compliance, employing machine learning and reinforcement learning to optimize machine distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual dispatch is used to direct work machines to tasks, then ease of operation is maintained, but productivity and equipment utilization are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The work machine is equipped with an onboard computer that autonomously receives instructions from the central controller and independently executes dispatch decisions, allowing the machine to self-manage its operations without manual intervention while optimizing productivity through automated algorithms
2Productivity
If restricted automatic dispatch is used with continuous controller management, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dispatch system is segmented into a central controller that handles high-level planning and onboard computers on each work machine that handle local execution and monitoring, distributing the computational complexity across multiple independent units rather than concentrating it all in one centralized system
Solution Approach 2:
The onboard computer acts as an intermediary between the central controller and the work machine's operational systems, receiving dispatch instructions and translating them into automated execution while providing feedback, thereby reducing the direct complexity burden on the central controller
3Device complexity
If fully automatic dispatch is implemented without continuous intervention, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability of achieving production plans deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The onboard computer continuously monitors the work machine's operational status, location, and performance, transmitting this feedback data to the central controller which adjusts dispatch instructions in real-time to ensure production targets are met while maintaining automated operation
Solution Approach 2:
The central controller pre-calculates optimized dispatch routes and assignments based on production plans before executing them, allowing the automatic system to reliably achieve production targets by having contingency plans and optimized paths prepared in advance
4Ease of operation
If sub-optimal assignment of return legs is used, then ease of operation is maintained, but loss of time and energy increase
Solution Approach 1:
The dispatch system dynamically optimizes return leg assignments based on real-time conditions such as machine location, material flow requirements, and energy availability, continuously adjusting routes to minimize travel time and energy consumption while maintaining automated operation
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure describes, in part, systems and methods for dynamic allocation, monitoring, and reallocation of work machines at a worksite by using a controller to monitor ranked production circuits and dynamically reallocate work machines based on their energy consumption, energy availability, machine operating parameters, flow rates, delays, wait times, and other such factors to provide compliance with the ranked production plan. The controller is used to determine slow-downs, delays, queues, or other potential delays, including insufficient energy availability for a particular work machine distribution, and to dynamically adjust to provide for work machines to reduce empty travel time and to maintain material flow rates or other metrics of the production plan.