Work Tool Location Tracking for Accurate Worksite Material Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for tracking material movement on a worksite, such as mine or construction sites, face challenges in determining whether a vehicle's work tool is interacting with material, as location sensors may not accurately provide the location of the work tool, especially when the sensor is positioned away from the tool and exposed to harsh conditions.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that receives location data from a vehicle's sensor positioned away from the work tool, determines the vehicle's heading, and adjusts the sensor's coordinates to calculate the work tool's location within a work zone, allowing for accurate tracking of material interaction events by adjusting zone data based on work events.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a location sensor is positioned on the vehicle cab to track vehicle location, then the vehicle location can be tracked, but the work tool location cannot be accurately determined when the sensor is offset from the tool
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary computational process that calculates the work tool location by combining the vehicle location data from the cab-mounted sensor with the known offset distance and heading angle. This intermediary calculation serves as a mediator between the sensor location and the actual work tool location, resolving the positional discrepancy without requiring physical repositioning of the sensor.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a virtual copy of the work tool location by mathematically transforming the cab location data through coordinate system adjustments and offset calculations. This virtual location copy accurately represents the work tool position despite the physical sensor being located at the cab, eliminating the need for a second physical sensor at the tool.
2Measurement precision
If a location sensor is mounted on the work tool to accurately track tool location, then precise material interaction detection is possible, but the sensor is exposed to harsh conditions and at risk of damage or loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the location sensing function from the harsh work environment at the tool and relocates it to the protected cab environment. The sensor is taken out from direct exposure to damaging conditions while the computational processing maintains accurate tool location tracking through mathematical transformation of the sensor data with offset and heading compensation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides beforehand protection by placing the sensor in a protected location (cab) rather than exposing it to harsh conditions. This prior cushioning approach prevents damage before it can occur, while the computational methods compensate for the positional offset to maintain measurement accuracy.
3Productivity
If coordinates from the location sensor are used directly to determine material interaction, then processing is simple, but accuracy is insufficient when the sensor is offset from the work tool
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating and storing the offset distance and heading angle parameters before material interaction detection. These pre-computed values are then quickly applied to transform cab location coordinates into accurate work tool location coordinates, enabling fast processing without sacrificing precision during real-time operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the location calculation by continuously updating the heading angle based on vehicle orientation and applying the offset transformation in real-time. This dynamic approach maintains high precision as the vehicle moves and changes orientation, while the computational efficiency keeps processing speed high.
Data Source
AI summary
A worksite controller can automatically track movement of material on a worksite, based on location information and work event information provided by vehicles on the worksite. The worksite controller can determine and/or use a location of a work tool of a vehicle, rather than coordinates determined by a location sensor mounted elsewhere on the vehicle, to determine when the work tool is located within defined boundaries of work zones associated with material. When the worksite controller determines that the vehicle performed a work event to interact with material while the work tool was within a particular work zone, the worksite controller can automatically update material tracking information associated with the work zone.