Work Vehicle Control System for Efficient Slope Formation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing control systems for work vehicles in excavation work face inefficiencies when dumping materials, as they often require excessive travel if the dump location is large relative to the amount of materials, or if materials do not fit within a predetermined dump range, leading to inefficient work plans and excessive vehicle movement.

Innovation Solution

A control system for a work vehicle that determines a target design terrain above the current terrain and operates the work implement to dump materials sequentially from the nearer side to the farther side, optimizing the dumping process and reducing unnecessary travel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If materials are dumped sequentially from the farther side toward the near side in a predetermined dump range, then the desired slope can be formed, but the work vehicle will travel excessively if the dump location is large relative to the total amount of materials

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveslope formation accuracyVSAvoiddumping work efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional dumping sequence by dumping materials from the nearer side toward the farther side instead of from farther side to near side. This reversal allows the work vehicle to extend the dump location forward progressively, forming the slope in the correct direction while minimizing unnecessary backward travel and improving overall dumping efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The control system determines the target design terrain in advance and plans the dumping sequence accordingly. By pre-calculating the optimal dump positions and sequence from nearer to farther side, the system ensures that materials are deposited in the correct positions to form the desired slope without requiring work plan corrections during operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Quantity of substance

If the dump location is large relative to the total amount of materials to be dumped, then more materials can be accommodated, but the work vehicle will travel excessively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial capacityVSAvoidvehicle travel time

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By reversing the dumping sequence to start from the nearer side and progress toward the farther side, the work vehicle can accommodate a larger dump location range without excessive travel. The vehicle dumps materials progressively forward, eliminating the need for repeated long trips back to the excavation point, thus reducing travel time while increasing material capacity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS11459734B2Control system for work vehicle, method, and work vehicle

Publication Date: 2022.10.04 KOMATSU LTD

AI summary

A work vehicle includes a work implement. A control system for the work vehicle includes a controller. The controller determines a target design terrain indicating a target trajectory of the work implement, and operates the work implement to dump materials on a current terrain sequentially from a nearer side to a farther side of the work vehicle in accordance with the target design terrain. At least a part of the target design terrain is located above the current terrain.