Work Vehicle Load Assist System for Container Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Loading a dump truck or container with a work vehicle, such as a loader, is a challenging operation that requires synchronization of forward motion and boom raising, often resulting in inefficiencies and potential hazards due to human error, especially for novice operators.
Innovation Solution
A container load assist system for work vehicles, incorporating a user interface, perception sensors, and a controller that helps operators by determining distances and ground speeds, automatically adjusting the boom raising process, and providing indicators for safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual operation is used, then operator flexibility is maintained, but operation speed and precision deteriorate due to human error and judgment difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables the work vehicle to automatically determine its own position, calculate distances to containers, and control boom raising without continuous manual intervention. The vehicle serves itself by using onboard sensors and controllers to perform functions that would otherwise require operator attention and judgment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operation with an automated control system that uses perception sensors, ground speed sensors, and a controller to determine distances and control boom raising. This substitution eliminates human judgment errors while maintaining operational flexibility.
2Reliability
If automated control is increased, then operation precision and safety improve, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs multiple functions including receiving user commands, determining distances to containers, calculating boom raising rates, and controlling boom movement. By consolidating these functions into a single controller, the system achieves high automation without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a controller as an intermediary between the operator and the boom mechanism. This intermediary processes sensor data, calculates required actions, and executes control commands, thereby simplifying the interface between human input and mechanical output while enhancing safety and precision.
3Ease of operation
If novice operators receive training, then operation skill improves, but time consumption increases and expert-level efficiency is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides real-time feedback to operators through the user interface, displaying determined distances, calculated boom raising rates, and system status. This feedback mechanism allows novice operators to perform expert-level operations by relying on system-guided information rather than years of experience.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller proactively calculates and prepares boom raising parameters based on predetermined conditions and real-time sensor data. By performing these calculations in advance and providing guidance before the operator needs to act, the system eliminates the need for extensive training while maintaining high operational efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a work vehicle, user interface, and controller. The work vehicle includes a frame, boom, implement, perception sensor, and ground speed sensor. The perception sensor senses an approaching environment. The user interface includes controls and indicators. The controller is coupled to the controls, indicators, perception sensor, and ground speed sensor. The controller receives a command to move the work vehicle, drives the work vehicle, determines a distance to the container, determines the ground speed, determines a boom raising start distance from the container, receives a command to raise the boom, and activates one of the indicators if the user command to raise the boom occurs prior to the work vehicle reaching the boom raising start distance from the container.