Working Arm Camera Control for Collision-Avoiding Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing working machines face collisions between the working arm and other parts of the machine due to the inability to monitor and control the arm's movement effectively, leading to potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A working machine equipped with a sensor assembly and control system that monitors the working arm and other machine parts, using cameras to determine relative positions and restrict movement to prevent collisions, and includes a machine learning algorithm to identify implements and loads, adjusting movement to avoid impacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the working arm is allowed to move freely to increase operational flexibility, then the versatility of the machine is improved, but the risk of collision with other machine parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously receives real-time position data from sensors monitoring the working arm and other machine parts, processes this information, and dynamically adjusts arm movement to prevent collisions. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables the system to maintain operational flexibility while actively preventing harmful collisions by making real-time control decisions based on current system state.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system acts as an intermediary between the operator's commands and the working arm's movement. It receives movement requests, checks them against real-time position data from sensors, and only permits movements that won't cause collisions. This intermediary layer filters and moderates arm movement to prevent harmful interactions while preserving legitimate operational flexibility.
2Reliability
If sensors and control systems are added to prevent collisions, then machine safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system performs multiple functions: it processes sensor data, determines relative positions of the working arm and other parts, predicts potential collisions, and executes prevention commands. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single multi-functional control unit, the system achieves high safety without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system uses the existing sensor assembly already present on the working machine to gather position data, eliminating the need for separate dedicated collision detection sensors. The system serves itself by repurposing existing machine components for collision prevention, thereby improving safety without adding significant external complexity.
3Strength
If the control system restricts working arm movement to prevent collisions, then machine damage is reduced, but the productivity of material handling decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system applies collision prevention selectively rather than universally. It continuously monitors sensor data and only restricts arm movement when a collision risk is actually detected. During normal safe operations, the working arm moves freely without restriction, maintaining full productivity. The prevention action is applied partially only when and where needed, not as a continuous blanket restriction.
Data Source
AI summary
A working machine having a camera assembly arranged to monitor a working arm assembly and a portion of the working machine. The working machine includes a control system configured to determine the relative positions of the working arm assembly and the portion of the working machine based on outputs from the camera assembly, and to restrict or prevent movement of the working arm assembly to prevent a collision.