Evaluation apparatus and evaluation method

• US 10,147,339 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2016
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Inventors: Kozumi, Susumu, Takahashi, Hidemi, Tabata, Aki
• Primary Examiner(s): Amini, Javid A
• Application Number:
  US15/309,835
• Publication Number:
  US 20170278425A1
• Time in Patent Office: 981 Days
• Field of Search: 345629, 37348
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/32 working downwardly and towards the machine, e.g. with backhoes
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2004 Control mechanisms, e.g. control levers control levers per se G05G
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2271 Actuators and supports therefor and protection therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/26 Indicating devices E02F5/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/261 Surveying the work-site to be treated
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/264 Sensors and their calibration for indicating the position of the work tool
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/167 Control of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/24 Use of tools
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44504 Circuit details of the additional information generator, e.g. details of the character or graphics signal generator, overlay mixing circuits

Abstract

An evaluation apparatus includes a detected data acquisition unit that acquires photograph data of a bucket of a work equipment, a first display control unit that displays the photograph data on a display screen of a display device, a second display control unit that displays on the display screen a graphic representing at least part of an outline of the bucket as viewed from a side, and moves the graphic on the display screen by an operation of an input device, and an identification unit that distinguishes the bucket from excavated material above an opening end of the bucket on the display screen based on the graphic aligned with the bucket.

Claims

1. A working equipment operator evaluation apparatus for evaluating the operation of the work equipment, the evaluation apparatus comprising:

a detected data acquisition unit configured to acquire photograph data of a bucket of a work equipment;

a first display control unit configured to display the photograph data on a display screen of a display device;

a second display control unit configured to display on the display screen a graphic representing at least part of an outline of the bucket as viewed from a side and enabling movement of the graphic on the display screen by an operation of an input device;

an identification unit configured to distinguish the bucket from excavated material above an opening end of the bucket on the display screen based on the graphic aligned with the bucket; and

an excavation amount calculation unit configured to calculate an excavation efficiency in an excavation operation of the bucket by determining an area of the excavated material existing above the opening end of the bucket.

2. The evaluation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the graphic includes a line representing the opening end of the bucket.

3. The evaluation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input device includes an input device provided to the display screen.

4. The evaluation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the work equipment is operated by an operator through an operating device to perform the excavation operation, and

the evaluation apparatus comprises an evaluation data generation unit configured to generate evaluation data of the operator related to the excavation operation based on a first detected data indicating an excavation amount calculated by the excavation amount calculation unit and a second detected data indicating excavation time.

5. The evaluation apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a target data acquisition unit configured to acquire target data indicating a target excavation amount of the bucket, wherein the evaluation data generation unit generates the evaluation data based on a difference between the first detected data and the target data.

7. The evaluation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the work equipment is operated by an operator through an operating device to perform the excavation operation, and

the evaluation apparatus comprises an evaluation data generation unit configured to generate evaluation data of the operator related to the excavation operation based on a first detected data indicating an excavation amount calculated by the excavation amount calculation unit and a second detected data indicating excavation time.

8. The evaluation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

the work equipment is operated by an operator through an operating device to perform the excavation operation, and

the evaluation apparatus comprises an evaluation data generation unit configured to generate evaluation data of the operator related to the excavation operation based on first detected data indicating an excavation amount calculated by the excavation amount calculation unit and second detected data indicating excavation time.

9. The evaluation apparatus according to claim 7, comprising a target data acquisition unit configured to acquire target data indicating a target excavation amount of the bucket, wherein the evaluation data generation unit generates the evaluation data based on a difference between the first detected data and the target data.

10. The evaluation apparatus according to claim 8, comprising a target data acquisition unit configured to acquire target data indicating a target excavation amount of the bucket, wherein the evaluation data generation unit generates the evaluation data based on a difference between the first detected data and the target data.

6. An evaluation method for evaluating the operation of a work equipment comprising:

acquiring photograph data of a bucket of a work equipment;

displaying the photograph data on a display screen of a display device;

displaying on the display screen a graphic representing at least part of an outline of the bucket as viewed from a side;

moving the graphic on the display screen based on input data generated by an operation of an input device to a position on the displayed photograph data corresponding to the bucket of the work equipment; and

distinguishing the bucket from excavated material above an opening end of the bucket on the display screen based on the graphic being aligned with the bucket.

11. A computer program for evaluating an operator of a working equipment, the computer program being stored in a portable device, comprising:

acquiring photograph data of a bucket of a work equipment;

displaying the photograph data on a display screen of a display device;

displaying on the display screen a graphic representing at least part of an outline of the bucket as viewed from a side;

moving the graphic to a position of the displayed photograph data corresponding to the bucket of the working equipment on the display screen based on input data generated by an operation of an input device; and

distinguishing the bucket from excavated material above an opening end of the bucket on the display screen based on the graphic aligned with the bucket.