Arrangement for initiating a remote operation mode

• US 10,233,753 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2014
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sandvik Mining and Construction OY (Sandvik AB)
• Original Assignee: Sandvik Mining and Construction OY (Sandvik AB)
• Inventors: Hanski, Sami, Nurminen, Petri, Uotila, Jarkko, Cumini, Lauso, Mannonen, Petri, Siren, Arto
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Shelley
• Application Number:
  US15/117,506
• Publication Number:
  US 20160348504A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,859 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/205 Remotely operated machines, e.g. unmanned vehicles E02F3/8866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 44/00 Automatic control systems specially adapted for drilling operations, i.e. self-operating systems which function to carry out or modify a drilling operation without intervention of a human operator, e.g. computer-controlled drilling systems; Systems specially adapted for monitoring a plurality of drilling variables or conditions
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 7/022 Control of the drilling operation; Hydraulic or pneumatic means for activation or operation control circuits for drilling masts E21B15/045
• CPC Class Codes: E21C 29/22 by wheels, endless tracks or the like propulsion using fixed racks along which the machine is running E21C29/02
• CPC Class Codes: E21C 35/24 Remote control specially adapted for machines for slitting or completely freeing the mineral control in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0027 involving a plurality of vehicles, e.g. fleet or convoy travelling fleet control of land vehicles from a control room G05D1/0297; traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/00; for marine craft G08G3/00; for aircraft G08G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0282 generated in a local control room
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0297 by controlling means in a control room

Abstract

A method for initiating a remote operation mode of a work machine, the method including providing the work machine with a work machine-specific safety key; receiving, at a remote control station, a notification from the work machine in response to initiating the remote operation mode of the work machine by said safety key; acknowledging the work machine as being included in a safety system of the remote control station; and configuring the remote control station to start the remote operation mode of the work machine.

Claims

1. A method for initiating a remote operation mode of a mining vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

providing the mining vehicle with a mining vehicle-specific safety key to initiate a remote operation mode, the safety key being in contact with or at least in the vicinity of the mining vehicle;

receiving, at a remote control station, a notification from the mining vehicle in response to initiating a remote operation mode of the mining vehicle by said safety key;

acknowledging the mining vehicle as being included in a safety system of the remote control station; and

configuring the remote control station to start the remote operation mode of the mining vehicle.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of actions relating to the initiation of the remote operation mode are allowed to be taken at the remote control station only if the safety key has been returned to a predetermined safety location.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the safety location includes a detection device arranged to detect a presence of the safety key, said detection device operating as a switch for enabling to accomplish the start of the remote operation mode of the mining vehicle.

4. The method according to claim 2, further comprising carrying out said acknowledging of the mining vehicle as being included in the safety system of the remote control station at the safety location by using said safety key.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the safety location is arranged at the remote control station.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein the safety location is arranged at a field station locating near the operating area.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the safety key is provided in contact with or at least in substantial vicinity of the mining vehicle.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the mining vehicle and/or the remote control station includes a key cylinder individually configured according to said safety key.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the safety key includes an electrical identification unit, wherefrom identification data of the safety key can be transmitted to an identification unit of the mining vehicle and/or an identification unit of the remote control station/field station.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said configuring step includes one or more of the following steps:

including the mining vehicle in a common safety system with one or more other mining vehicles operating in the same operating area;

including the mining vehicle in a common remote control system with one or more other mining vehicles operating in the same operating area;

establishing at least one communication channel between the remote control station and the mining vehicle;

configuring layout of a user interface of the mining vehicle to display information about remote operating status of the mining vehicle;

configuring layout of a user interface of the remote control station to display information about the mining vehicle, such as by replicating the layout of the user interface of the mining vehicle; and

enabling a takeover of the control of the mining vehicle to be remotely operated from the remote control station.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein, in response to the mining vehicle being included in the safety system of the remote control station for the first time, said configuring includes displaying safety guidance on the user interface of the remote control station.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mining vehicle is a rock drilling apparatus, the method further comprising the steps of:

obtaining information whether a remote operator on the remote control station is operating the mining vehicle via a camera view captured from the operating area or from a viewpoint of the remote control station; and

arranging a drilling pattern on the user interface of the remote control station such that orientation of the drilling pattern is adjusted according to the viewing mode selected by the remote operator.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising arranging a map of the operating area on the user interface of the remote control station such that orientation of the map is adjusted according to the viewing mode selected by the remote operator.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the remote operator is operating the mining vehicle via a camera view captured from the work station, the method further comprising adjusting the orientation of the map on the user interface of the remote control station such that course of the mining vehicle on the map is shown as pointing upwards on the user interface.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the remote control station is arranged in an active operating state or in a monitoring state, wherein the active operating state is usable in response to detecting a remote operator being present at the user interface of the remote control station.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein moving the mining vehicle remotely in the active operating state is only enabled by activating a manual actuator at the remote control station.

17. A computer program product, stored on a non-transitory memory medium, comprising computer program code to initiate a remote operation mode of a mining vehicle, wherein the mining vehicle is provided with a mining vehicle-specific safety key, the safety key being in contact with or at least in the vicinity of the mining vehicle, the computer program code which, when executed by a processor, causes an apparatus to:

receive a notification from the mining vehicle in response to initiating the remote operation mode of the mining vehicle by said safety key;

acknowledge the mining vehicle as being included in a safety system of a remote control station; and

configure the remote control station to start the remote operation mode of the mining vehicle.

18. The computer program product according to claim 17, wherein the computer program code which, when executed by the processor, causes the apparatus to configure the remote control station by one or more of the following actions:

including the mining vehicle in a common safety system with one or more other mining vehicles operating in the same operating area;

including the mining vehicle in a common remote control system with one or more other mining vehicles operating in the same operating area;

establishing at least one communication channel between the remote control station and the mining vehicle;

configuring layout of a user interface of the mining vehicle to display information about remote operating status of the mining vehicle;

configuring layout of a user interface of the remote control station to display information about the mining vehicle, such as by replicating the layout of the user interface of the mining vehicle; and

enabling a takeover of the control of the mining vehicle to be remotely operated from the remote control station.

19. A remotely operable mining vehicle, wherein the mining vehicle is provided with a mining vehicle-specific safety key arranged to initiate a remote operation mode, the safety key being in contact with or at least in the vicinity of the mining vehicle and the mining vehicle being arranged to send a notification to a remote control station in response to initiating the remote operation mode of the mining vehicle by said safety key;

receive an acknowledgement indicating the mining vehicle as being included in a safety system of the remote control station; and

configure the mining vehicle to start the remote operation mode of the mining vehicle according to commands received from the remote control station.

20. The mining vehicle according to claim 19, wherein the commands received from the remote control station configure the mining vehicle to start the remote operation mode of the mining vehicle according to by one or more of the following actions:

including the mining vehicle in a common safety system with one or more other mining vehicles operating in the same operating area;

including the mining vehicle in a common remote control system with one or more other mining vehicles operating in the same operating area;

establishing at least one communication channel between the remote control station and the mining vehicle;

configuring layout of a user interface of the mining vehicle to display information about remote operating status of the mining vehicle;

configuring layout of a user interface of the remote control station to display information about the mining vehicle, such as by replicating the layout of the user interface of the mining vehicle; and

enabling a takeover of the control of the mining vehicle to be remotely operated from the remote control station.