Work machine control system

• US 20010022818A1
• Filed: 03/01/2001
• Published: 09/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Inventors: Nagata, Noritaka, Arakawa, Teruaki
• Application Number:
  US09/795,400
• Publication Number:
  US 20010022818A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/259
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/205 Remotely operated machines, e.g. unmanned vehicles E02F3/8866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/00 Modulated-carrier systems

Abstract

A controller unit is made so that a work machine can be remotely controlled in a reliable manner irrespectively of whether the controller unit is used outdoors or indoors. Inside the controller unit 10 is provided a transmitter 11 that inputs a control signal S0 indicating the control content, converts the input control signal S0 to a radio signal Se and radio-transmits it toward the work machine 13. The work machine 13 operates according to the radio signal Se radio-transmitted from the transmitter 11. Meanwhile, a transmitter 12 similar to the internal transmitter 11 is provided externally to the controller unit 10. Thereupon, when the external transmitter 12 is connected to the controller unit 10, it is determined by a determining unit 14 inside the controller unit 10 that the external transmitter 12 is connected to the controller unit 10. When it is determined by the determining unit 14 that the external transmitter 12 is connected to the controller unit 10, the control signal S0 is switched by switching units 15 and 16 inside the controller unit 10 from sides 15a and 16a where the control signal S0 is inputted to the transmitter 11 inside the controller unit 10 to sides 15b and 16b where the control signals S0 is inputted to the transmitter 12 provided externally to the controller unit 10.

Claims

1. A work machine control system comprising a transmitter which is provided inside a controller unit, for inputting a control signal representing a control content, converting the input control signal to a radio signal and radio-transmitting it toward a work machine so that the work machine is operated according to the radio signal;

wherein;

the transmitter is provided externally to the controller unit; and

provided inside of the controller unit are;

determining means for determining that the transmitter external to the controller unit is connected to the controller unit; and

switching means for switching from a configuration wherewith the control signal is input to the transmitter provided inside the controller unit to a configuration wherewith the control signal is input to the transmitter provided externally to the controller unit, when the determining means determines that the transmitter provided externally to the controller unit is connected to the controller unit.

2. The work machine control system according to

claim 1

, comprising a transmitter power supply for driving the transmitter provided externally to the controller unit, provided in correspondence with the transmitter provided externally to the controller unit;

and a controller unit power supply for driving the controller unit, provided in correspondence with the controller unit;

wherein;

a power supply terminal or a power supply signal line for supplying power from the transmitter power supply to the controller unit is provided externally to the transmitter;

the determining means determines that the power supply terminal or the power supply signal line has been electrically connected to the controller unit; and

the controller unit and the transmitter provided externally to the controller unit are driven by the transmitter power supply or the controller unit power supply when it is determined by the determining means that the power supply terminal or the power supply signal line has been electrically connected to the controller unit.

3. The work machine control system according to

claim 1

, wherein the controller unit is located inside a building;

and the transmitter external to the controller unit is located externally to the building.

4. A work machine control system comprising a controller unit for outputting a control signal via a signal line, and a transmitter for inputting the control signal via the signal line, converting the input control signal to a radio signal, and radio-transmitting it out to a prescribed distance toward a work machine, so that the work machine is operated according to the radio signal;

wherein;

a long-range transmitter is provided for receiving the control signal over the signal line, converting the received control signal to a radio signal, and radio-transmitting the radio signal out to a farther distance than the prescribed distance;

a long-range receiver is provided for receiving the radio signal radio-transmitted from the long-range transmitter, converting the received radio signal to the control signal, and outputting the control signal over a signal line;

the controller unit and the long-range transmitter are connected by a signal line; and

the long-range receiver and the transmitter are connected by a signal line.

5. A work machine control system comprising a plurality of controller units for outputting a control signal via a signal line, and a plurality of transmitters for inputting the control signal via the signal line, converting the input control signal to a radio signal, and radio-transmitting the radio signal out to a prescribed distance toward a work machine, so that a plurality of work machines are operated according to the radio signal;

wherein;

a long-range transmitter is provided for receiving a plurality of control signals, respectively, over a plurality of signal lines, converting the plurality of input control signals, respectively, to a plurality of radio signals, and radio-transmitting the radio signals out to a farther distance than the prescribed distance;

a long-range receiver is provided for receiving the plurality of radio signals radio-transmitted from the long-range transmitter, converting the plurality of received radio signals to the plurality of control signals, and outputting the plurality of control signals over a plurality of signal lines;

the plurality of controller units and the long-range transmitter are connected by a plurality of signal lines; and

the long-range receiver and the plurality of transmitters are connected by a plurality of signal lines.

6. A work machine control system comprising:

a controller unit for outputting a control signal representing a control content via a signal line;

a control signal transmitter for inputting the control signal over the signal line, converting thee input control signal to a radio control signal and radio-transmitting the radio control signal out to a prescribed distance toward a work machine;

a pickup signal receiver for receiving a radio pickup signal representing a work being done by the work machine radio-transmitted from the work machine, and converting the received radio pickup signal to a pickup signal and outputting the pickup signal over a signal line; and

a display device for inputting the pickup signal via a signal line, and displaying an image of the work being done corresponding to the input pickup signal;

so that the work machine is controlled on the basis of a content of display on the display device, and the work machine is operated according to the radio control signal;

wherein;

a first long-range transceiver is provided for inputting the control signal via a signal line, converting the input control signal to a radio control signal and radio-transmitting the radio control signal out to a distance that is farther than the prescribed distance, receiving a radio-transmitted radio pickup signal, and converting the received radio pickup signal to a pickup signal and outputting the pickup signal over a signal line;

a second long-range transceiver is provided for inputting the pickup signal over a signal line, converting the input pickup signal to the radio pickup signal and radio-transmitting the radio pickup signal out to a distance that is farther than the prescribed distance, receiving the radio-transmitted radio control signal, and converting the received radio control signal to the control signal and outputting the control signal over a signal line;

the controller unit, the display device, and the first transceiver are connected by signal lines; and

the second transceiver, the control signal transmitter, and the pickup signal receiver are connected by signal lines.

7. A work machine control system comprising:

a controller unit for outputting a control signal via a signal line;

a control signal transmitter for inputting the control signal via a signal line, and converting the input control signal to a radio control signal and radio-transmitting the radio control signal out to a prescribed distance toward a work machine;

image pickup means for capturing an image of a state of work of the work machine and outputting a pickup signal over a signal line; and

a display device for inputting the pickup signal via a signal line, and displaying the image of the state of work corresponding to the input pickup signal;

so that the work machine is controlled on the basis of a content of display on the display device;

wherein;

the work machine is operated according to the radio control signal;

a first long-range transceiver is provided for inputting the control signal via a signal line, converting the input control signal to a radio control signal and radio-transmitting the radio control signal out to a distance that is farther than the prescribed distance, receiving a radio-transmitted radio pickup signal, and converting the received radio pickup signal to a pickup signal and outputting the pickup signal over a signal line;

a second long-range transceiver is provided for inputting the pickup signal over a signal line, converting the input pickup signal to the radio pickup signal and radio-transmitting thee radio pickup signal out to a distance that is farther than the prescribed distance, while receiving the radio-transmitted radio control signal, and converting the received radio control signal to the control signal and outputting the control signal over a signal line; and

the controller unit, the display device, and the first transceiver are connected by signal lines; and

the second transceiver, the control signal transmitter, and the image pickup means are connected by signal lines.