Machine loss-of-control detector and shutdown system

• US 7,848,860 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2007
• Issued: 12/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fabio Saposnik
• Original Assignee: Fabio Saposnik
• Inventors: Saposnik, Fabio
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby; Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US11/676,714
• Publication Number:
  US 20070239328A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/29, 701/31, 701/33, 701/36, 701/50, 414 1- 8, 180271-282
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0071 Controller overrides driver automatically
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0295 Inhibiting action of specific actuators or systems
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/24 Safety devices , e.g. for preventing overload E02F9/226 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/267 Diagnosing or detecting failure of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 9/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 9/03 with multiple-channel loop, i.e. redundant control systems

Abstract

A method and system are described for machine loss of control detection. In one aspect, the method and system detect operator intended motion of the machine or a part of it and actual motion of the machine or a part of it; and determine machine loss of control in response to whether actual motion is materially different from operator intended motion. Actual motion is determined from angular motion signals from a gyroscopic angular sensor and, optionally, linear motion signals (e.g. acceleration via one or more accelerometers). Machine loss of control determination may be used to stop the actual motion (e.g. stopping power or fuel an engine, bypassing hydraulic fluid flow, etc). The method and system are adaptable to machines having one or more driving and actuating systems capable of malfunctioning in such a way as to cause the machine to move uncontrollably.

Claims

1. A method of machine loss of control detection comprising:

detecting operator intended motion of the machine or a part of it;

detecting actual motion of the machine or the part of it; and

determining machine loss of control in response to whether actual motion is materially different from operator intended motion;

wherein the step of detecting actual motion is responsive to angular motion signals from a gyroscopic angular sensor and, optionally, linear motion signals from at least one accelerometer.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of indicating said machine loss of control.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of stopping said actual motion in response to said step of determining machine loss of control.

10. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium storing instructions and data for configuring a controller to execute operations for performing the method according to claim 1.

4. A system for determining machine loss of control comprising:

a controller having a plurality of inputs for receiving indications of operator intended motion of the machine or a part of it and actual motion of the machine or a part of it and at least one output, said controller configured to detect said operator intended motion and actual motion and determine machine loss of control in response to whether actual motion is materially different from operator intended motion;

wherein, for detecting the actual motion, at least one of said inputs receives angular motion signals from a gyroscopic angular sensor and, optionally, at least one of said inputs receives linear motion signals from at least one accelerometer.

5. The system according to claim 4 wherein the controller is configured to indicate said loss of control via said at least one output.

6. The system according to claim 5 wherein at least one output is coupled to at least one control mechanism for stopping said actual motion.

7. The system according to claim 4 comprising a gyroscopic angular motion sensor coupled to one of said inputs for indicating actual motion of the machine or a part of it.

8. The system according to claim 7 comprising at least one accelerometer sensor coupled to a respective at least one of said inputs for indicating actual motion of the machine or a part of it.

9. The system according to claim 7 comprising at least one of:

a control mechanism coupled to one of the outputs to stop a flow of fuel or electrical current to an engine of the machine;

a control mechanism coupled to one of the outputs to stop a flow of hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic motor of the machine configured to drive the machine or a part of it; and

a control mechanism coupled to one of the outputs to stop a flow of electric current to an electric motor of the machine configured to drive the machine or a part of it.

11. A method of machine loss of control detection for a machine, the method comprising:

detecting operator intended speed and at least one of actual angular speed and,

optionally, actual acceleration;

for each one of actual angular speed and actual acceleration detected;

computing respectively operator intended angular speed and operator intended acceleration; and

determining machine loss of control in response to whether actual angular speed and actual acceleration are respectively materially different from operator intended angular speed and operator intended acceleration; and

wherein said machine comprises at least one of;

a pair of drives on opposite sides of the machine driven by independent speed controls;

a plurality of drives on opposite sides of the machine driven by independent speed and steering controls; and

one or more movable linkages driven by independent speed controls; and

wherein said steps of detecting, computing and determining are performed for a respective drive or linkage.

12. The method according to claim 11 comprising the step of indicating machine loss of control.

13. The method according to claim 11 comprising the step of stopping machine movement in response to the step of determining machine loss of control.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein the step of stopping comprises at least one of:

stopping a flow of fuel or electrical current to an engine of the machine;

stopping a flow of electrical current to an electric motor of the machine;

stopping a flow of hydraulic fluid to an actuator of the machine configured to drive a linkage of the machine; and

stopping a flow of hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic motor of the machine configured to drive the machine.

15. The method according to claim 11 wherein the step of determining machine loss of control comprises comparing a difference of actual and operator intended values and a respective threshold.

16. The method according to claim 11 wherein the step of computing operator intended angular speed and operator intended acceleration comprises computing a sign for each respective value and wherein the step of determining machine loss of control comprises determining whether actual angular speed and actual acceleration differ in sign.

17. The method according to claim 11 wherein the step of detecting operator intended speed comprises reading speed controller outputs that are responsive to operator actions.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the machine comprises a pump having a pump output signal indicating whether the pump is open, said method comprising receive said pump output signal and determining said loss of control in response to said pump output signal.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the machine comprises at least one of a gyroscopic angular sensor for detecting the angular motion of the machine or a part of it;

and a pair of accelerometers for detecting acceleration of the machine or a part of it.

24. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium storing instructions and data for configuring a controller to execute operations for performing the method according to claim 11.

20. A system for machine loss of control detection, the system comprising:

at least one of;

a gyroscopic angular sensor for detecting the angular motion of the machine or a part of it; and

at least one accelerometer for detecting acceleration of the machine or a part of it; and

a controller adapted to receive speed control inputs for the machine or the part of it and sensor signals of the at least one gyroscopic angular sensor and accelerometer, said controller further adapted to;

determine operator intended speed and at least one of actual angular speed and actual acceleration;

for each one of actual angular speed and actual acceleration determined;

compute operator intended angular speed and operator intended acceleration; and

determine machine loss of control in response to whether actual angular speed and actual acceleration are respectively materially different from operator intended angular speed and operator intended acceleration; and

wherein the machine comprises one of;

a pair of drives on opposite sides of the machine driven by independent speed controls;

a plurality of drives on opposite sides of the machine driven by independent speed and steering controls; and

one or more movable linkages driven by independent speed controls.

21. The system according to claim 20 wherein the controller is configured to output a signal to stop machine movement in response to determining machine loss of control.

22. The system according to claim 21 wherein the controller is coupled to output the signal to at least one of:

a control mechanism to stop a flow of fuel or electrical current to an engine of the machine;

a control mechanism to stop a flow of electrical current to an electric motor of the machine;

a control mechanism to stop a flow of hydraulic fluid to an actuator of the machine configured to drive a linkage of the machine; and

a control mechanism to stop a flow of hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic motor of the machine configured to drive the machine.

23. The system according to claim 20 wherein the machine comprises a pump having a pump output signal indicating whether the pump is open and wherein the controller is configured to receive said pump output signal and determine said loss of control in response to said pump output signal and said operator intended speed.