The present disclosure relates to a speed measuring device that measures running speed of a work machine.
Performance measurement for work machine (e.g. constructing machine such as hydraulic excavator) is one of maintenance processes of work machine. Such performance measurement is performed for quantitatively understanding levels of functionality of each portion in the machine. For example, running performance measurement examines whether the running performance satisfies a reference value by letting the work machine to actually run a predetermined distance at maximum running speed, and by checking whether the work machine can reach the goal point within a predefined time.
A work machine may not include a speed meter as in normal cars. Thus the running speed is measured by manual operation in conventional cases. In addition, a work machine is typically configured such that it cannot run at above a predetermined maximum running speed (or within error range above or below the maximum running speed). In other words, the maximum running speed is an indicator of whether the running performance of the work machine satisfies a reference value. Therefore, in such running performance measurement, the maximum running speed of the work machine is typically measured by manual operation.
Running performance measurement is typically performed by a measurer using a stopwatch to measure the running time. In an example, if a work machine runs a 10 meters section at a maximum running speed, the running speed is identified as normal if the work machine completes the section within 6±0.6 seconds in high speed running mode, or within 10±1.0 seconds in low speed running mode. In this example, the range of normal running time is within 10% above or below the predefined value. Therefore, if the measuring accuracy for running time is not enough, an erroneous test result will be acquired. Since manual measurement includes large measuring errors, mechanical measuring means are required.
As means for mechanically measuring running speed, car speed sensor or GPS (Global Positioning System) may be assumed. However, not all work machines include car speed sensors. Thus it is necessary to additionally install such sensors, which incurs costs for the installation. GPS cannot be used in environments such as where radio waves cannot be received, and thus GPS is a sensor that highly depends on environments. In the light of above, it is desirable to use an attachable sensor that lowly depends on environments and that can be easily attached to the work machine (or that can be equipped on the work machine). Acceleration sensor is an example of desirable sensor in the light of above.
Patent Literature 1 below describes a technique for measuring speed of elevator using acceleration sensor. Patent Literature 1 describes a technical problem as: “providing a speed measuring method and a running characteristic measuring device for moving object that can acquire precise speed data and that can significantly decrease labor of maintenance workers”. Patent Literature 1 also describes a technique as: “When measuring speed of elevator, a running characteristic measuring device 9 is carried by a maintenance worker A and is placed on a floor of an elevator car 1 when measuring. The running speed measuring device 9 is configured by an accelerometer, a computational controller that processes an output from the acceleration sensor, means for correcting an error, and a displayer that displays a processed result. When the elevator car 1 runs, the acceleration sensor outputs an acceleration value accordingly. The computational processor performs integration of the acceleration value, estimation on error components, and correction for removing the error, thereby it is possible to acquire precise acceleration data. Then it is possible to acquire a running curve of the elevator according to the computed result.” (refer to ABSTRACT).
When measuring running performance of work machine, a running time at the maximum running speed is typically measured, as mentioned above. When acquiring a maximum running speed in Patent Literature 1, it is determined as reaching the maximum running speed when an integrated acceleration reaches a maximum value. Then when reaching the maximum running speed, a measuring error or an integration error may also be increased, which may lead to identifying an erroneous maximum running speed. Even if a canceling process is introduced for such errors, it is difficult to completely remove such errors.
As other method for identifying maximum running speed, a time when the work machine is assumed to reach a maximum running speed may be empirically identified in advance, and a measured value at that time may be employed as a maximum running speed. However, temporal variation of running speed of work machine is different for each of machines or for each of workers. Thus it is necessary to previously keep a time range for some extent, and it is also necessary to identify the maximum running speed within the time range. As the time range is larger, the error of maximum running speed is larger. Accordingly, this method also may misidentify the maximum running speed.
The present disclosure is made in the light of the technical problem above. It is an objective of the present disclosure to provide a speed measuring device that can precisely identify a maximum running speed of a work machine using a measured result of an acceleration sensor.
A speed measuring device according to the present disclosure detects a change point where a work machine transits from an accelerating state into a steady running state in a history of running acceleration of the work machine. The speed measuring device then identifies a maximum running speed from the history of the running speed in a period after the change point.
The speed measuring device according to the present disclosure can precisely identify a maximum running speed of a work machine using a measured result of an acceleration sensor.
The acceleration sensor 110 measures an acceleration applied to the speed measuring device 100. By placing the speed measuring device 100 on the work machine, the acceleration sensor 110 can indirectly measure the acceleration applied to the work machine.
The processor 120 includes an acceleration acquiring section 121, a correcting section 122, a speed calculating section 123, a filtering section 124, a maximum running speed analyzing section 125, and an outputting section 126. The processor 120 and each of functional units included in the processor 120 may be configured by hardware such as circuit device implementing functionalities of those functional units, or may be configured by software implementing functionalities of those functional units executed by processors such as CPU (Central Processing Unit). Behaviors of the processor 120 will be described later.
The storing section 130 can be configured by a storage device that stores data used by the processor 120. Examples of the data will be described later. The displaying section 140 displays a processed result by the processor 120, or displays a user interface described later.
A user places the speed measuring device 100 on an appropriate place of the work machine. The user checks whether any one of detection axes of the acceleration sensor 110 matches with the running direction of the work machine. Further, the user may check whether another detection axis of the acceleration sensor 110 is parallel to the horizontal plane. Details of this step will be described later.
The user lets the work machine start running. The acceleration acquiring section 121 acquires a measured result by the acceleration sensor 110 from a timepoint that is slightly before the work machine starts running. The acceleration acquiring section 121 stores a history of the measured result into the storing section 130.
The correcting section 122 corrects the acceleration data so that the initial value of the acceleration data is 0 acceleration. Details of this step will be described later.
The maximum running speed analyzing section 125 identifies, among the history of acceleration data, a running period where the work machine is running. The maximum running speed analyzing section 125 extracts acceleration data from the identified running period. Details of this step will be described later.
The speed calculating section 123 calculates the running speed of the work machine using the acceleration data within the running period. Since the acceleration data includes many noise components, the filtering section 124 may perform filtering process onto the acceleration data. When using a Kalman filter described later, the running speed is calculated during the filtering process. Thus the filtering process can be integrated with calculating the running speed. When using other filters, these processes may be individually performed.
The maximum running speed analyzing section 125 detects the change point where the work machine transits from an accelerating state into a constant speed running state. Details of this step will be described later.
The maximum running speed analyzing section 125 calculates, as the maximum running speed, a time average of running speed within a predetermined time range from the change point. For example, the maximum running speed may be a time average within 1 second range from the change point. The outputting section 126 outputs the maximum running speed.
If the acceleration sensor 110 is configured by a gyro sensor, it is possible to acquire acceleration vectors in any direction using synthesizing calculation without depending on the installed angle of the acceleration sensor 110. Thus S101 may be omitted in this case. Further, in the install confirming screen 141, instead of the figure representing the installed angle, a message may be displayed that prompts to place the speed measuring device 100 on an appropriate place of the work machine (it may not be horizontal).
In order to use Kalman filter described later, it is desirable to give a precise initial value of acceleration to the filter. This is because, if the initial value is not precise, the accuracy of filtering process will be decreased. Thus the maximum running speed analyzing section 125 identifies a precise start timepoint of the running period by the procedure below.
The maximum running speed analyzing section 125 identifies, as a second time (time (2) in
The filtering section 124 may use filters other than Kalman filter. For example, smoothing filter, particle filter, or extended Kalman filter may be used. If the running speed cannot be acquired during the filtering process, the speed calculating section 123 may calculate the speed by integrating the acceleration.
“KalmanFilter” in
The maximum running speed analyzing section 125 calculates an average μ and a dispersion a for the acceleration acquired by the filtering (shown as KalmanFilter in
The maximum running speed analyzing section 125 searches, scanning backwardly from the third time (9 second in time axis), an initial measuring point where the acceleration deviates μ±3σ. In
The speed measuring device 100 according to the embodiment 1 detects a change point where the work machine transits from an accelerating state into a constant running speed state, and identifies a maximum running speed using a history of running speed after the change point. By detecting the change point, it is possible to precisely identify a timepoint when the work machine transits into the constant running speed state, without depending on the work machine or on characteristic of driver. Accordingly, the speed measuring device 100 does not need to keep redundant time margin for identifying the running period. Thus it is possible to suppress accumulation of errors.
The speed measuring device 100 according to the embodiment 1 stores, into the storing section 130, the acceleration data acquired during the running process of the work machine. The speed measuring device 100 measures the maximum running speed of the work machine using the stored acceleration data. Accordingly, it is possible for the measuring operator to confirm a test result at any timing. For example, such configuration is useful if the measuring environment is not suitable for detailed tasks.
The embodiment 1 explains a configuration where the measured result by the acceleration sensor 110 is stored into the storing section 130, and where the maximum running speed of the work machine is identified using the stored acceleration data. An embodiment 2 of the present disclosure explains a configuration example where the measured result is repeatedly acquired from the acceleration sensor 110 at each time interval, and where it is determined whether the work machine reaches the maximum running speed at each of the acquisitions. The configuration of the speed measuring device 100 is same as that of the embodiment 1.
(
These steps are same as S102-S103. However, this flowchart is performed at each predetermined time interval. Thus the measured result acquired in S902 is that of one measurement (one measured point).
The maximum running speed analyzing section 125 calculates standard deviations at a plurality of newest measured points (e,g, 50 measured points). If the standard deviation reaches at or above a threshold (e.g. 0.06), it is assumed that the work machine reaches the running period. This corresponds to identifying the first time in S104. The embodiment 2 determines whether the work machine reaches the maximum running speed every time when acquiring the measured result. Thus the process for identifying the second time in S104 is omitted. This means that the processing time is prioritized considering the tradeoff between the accuracy and the processing time. If the work machine has not reached the running period, or if a required number of measured points has not been acquired yet, this flowchart will be terminated.
This step is same as S105. However, this flowchart is performed at each of acquiring the measured result. Thus the process in this step performs the filtering process onto the acceleration data of a latest one of timepoints.
The maximum running speed analyzing section 125 calculates an average of a plurality of newest measured points (e.g. 50 measured points). The maximum running speed analyzing section 125 compares an average calculated last time with an average calculated this time. When a difference between those averages reaches a threshold (when the acceleration converges and the time variation rate has become sufficiently small at or below a threshold), the maximum running speed analyzing section 125 assumes to reach the change point. If not reaching the change point, this flowchart will be terminated.
The maximum running speed analyzing section 125 acquires acceleration data at or after the change point. The maximum running speed analyzing section 125 calculates a maximum running speed as in S107.
The speed measuring device 100 according to the embodiment 2 acquires acceleration of the work machine at each time interval. The speed measuring device 100 determines whether the work machine reaches the maximum running speed at each ones of the time intervals. Accordingly, it is possible to shorten, below conventional techniques, the distance necessary for the work machine to measure the running performance.
The embodiment 2 may use appropriate alarming means in order to notify a user that the work machine reaches the maximum running speed. For example, voice notification, notification in conjunction with other device, or vibrating notification may be assumed. Accordingly, the worker can immediately identify that the test has completed even if the testing environment is not quiet.
It is desirable that the speed measuring device 100 is installed so that any one of the measuring axes of the acceleration sensor 110 is parallel to the moving direction of the work machine. Then the storing section 130 may previously store an image captured when the speed measuring device 100 is appropriately installed on the driver's sheet of the work machine. The install confirming screen 141 (or other screens presented in S101) may display the captured image showing an install example.
The maximum running speed identified by the processor 120 may be displayed on the displaying section 140. A standard maximum running speed may also be displayed simultaneously. The standard maximum running speed may be stored in the storing section 130 in advance.
The displaying section 140 may also show a history of acceleration, standard deviation, or speed that are used by the processor 120 in the process of performing
The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments as described above, but includes various modifications. For example, the embodiments are described in detail for readily understanding of the present disclosure which is not necessarily limited to the one equipped with all structures as described above. It is possible to replace a part of the structure of one embodiment with the structure of another embodiment. The structure of one embodiment may be provided with an additional structure of another embodiment. It is further possible to add, remove, and replace the other structure to, from and with a part of the structure of the respective embodiments.
In the embodiments above, it is not always necessary for the speed measuring device 100 to include the acceleration sensor 110. The processor 120 may acquire, via such as communication, a result measuring an acceleration applied to the work machine.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2021-134089 | Aug 2021 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/JP2022/029648 | 8/2/2022 | WO |