IP Library Granted Patent US 12686991
Granted Patent B2
US 12686991 · App. 18/907,805 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Control device, loading machine, and control method to determine a target azimuth direction

Inventors: Takeshi Oi (Tokyo, JP); Kazuhiro Hatake (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
E02F3/431E02F9/26
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12686991
App. No.
18/907,805
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A loading machine includes a swing body, work equipment provided on the swing body, a posture measuring device to measure a posture of the swing body, and a depth detecting sensor to detect a depth of at least part of a surrounding of the swing body in a detection range. A control device controls the loading machine. The control device includes a posture information acquisition unit that acquires posture information indicating the posture measured, a detection information acquisition unit that acquires depth information indicating the depth detected, a target azimuth direction determination unit, and an output unit. The target azimuth direction determination unit determines a target azimuth direction in swing control based on the posture information and the depth information acquired when the swing body is stopped swinging. The output unit outputs a swing operation signal based on the target azimuth direction.

Claims (26)

1 . A control device for controlling a loading machine including a swing body swingable around a swing center by hydraulic oil supplied from a hydraulic pump included in a hydraulic device, work equipment provided on the swing body, a posture measuring device configured to measure a posture of the swing body, and a depth detecting sensor that is provided in the swing body and configured to detect a depth of at least part of a surrounding of the swing body in a detection range, the posture measuring device including receivers configured to receive positioning signals and an inertial measurement sensor configured to measure an acceleration and an angular speed of the swing body, the control device comprising:

a memory in which a program is loaded; and

a processor configured to execute the program, the processor including, by executing the program,

a posture information acquisition unit configured to acquire posture information indicating the posture measured by the posture measuring device;

a detection information acquisition unit configured to acquire depth information indicating the depth detected by the depth detecting sensor;

a target azimuth direction determination unit configured to determine a target azimuth direction in swing control based on the posture information and the depth information acquired when the swing body is stopped swinging; and

an output unit configured to output, to the hydraulic device, a swing operation signal for swinging the swing body based on the target azimuth direction,

the target azimuth direction determination unit being configured to determine an azimuth direction toward a loading target as the target azimuth direction based on the posture information and the depth information acquired while the work equipment performs excavation work on an excavation target.

2 . The control device according to claim 1 , wherein

the processor further includes, by executing the program,

a map generation unit configured to generate a three-dimensional map indicating a three-dimensional position of at least part of the surrounding of the swing body based on the posture information and the depth information acquired when the swing body is not swinging,

the target azimuth direction determination unit being configured to determine the target azimuth direction based on the three-dimensional map.

3 . The control device according to claim 1 , wherein

the work equipment is provided at a front portion of the swing body, and

the depth detecting sensor is provided at a side portion of the swing body.

4 . A loading machine including the control device the control device of claim 1 , the loading machine further comprising:

the swing body swingable around the swing center;

the work equipment provided on the swing body;

a posture measuring device configured to measure a posture of the swing body;

the depth detecting sensor provided in the swing body and configured to detect the depth of at least part of the surrounding of the swing body in the detection range.

5 . A control method of a loading machine including a swing body swingable around a swing center by hydraulic oil supplied from a hydraulic pump included in a hydraulic device, work equipment provided on the swing body, a posture measuring device configured to measure a posture of the swing body, and a depth detecting sensor that is provided in the swing body and configured to detect a depth of a surrounding of the swing body in a detection range, the posture measuring device including receivers configured to receive positioning signals and an inertial measurement sensor configured to measure an acceleration and an angular speed of the swing body, the control method comprising:

acquiring posture information indicating the posture measured by the posture measuring device;

acquiring depth information indicating the depth detected by the depth detecting sensor;

determining a target azimuth direction in swing control based on the posture information and the depth information acquired when the swing body is not swinging; and

outputting, to the hydraulic device, a swing operation signal for swinging the swing body based on the target azimuth direction,

the determining the target azimuth direction including determining an azimuth direction toward a loading target as the target azimuth direction based on the posture information and the depth information acquired while the work equipment performs excavation work on an excavation target.