IP Library Granted Patent US 12,448,757
Granted Patent B2
US 12,448,757 · App. 17/918,372 · Granted Oct 21, 2025

Construction method and construction system

Inventors: Yoshiyuki Onishi (Tokyo, JP); Mitsuhiro Aoki (Tokyo, JP); Masahiro Kurihara (Tokyo, JP); Kenjiro Shimada (Tokyo, JP); Toyohito Uchizono (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
E02F9/262E02F9/205E02F9/265
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,448,757
App. No.
17/918,372
Granted
Oct 21, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a construction method using an excavator that is controlled by manual operation, and an excavator that includes an automatic working-equipment control unit automatically controlling second working equipment on the basis of at least one of a current terrain and a designed terrain of a construction range in a construction site, and a tooth-edge position of the second working equipment, a progress rate that indicates a volume of soil having been excavated by the excavator to a target volume of soil to be excavated by the excavator in the construction range is calculated, and when the progress rate is equal to or larger than a threshold, the excavator stops construction of the construction range, and the excavator takes over the construction of the construction range, from the excavator.

Claims (39)

1. A construction method using:

a first work machine that is controlled by manual operation; and

a second work machine configured for automatically controlling second working equipment based on at least one of a current terrain and a designed terrain of a construction range, and a tooth-edge position of the second working equipment, the construction method comprising:

calculating a progress rate in the construction range for the first work machine based on the current terrain and the designed terrain of the construction range for the first work machine; and

when the progress rate is equal to or larger than a threshold, the first work machine stops construction of the construction range, and the second work machine takes over the construction of the construction range from the first work machine,

wherein the second work machine automatically controls the operation of the second working equipment based on the distance between the cutting edge of the second working equipment and the design terrain, and the speed of the second working equipment so that the cutting edge of the second working equipment moves along the design terrain.

2. A construction system using:

a first work machine that is controlled by manual operation; and

a second work machine that is a different work machine than the first work machine, configured for automatically controlling second working equipment based on at least one of a current terrain and a designed terrain of a construction range, and a tooth-edge position of the second working equipment, the construction system comprising:

a processor configured to:

store the designed terrain of the construction range for the first work machine;

acquire construction result data indicating a result of construction of the construction range for the first work machine;

calculate a progress rate of construction by the first work machine, based on the designed terrain of the construction range for the first work machine and the construction result data; and

instruct the first work machine to stop construction of the construction range and instruct the second work machine to take over the construction of the construction range, when the calculated progress rate is equal to or larger than a threshold,

wherein the second work machine automatically controls the operation of the second working equipment based on the distance between the cutting edge of the second working equipment and the design terrain, and the speed of the second working equipment so that the cutting edge of the second working equipment moves along the design terrain.

3. The construction system according to claim 2 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

store a target volume of soil to be excavated by the first work machine,

acquire operation information about the first work machine, and

wherein a volume of soil having been excavated by the first work machine is calculated based on the operation information, and the progress rate of construction by the first work machine is calculated based on the target volume of soil and the volume of soil having been excavated.

4. The construction system according to claim 2 , wherein

the first work machine includes a display that displays a guide indicating at least one of the current terrain and the designed terrain of the construction range, and a tooth-edge position of first working equipment.

5. The construction system according to claim 2 , wherein

the first work machine has a guide display function of displaying a guide indicating at least one of the current terrain and the designed terrain of the construction range and a tooth-edge position of first working equipment.

6. The construction system according to claim 2 , further comprising:

a plurality of the first work machines, and

wherein the threshold of the progress rate is set for each of the first work machines.

7. The construction system according to claim 6 , wherein

when a plurality of respective first work machines of the plurality of first work machines are determined to have a respective progress rate equal to or larger than the threshold, the instruction unit instructs the second work machine to take over construction of a respective construction range from a respective first work machine closest to the second work machine.

8. The construction system according to claim 2 , further comprising

an input unit configured to receive an input of the threshold of the progress rate.

9. A construction system using:

a first work machine that is controlled by manual operation; and

a second work machine different from the first work machine, includes a vehicle body and a second working equipment, and configured for automatically controlling the second working equipment based on at least one of a current terrain and a designed terrain of a construction range, and a tooth-edge position of the second working equipment, the construction system comprising:

a processor configured to:

store the designed terrain of the construction range for the first work machine;

acquire construction result data indicating a result of construction of the construction range for the first work machine;

calculate a progress rate of construction by the first work machine, based on the designed terrain of the construction range for the first work machine and the construction result data; and

determine whether the calculated progress rate is above a threshold, and when the calculated progress rate is equal to or larger than the threshold, instruct the first work machine to stop construction of the construction range and instruct the second work machine to take over the construction of the construction range wherein

the second work machine automatically controls the operation of the second working equipment based on the distance between the cutting edge of the second working equipment and the design terrain, and the speed of the second working equipment so that the cutting edge of the second working equipment moves along the design terrain.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 12, 2022
From: ONISHI, YOSHIYUKI; AOKI, MITSUHIRO; KURIHARA, MASAHIRO; SHIMADA, KENJIRO; UCHIZONO, TOYOHITO
To: KOMATSU LTD.
Reel/Frame 061391/0261 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2020-072476 · Apr 14, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230143733A1 · May 11, 2023
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