Work area monitoring system for lifting machines

1. A system for avoidance of obstacles by a crane when moving a load, the system comprising:

a detector that provides obstacle location information based upon data obtained by at least one sensor that scans for a shape and position of an obstacle itself;

a processor that receives the obstacle location and identification information from the detector and determines obstacle avoidance data in response thereto;

a rotational drive mechanism that rotates a boom of the crane relative to a base of the crane on a support surface;

a hoist drive mechanism that elevates and lowers a load from the boom;

a rotational drive mechanism controller that receives control signals from the processor based on the obstacle avoidance data to control rotation of the boom when the obstacle location and identification information is determined by the processor to indicate an obstacle within a redetermined horizontal distance of the load; and

a hoist drive mechanism controller that receives control signals from the processor based on the obstacle avoidance data to control elevation of the load when the obstacle location and identification information is determined by the processor to indicate the obstacle is within a predetermined vertical distance of the load.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor provides control signals to the hoist drive mechanism controller to stop lowering the load from the boom when the obstacle location and identification information is determined by the processor to indicate an obstacle within a first predetermined vertical distance of the load.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the processor provides further control signals to the hoist drive mechanism controller to elevate the load when the obstacle location and identification information is determined by the processor to indicate an obstacle within a second predetermined vertical distance of the load.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the first and second predetermined vertical distances are equivalent.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor provides control signals to the rotational drive mechanism controller to stop rotation of the boom when the obstacle location and identification information is determined by the processor to indicate an obstacle within a predetermined horizontal distance of the load.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the detector further comprises a plurality of sensors effective for gathering data related to obstacle shape and location within a potential path of the load.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the detector comprises at least one sensor effective for gathering data related to a shape and position of the load.

8. A method of avoiding contact between a load being moved by a crane and obstacles potentially in the path of the load, the method comprising:

providing a detector that provides obstacle location information from scanning the obstacle itself;

providing a processor that receives the obstacle location and identification information from the detector and determines obstacle avoidance data in response thereto;

providing a rotational drive mechanism that rotates a boom of the crane relative to a base of the crane on a support surface;

providing a hoist drive mechanism that elevates and lowers a load from the boom; and

providing a rotational drive mechanism controller that receives control signals from the processor based on the obstacle avoidance data to control rotation of the boom when the obstacle location and identification information is determined by the processor to indicate an obstacle within a first predetermined distance of the load;

wherein the hoist drive mechanism controller receives control signals from the processor based on the obstacle avoidance data to control elevation of the load when the obstacle location and identification information is determined by the processor to indicate the obstacle is within a second predetermined distance of the load.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first and second predetermined distances are equivalent.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising providing control signals from the processor to the rotational drive mechanism controller to stop rotation of the boom when the obstacle location and identification information is determined by the processor to indicate the obstacle is within the first predetermined distance of the load.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising providing control signals from the processor to reverse lowering the load when the obstacle location and identification information is determined by the processor to indicate the obstacle is within the second predetermined distance of the load.