IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,553,219
Granted Patent B2
US 12,553,219 · App. 18/576,117 · Granted Feb 17, 2026

Work machine surroundings monitoring system, work machine, and work machine surroundings monitoring method

Inventors: Masaomi Machida (Tokyo, JP); Yosuke Okumura (Tokyo, JP); Natsumi Tsuda (Tokyo, JP); Takeshi Kurihara (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
E02F9/262E02F9/24
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,553,219
App. No.
18/576,117
Granted
Feb 17, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A surroundings monitoring system for a work machine includes: an object detection device that detects an object around the work machine including a cab; an external alarm device disposed outside the cab; an operator alarm device disposed inside the cab; and a processor. The processor sets, on the basis of input data for setting a control mode of the work machine from an input device, a control mode for controlling an operation of the work machine at a time when the object is detected to either an enabled mode in which at least a part of the operation of the work machine is restricted or a disabled mode in which the operation of the work machine is not restricted. The processor enables or disables the operator alarm device on the basis of the control mode that has been set.

Claims (61)

1 . A surroundings monitoring system for a work machine, the surroundings monitoring system comprising:

an object detection device that detects an object around the work machine;

an operator alarm device disposed in such a manner as to output an alarm towards an operator operating the work machine; and

a processor,

wherein the processor:

sets, on the basis of input data for setting a control mode of the work machine from an input device, a control mode for controlling an operation of the work machine at a time when the object is detected to either an enabled mode in which at least a part of the operation of the work machine is restricted or a disabled mode in which the operation of the work machine is not restricted; and

enables or disables the operator alarm device on the basis of the control mode that has been set, wherein

the enabled mode comprises restricting at least one operation of the work machine based on an operation of operation devices provided in the work machine, the at least one operation being selected from the group consisting of: a swinging operation of the upper swing body, a travelling operation of the lower travelling body, and a working operation of the working equipment.

2 . The surroundings monitoring system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the processor enables the operator alarm device in a case where the control mode is set to the enabled mode.

3 . The surroundings monitoring system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the processor:

sets an operation mode of the operator alarm device at the time when the object is detected to either an enabled mode in which the alarm is output or a disabled mode in which the alarm is not output on the basis of input data for setting the operation mode of the operator alarm device from the input device; and

does not acquire the input data for setting the operation mode of the operator alarm device in a case where the control mode is set to the enabled mode.

4 . The surroundings monitoring system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an external alarm device disposed in such a manner as to output an alarm towards an outside of the work machine,

wherein the processor:

sets an operation mode of the external alarm device at the time when the object is detected to either an enabled mode in which the alarm is output or a disabled mode in which the alarm is not output on the basis of input data for setting the operation mode of the external alarm device from the input device; and

enables or disables the operator alarm device on the basis of the operation mode of the external alarm device that has been set.

5 . The surroundings monitoring system according to claim 4 ,

wherein the processor enables the operator alarm device in a case where the operation mode of the external alarm device is set to the enabled mode.

6 . The surroundings monitoring system according to claim 4 ,

wherein the processor:

sets an operation mode of the operator alarm device at the time when the object is detected to either an enabled mode in which an alarm is output or a disabled mode in which the alarm is not output on the basis of input data for setting the operation mode of the operator alarm device from the input device; and

does not acquire the input data for setting the operation mode of the operator alarm device in a case where the operation mode of the external alarm device is set to the enabled mode.

7 . The surroundings monitoring system according to claim 4 ,

wherein the processor disables the operator alarm device in a case where the control mode is set to the disabled mode and the operation mode of the external alarm device is set to the disabled mode.

8 . The surroundings monitoring system according to claim 4 ,

wherein the processor:

sets an operation mode of the operator alarm device at the time when the object is detected to either an enabled mode in which the alarm is output or a disabled mode in which the alarm is not output on the basis of input data for setting the operation mode of the operator alarm device from the input device; and

acquires the input data for setting the operation mode of the operator alarm device in a case where the control mode is set to the disabled mode and the operation mode of the external alarm device is set to the disabled mode.

9 . The surroundings monitoring system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the processor:

causes a display device to display a setting menu related to setting of each of the control mode and the operation mode of the operator alarm device; and

makes a display form of the setting menu related to the operation mode of the operator alarm device different between a case where the control mode is set to the enabled mode and a case where the control mode is set to the disabled mode.

10 . The surroundings monitoring system according to claim 9 ,

wherein the processor causes the display device to display a first symbol indicating the control mode and a second symbol indicating the operation mode of the operator alarm device.

11 . The surroundings monitoring system according to claim 9 ,

wherein the processor:

stores an alarm area in which the alarm is required to be output when the object is detected; and

causes the display device to display a surroundings image indicating surroundings of the work machine and a reference line indicating the alarm area in the surroundings image.

12 . A work machine comprising:

the surroundings monitoring system according to claim 1 .

13 . The work machine according to claim 12 ,

wherein the work machine comprises a cab, and

the operator alarm device is disposed inside the cab.

14 . A surroundings monitoring method for a work machine, the surroundings monitoring method comprising:

detecting an object around the work machine;

setting, on the basis of input data for setting a control mode of the work machine, a control mode for controlling an operation of the work machine at a time when the object is detected to either an enabled mode in which at least a part of the operation of the work machine is restricted or a disabled mode in which the operation of the work machine is not restricted; and

enabling or disabling the operator alarm device on the basis of the control mode that has been set, wherein

the enabled mode comprises restricting at least one operation of the work machine based on an operation of operation devices provided in the work machine, the at least one operation being selected from the group consisting of: a swinging operation of the upper swing body, a travelling operation of the lower travelling body, and a working operation of the working equipment.

15 . The surroundings monitoring method according to claim 14 , further comprising:

setting an operation mode of an external alarm device at the time when the object is detected to either an enabled mode in which an alarm is output or a disabled mode in which the alarm is not output on the basis of input data for setting the operation mode of the external alarm device, the external alarm device being disposed in such a manner as to output the alarm towards an outside of the work machine; and

enabling or disabling the operator alarm device on the basis of the operation mode of the external alarm device that has been set.

16 . A surroundings monitoring system for a work machine, the surroundings monitoring system comprising:

an object detection device that detects an object around the work machine;

an operator alarm device disposed in such a manner as to output an alarm towards an operator operating the work machine; and

a processor,

wherein the processor:

sets, on the basis of input data for setting a control mode of the work machine from an input device, a control mode for controlling an operation of the work machine at a time when the object is detected to either an enabled mode in which at least a part of the operation of the work machine is restricted or a disabled mode in which the operation of the work machine is not restricted; and

enables or disables the operator alarm device on the basis of the control mode that has been set.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 3, 2024
From: MACHIDA, MASAOMI; OKUMURA, YOSUKE; TSUDA, NATSUMI; KURIHARA, TAKESHI
To: KOMATSU LTD.
Reel/Frame 066001/0355 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-154614 · Sep 22, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240240436A1 · Jul 18, 2024
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