# US 2023/0056789 A1 · Remote operation support device and remote operation support method for work machine

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- Number: US 2023/0056789 A1
- Document ID: US20230056789A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/794,504
- Filed: 2021-01-12
- Published: 2023-02-23
- Earliest claimed: 2020-02-18
- Assignees: Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Masaki OTANI; Yoichiro YAMAZAKI
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230056789A1

## CPC

- E02F 9/2095: {Control of electric, electro-mechanical or mechanical equipment not otherwise provided for, e.g. ventilators, electro-driven fans (control of hydraulic driven equipment E02F9/22)}
- B60H 1/00378: {for tractor or load vehicle cabins}
- B60H 1/00657: {Remote control devices}
- E02F 9/205: {Remotely operated machines, e.g. unmanned vehicles (E02F3/8866 takes precedence)}
- E02F 9/261: {Surveying the work-site to be treated}
- E02F 9/265: {with follow-up actions (e.g. control signals sent to actuate the work tool)}
- G05D 1/0038: {by providing the operator with simple or augmented images from one or more cameras located onboard the vehicle, e.g. tele-operation (images analyzed by a computer and used for automatic navigation G05D1/0246)}
- B60H 1/00785: {by the detection of humidity or frost}
- E02F 3/435: {for dipper-arms, backhoes or the like}
- E02F 9/163: {Structures to protect drivers, e.g. cabins, doors for cabins; Falling object protection structure [FOPS]; Roll over protection structure [ROPS] (for handrails mounted on cabins E02F9/0833 takes precedence; for vehicles in general B60R21/11, B60R21/13, for fork-lift trucks B66F9/07545)}
- E02F: DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING (winning peat E21C49/00)
- B60H: ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES
- G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES

## Abstract

A remote operation support device 100 is provided that is for improving the work efficiency of a remote operation performed by an operator, without fogging a front window 425F of a work machine 40 that is remotely operated by the operator. The remote operation support device 100 includes: a meteorological data obtaining unit 103 that obtains meteorological data at a designated time; an intra-cab temperature estimation unit 104; an intra-cab humidity estimation unit 105; a fogging determination unit 106; and an anti-fogging control unit 107. The anti-fogging control unit 107 performs an anti-fogging process for preventing the front window 425F from being fogged when a determination result by the fogging determination unit 106 is affirmative.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A remote operation support device for supporting an operator's remote operation of a work machine using a remote operation device comprising a remote output interface that outputs a taken image that has been taken through a window defining a cab by an imaging device and indicates a situation outside of the cab, the imaging device being disposed in an internal space of the cab of the work machine, the remote operation support device comprising:
a meteorological data obtaining unit configured to obtain meteorological data that is data about a meteorological phenomenon at a designated time in an area where the work machine resides, from a meteorological information source residing outside of the work machine;
an intra-cab temperature estimation unit configured to estimate a temperature in the internal space of the cab of the work machine, based on the meteorological data;
an intra-cab humidity estimation unit configured to estimate a humidity in the internal space of the cab of the work machine, based on the meteorological data;
a fogging determination unit configured to determine whether the window is fogged or not based on outside temperature data that is data about an outside temperature outside of the cab of the work machine and is included in the meteorological data, on intra-cab temperature data that is data about the temperature in the cab estimated by the intra-cab temperature estimation unit, and on intra-cab humidity data that is data about the humidity in the cab estimated by the intra-cab humidity estimation unit; and
an anti-fogging control unit configured to perform an anti-fogging process for preventing the window from being fogged when a determination result by the fogging determination unit is affirmative.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The remote operation support device according to claim 1,
wherein an anti-fogging control unit knows a predetermined temperature raising capability of the work machine heating the windows, estimates a time when a temperature at which the windows are defogged is reached, based on the temperature raising capability, and executes a process for causing the work machine to start anti-fogging control, based on communication with the work machine, so as to achieve the temperature at which the windows are defogged at the designated time.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The remote operation support device according to claim 1,
wherein if an estimated time when a temperature at which the windows are defogged is reached is after the designated time, an anti-fogging control unit executes a process of causing the remote operation support device to output a delay notification to the remote output interface, based on communication with the remote operation support device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The remote operation support device according to claim 1,
wherein the anti-fogging control unit executes a process, as the anti-fogging process, for generating a control signal, based on communication with the work machine, the control signal being for activating a room air conditioner that is included in an actual machine output interface of the work machine, and adjusts at least one of a temperature and a humidity at a location of the windows in the internal space of the cab.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A remote operation support system, comprising: the remote operation support device according to claim 1; the remote operation device; and the work machine.

### Claim 6

A remote operation support method for supporting an operator's remote operation of a work machine using a remote operation device comprising a remote output interface that outputs a taken image that has been taken through a window defining a cab by an imaging device and indicates a situation outside of the cab, the imaging device being disposed in an internal space of the cab of the work machine, the remote operation support method executing:
a meteorological data obtaining process of obtaining meteorological data that is data about a meteorological phenomenon at a designated time in an area where the work machine resides, from a meteorological information source residing outside of the work machine;
an intra-cab temperature estimation process of estimating a temperature in the internal space of the cab of the work machine, based on the meteorological data;
an intra-cab humidity estimation process of estimating a humidity in the internal space of the cab of the work machine, based on the meteorological data;
a fogging determination process of determining whether the window is fogged or not based on outside temperature data that is data about an outside temperature outside of the cab of the work machine and is included in the meteorological data, on intra-cab temperature data that is data about the temperature in the cab estimated by the intra-cab temperature estimation unit, and on intra-cab humidity data that is data about the humidity in the cab estimated by the intra-cab humidity estimation unit; and
an anti-fogging process for preventing the window from being fogged when a determination result by the fogging determination unit is affirmative.