Graphical Control Interface for Construction and Maintenance Equipment
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 126, Issue 3
Abstract
This paper discusses graphical interfaces to improve equipment control in construction and facility/infrastructure maintenance environments. Most large construction and maintenance machines are difficult to control because of insufficient visual feedback to equipment operators. In many emerging applications such as hazardous waste cleaning, it is also necessary to control such equipment from a distance using teleoperation techniques. Initial evidence indicates that real-time updated graphical representation of equipment and work environments can enhance equipment control by providing better spatial perception to the equipment operator. Real-time simulation and task planning with graphical models can also ensure safe and reliable operation of equipment. However, graphical control interfaces require careful design for successful results as it is very difficult to generate exact graphical models of unstructured and dynamic environments such as construction and maintenance. Design of graphical control interfaces for construction equipment also requires knowledge in various technological areas. In this paper, design issues and principles for graphical control interfaces for construction and maintenance equipment are presented. The usefulness of graphical control interfaces is also presented through performance tests of a teleoperated clinker clearing robot for power plant maintenance.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Bejczy, A. K., Kim, W. S., and Schenker, P. S. (1994). “The role of computer graphics in teleoperation.” Proc., ASCE Spec. Conf., ASCE, Reston, Va., 1–9.
2.
Birren, F. (1978). Color and human response. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York.
3.
Browse, R. A., and Little, S. (1991). “The effectiveness of real-time graphic simulation in telerobotics.” Proc., IEEE Int. Conf. on Sys., Man, and Cybernetics, IEEE, Piscataway, N.J., 895–898.
4.
Caterpillar. ( 1996). Caterpillar computer aided earth moving systems. Caterpillar, Inc., Peoria, Ill.
5.
Christensen, B. K. (1993). “Virtual environments for telerobotic shared control.” Proc., Int. Soc. for Optical Engrg., Telemaniplator Technol. and Space Telerobotics, 74–83.
6.
Chua, J. ( 1996). “The human-machine interface and re-bar detection aspects of a non-destructive testing robot.” PhD thesis, Dept. of Civ. Engrg., City University of London, London.
7.
Craig, J. (1986). Introduction to robotics: Mechanics & control. Addison-Wesley, New York.
8.
Das, H., Sheridan, T. B., and Slotine, J. E. (1989). “Kinematic control and visual display of redundant teleoperators.” Proc., IEEE Int. Conf. on Sys., Man, and Cybernetics, IEEE, Piscataway, N.J., 1072–1077.
9.
Froumentin, M., and Peyret, F. (1996). “An operator aiding system for compactors.” Proc., 13th Int. Symp. on Automation and Robotics in Constr., Tokyo, 359–368.
10.
Foley, J. D., vanDam, A., Feiner, S. K., and Hughes, J. F. (1990). Computer graphics: Principles and practice. Addison-Wesley, New York.
11.
Haas, C. (1995). “Feasibility study of alternative clinker clearing solutions.” Tech. Rep., Dept. of Civ. Engrg., University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Tex.
12.
Haas, C., Kim, Y. S., and Greer, R. (1997). “A model for imaging assisted automation of infrastructure maintenance.” Proc., 2nd Int. Conf. on Imaging Technologies: Techniques and Applications in Civ. Engrg., 108–117.
13.
Haas, C., Skibniewski, M., and Bundy, E. (1995). “History of robotics in civil engineering.” Microcomputers in Civ. Engrg., 10(5), 371–381.
14.
Harada, M., Kawamoto, K., and Sakuma, T. (1990). “Ground-level remote control system for pneumatic caisson.” Proc., 7th Int. Symp. on Automation and Robotics in Constr., Bristol, England, 166–173.
15.
Huang, X., and Bernold, L. E. (1997). “CAD-integrated excavation and pipe laying.”J. Constr. Engrg. and Mgmt., ASCE, 123(3), 318–323.
16.
Ince, I., Bryant, K., and Brooks, T. (1991). “Virtuality and reality: A video/graphics environment for teleoperation.” Proc., IEEE Int. Conf. on Sys., Man, and Cybernetics, IEEE, Piscataway, N.J., 1083–1089.
17.
LeBlond, D., Owen, F., Gibson, G. E., Jr. Haas, C. T., and Traver, A. E. (1998). “Control improvement for advanced construction equipment.”J. Constr. Engrg. and Mgmt., ASCE, 124(4), 289–296.
18.
Moon, S., and Bernold, L. E. (1998). “Graphic-based human-machine interface for construction manipulator control.”J. Constr. Engrg. and Mgmt., ASCE, 124(4), 305–311.
19.
Neugebauer, J. G. (1992). “Virtual reality—More than just simulation.” Industrial Robot, England, 19(3).
20.
Ogasawara, T., Fukushima, T., Murase, M., and Nakamura, Y. (1996). “Development of advanced dredger.” Proc., 13th Int. Symp. on Automation and Robotics in Constr., Tokyo, 369–378.
21.
Rastogi, A. ( 1996). “Design of an interface for tele-operation in unstructured environments using augmented reality displays.” Masters thesis, Dept. of Industrial Engrg., University of Toronto, Toronto.
22.
Saidi, K., Seo, J., Sreenivasan, S., Haas, C., and Traver, A. ( 1998). “Design of a tele-robotic system for the maintenance of boiler hoppers in electric power plants.” Paper No. DETC 98/MECH-5998, ASME Design Technical Conference, Atlanta.
23.
Seo, J. ( 1998). “Graphical interface design for equipment control in unstructured environments.” Dissertation, Dept. of Civ. Engrg., University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Tex.
24.
Sheridan, T. B. (1992). Telerobotics, automation, and human supervisory control. MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass.
25.
Tserng, H., Russell, J., and Veeramani, R. (1997). “Development of 3-D graphical database system for landfill operations using GPS.” Proc., 14th Int. Symp. on Automation and Robotics in Constr., Pittsburgh, 502–510.
26.
Wernecke, J. (1994). The inventor mentor. Addison-Wesley, New York.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 126 • Issue 3 • May 2000
Pages: 210 - 218
History
Received: Jun 3, 1999
Published online: May 1, 2000
Published in print: May 2000
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.