Wearable equipment and a method for controlling movement of an excavator arm on a construction machine

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, and equipment for controlling a construction machine using wearable equipment. The wearable equipment comprises a plurality of covering portions comprising a first covering portion, a second covering portion, a third covering portion, a fourth covering portion, a fifth and a sixth covering portion. The wearable equipment comprises a plurality of sensors embedded in the plurality of covering portions. The wearable equipment comprises a control unit positioned in the fourth covering portion. The wearable equipment is worn similar to a mitten on the hands of the operator to produce gestures, which is sensed by the plurality of sensors to generate a sensor data. The sensor data is processed by the control unit to produce a set of instructions, which enables digging action for the construction machine.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wearable equipment for controlling movement of a construction machine, comprising:
 a plurality of covering portions comprising:
 a first covering portion configured to encircle one or more distal phalanges, and middle phalanges of a hand, a second covering portion configured to encircle the proximal phalanges of the hand, a third covering configured to enclose the palm of the hand, a fourth covering portion configured to cover a wrist, and a fifth covering portion and a sixth covering portion configured to encircle a thumb; 
   a plurality of sensors, comprising:
 a first sensor positioned between the first and second covering portion, a second sensor positioned between the second covering portion and the third covering portion, a third sensor positioned between the third covering portion and the fourth covering portion, a fourth sensor positioned between the fifth and sixth covering portion; and a control unit positioned on the fourth covering portion and connected to the plurality of sensors. 
   
     
     
         2 . The wearable equipment of  claim 1 , wherein the first sensor is positioned on side region between the first covering portion and the second covering portion. 
     
     
         3 . The wearable equipment of  claim 1 , wherein the second sensor is positioned on side region between the second covering portion and the third covering portion. 
     
     
         4 . The wearable equipment of  claim 1 , wherein the fifth covering portion and the sixth covering portion are a two-piece structure, and configured to cover upper part of the thumb and the lower part of the thumb respectively. 
     
     
         5 . The wearable equipment of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprising the fourth sensor is positioned between the fifth covering portion and the sixth covering portion. 
     
     
         6 . The wearable equipment of  claim 6 , wherein the fourth sensor is alternatively positioned between the third covering portion and the fifth covering portion. 
     
     
         7 . The wearable equipment of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of sensors is selected from a group comprising angular sensors comprising goniometer, or flex sensors such as flex strips, uni-directional flex sensors, or bi-directional flex sensors, or load sensors such as load cells, or pressure switches. 
     
     
         8 . The wearable equipment of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of sensors are configured to detect relative movement such as angular displacement, or a degree of bending of the covering portions, or stress within the plurality of covering portions. 
     
     
         9 . The wearable equipment of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a third sensor configured to detect movement such as angular displacement, or a degree of bending of the covering portions, or stress within the plurality of covering portions in two perpendicular planes, for controlling the movement of a boom of the construction machine in a vertical direction and horizontal direction. 
     
     
         10 . The wearable equipment of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of sensors are connected to the control unit through a wired connection or a wireless connection. 
     
     
         11 . A control unit of a wearable equipment for controlling movement of a construction machine, comprising:
 a power source;   a transmitter; and   a first processor module, configured to receive sensor data from the plurality of sensors mounted on the wearable equipment, and configured to process the sensor data to generate a set of instructions related to movement of the construction machine, wherein the set of instructions are transmitted to the construction machine through the transmitter.   
     
     
         12 . The control unit of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of sensors is selected from a group comprising angular sensors comprising goniometer, or flex sensors such as flex strips, uni-directional flex sensors, or bi-directional flex sensors, or load sensors such as load cells, or pressure switches. 
     
     
         13 . The control unit of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of sensors are configured to detect relative movement such as angular displacement, or a degree of bending, or stress between the plurality of covering portions. 
     
     
         14 . The control unit of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of sensors are connected to the control unit through a wired connection or a wireless connection. 
     
     
         15 . The control unit of  claim 11 , wherein the construction machine further comprises a receiver unit, comprising:
 a receiver sensor configured to receive a set of instructions related to movement of the construction machine from a control unit of a wearable equipment; and   a second processor module configured to process the set of instructions, and actuate an actuator of the construction machine.   
     
     
         16 . A method of controlling movement of a construction machine using a wearable equipment, the method comprising:
 aligning the wearable equipment on to a hand of an operator;   moving the hand in accordance to the desired movement of the construction machine, wherein the movement of the hand is sensed by the plurality of sensors mounted on the wearable equipment;   generating sensor data from the plurality of sensors based on the movement of the hand;   processing the sensor data to generate a set of instructions using a control unit, wherein the set of instructions are related to the movement of the construction machine;   transmitting the set of instructions to a receiver unit of the construction machine; and   actuating an actuator of the construction machine, based on the set of instructions received by the receiver unit.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the receiver unit comprises:
 a receiver sensor configured to receive a set of instructions related to movement of the construction machine from the control unit of the wearable equipment; and   a second processor module configured to process the set of instructions, and actuate the actuator of the construction machine.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the controller comprises a transmitter configured to transmit the set of instructions to the receiver unit of the construction machine.