Development and evaluation of advanced safety algorithms for excavators using virtual reality

This study focuses on the development and evaluation of advanced safety algorithms for excavators using virtual reality (VR). An excavator typically operates under a stationary state with its working parts rotating 360° in coordination with nearby workers. During excavation, a fatal accident can occur due to operator carelessness and work site blind spots. Accidents due to collisions with nearby workers have been increasing. Accordingly, we presented safety system algorithms to prevent collisions with surrounding objects and secure the maximum working area in this study. We also evaluated the performance of safety system algorithms using VR. For risk assessment, we calculated the predicted working area through a kinematic analysis of the excavator’s working parts and accordingly conducted target selection of risk factors. We used time-to-collision and warning indices as safety indices for the safety assessment of the selected target and divided the excavator’s working modes into three categories: Safe, warning, and emergency braking modes. Control inputs, such as alarms and braking, were appropriately defined for each working mode. Under warning mode, workers can avoid collisions because a safety system will alert them of dangerous situations through an alarm. Under emergency braking mode, an emergency braking input signal is dispatched with an alarm to automatically prevent collisions. The advanced safety algorithm proposed in the study was developed in MATLAB/Simulink environment. The VR application was developed using a physics engine. On the basis of this application, the performance evaluation of the safety system algorithms was conducted on the frequently occurring sticking scenario.