Integrating Task Component Design in Excavator-Truck Operation Planning: Enhancing Automation Systems through a Web-Based System

Abstract

Excavator-truck operations, characterized by their repetitive excavation and loading tasks, present a prime candidate for automation. While numerous studies have aimed to automate the earthworks, practical implementations remain scarce. This research introduces a task component design focused on excavator-truck operation planning to improve the functionality of an earthwork automation system. To address this, fundamental task primitives necessary for executing excavation tasks were engineered, and a web-based system was developed to automate the generation of work plans for both point and trench excavation through algorithmic processes. Additionally, a JSON-based protocol was introduced to facilitate efficient integration with other subsystems. Field tests were conducted to validate the effectiveness of the newly developed algorithm and protocol within the broader context of earthwork automation systems. The results demonstrated the successful implementation of the task components, confirming their operational viability and seamless integration into the existing earthwork automation framework.