The technology disclosed relates a lumber grabber for grasping timber. The lumber grabber can achieve grasping large packages of lumber of various work lengths. In one configuration, the lumber grabber includes moveable forks for grasping lumber movably supported by a frame, affixable to a crane. Forks positioned at ends of the frame and arranged to open and close relative to one other under power by a source of motive force; thereby enabling grasping and ungrasping of packages of lumber under programmed control of a programmable controller executing stored instructions.

The technology disclosed relates a lumber grabber for grasping timber. The lumber grabber can achieve grasping large packages of lumber of various work lengths. In one configuration, the lumber grabber includes moveable forks for grasping lumber movably supported by a frame, affixable to a crane. Forks positioned at ends of the frame and arranged to open and close relative to one other under power by a source of motive force; thereby enabling grasping and ungrasping of packages of lumber under programmed control of a programmable controller executing stored instructions.

The present invention provides a linear quadratic regulator (LQR)-based anti-sway control method for a hoisting system, comprising the following steps: obtaining a target position of a trolley, and obtaining a planned real-time path of the trolley according to the maximum velocity v.sub.m and maximum acceleration a.sub.m of the trolley; establishing a dynamic model of the hoisting system according to a Lagrange's equation, for the Lagrange's equation, the trolley displacement x, the spreader sway angle θ, and the rope length l of the hoisting system being selected as generalized coordinate directions; observing lumped disturbance d using an extended state observer, and compensating for same in a controller, the lumped disturbance d comprising the dynamic model error and external disturbance to the hoisting system; tracking the planned real-time path of the trolley by a Q matrix and an R matrix using a linear quadratic regulator controller. The LQR-based anti-sway control method for a hoisting system provided by the present invention can make the hoisting system operate more smoothly, reduce sway during operation, and quickly eliminate sway when in place while observing the lumped disturbance using an extended state observer.

The present invention provides a linear quadratic regulator (LQR)-based anti-sway control method for a hoisting system, comprising the following steps: obtaining a target position of a trolley, and obtaining a planned real-time path of the trolley according to the maximum velocity v.sub.m and maximum acceleration a.sub.m of the trolley; establishing a dynamic model of the hoisting system according to a Lagrange's equation, for the Lagrange's equation, the trolley displacement x, the spreader sway angle θ, and the rope length l of the hoisting system being selected as generalized coordinate directions; observing lumped disturbance d using an extended state observer, and compensating for same in a controller, the lumped disturbance d comprising the dynamic model error and external disturbance to the hoisting system; tracking the planned real-time path of the trolley by a Q matrix and an R matrix using a linear quadratic regulator controller. The LQR-based anti-sway control method for a hoisting system provided by the present invention can make the hoisting system operate more smoothly, reduce sway during operation, and quickly eliminate sway when in place while observing the lumped disturbance using an extended state observer.

In a clamping device, the number of components for an article detection means is reduced. In a stacker, a tire is placed on the carry surface. The first gripping member and the second gripping member grip a side of tire placed on the carry surface and include an abutment surface having a bent portion and are capable of abutting with the side of tire. The first sensor and the second sensor include a light axis in a direction along the article. The controller moves the first gripping member and the second gripping member close to each other to the first position where the tire is not gripped. When the tire is detected with the first sensor and second sensor, the controller moves the first gripping member and the second gripping member close to each other to the second position where the tire is gripped.

A self-maintaining crane system including a bridge, a trolley, a hoist, and sensors for use within a hostile environment, such as a wastewater treatment facility, is presented. The bridge is movable along a pair of runway rails within the hostile environment. The trolley is movable between the runway rails. The hoist with extendable-retractable cable is movable with the trolley. Bridge sensors separately determine whether the bridge has engaged a bridge home position and a bridge end position. The bridge is movable away from the bridge home position and back toward the bridge end position. Trolley sensors separately determine whether the trolley has engaged a trolley home position and a trolley end position. The trolley is movable away from the trolley home position and back toward the trolley end position. Hoist sensors separately determine whether the cable has engaged a hoist home position and a hoist end position. The cable is extendable away from the hoist home position and retractable toward the hoist end position. Sensors facilitate automated movement of bridge, trolley, and cable so as to minimize functional impairment of the crane system by the hostile environment.

A self-maintaining crane system including a bridge, a trolley, a hoist, and sensors for use within a hostile environment, such as a wastewater treatment facility, is presented. The bridge is movable along a pair of runway rails within the hostile environment. The trolley is movable between the runway rails. The hoist with extendable-retractable cable is movable with the trolley. Bridge sensors separately determine whether the bridge has engaged a bridge home position and a bridge end position. The bridge is movable away from the bridge home position and back toward the bridge end position. Trolley sensors separately determine whether the trolley has engaged a trolley home position and a trolley end position. The trolley is movable away from the trolley home position and back toward the trolley end position. Hoist sensors separately determine whether the cable has engaged a hoist home position and a hoist end position. The cable is extendable away from the hoist home position and retractable toward the hoist end position. Sensors facilitate automated movement of bridge, trolley, and cable so as to minimize functional impairment of the crane system by the hostile environment.

The present disclosure provides an intelligent port control system and related systems and apparatuses, capable of achieving fully automated ship loading and unloading. The intelligent port control system includes: a scheduling center system configured to determine a ship loading plan based on ship information, container information, and shore crane apparatus information, and generate a ship berthing task, a ship loading task, and a container distribution task based on the ship loading plan, for transmitting to a ship control system of a target ship, a shore crane control system of a target shore crane apparatus, and a warehouse management system of a warehouse center, respectively.

The present disclosure provides an intelligent port control system and related systems and apparatuses, capable of achieving fully automated ship loading and unloading. The intelligent port control system includes: a scheduling center system configured to determine a ship loading plan based on ship information, container information, and shore crane apparatus information, and generate a ship berthing task, a ship loading task, and a container distribution task based on the ship loading plan, for transmitting to a ship control system of a target ship, a shore crane control system of a target shore crane apparatus, and a warehouse management system of a warehouse center, respectively.

A computer-controlled mobile crane is disclosed herein, comprising a column which is rotatable around its vertical axis, a hydraulically actuated primary arm, a hydraulically actuated secondary arm, an attachment point to which a gripping assembly is attached. The components are actuated by a hydraulic control unit controlled by a computer control unit and corresponding software that generates an internal coordinate system on the basis sensors mounted on the crane and an optical measuring unit. The crane is capable of automatically using the gripping assembly to transport a load from an initial point to and end point where the load should be deposited while avoiding one or more obstacles in the path of travel of the gripping assembly and the load.