CRANIUM: Device for Improving Crane Productivity and Safety

Abstract

Cranes are the most important pieces of equipment on many construction sites. While technological advances have been made in crane hardware, the communication system used to coordinate the crane operator's actions with other craftsmen has not changed in decades. Crane operators frequently cannot see the loads they are moving, so they rely on hand signals relayed among craftsmen. This paper introduces the CRANIUM, a video system designed to improve productivity and safety of crane operations by improving communications. A video camera mounted on the crane boom transmits an image to a television monitor in the crane cab. The operator has a real‐time picture of the loads and craftsmen which might otherwise be out of direct line of sight. A full‐scale fully‐operational prototype CRANIUM was designed, fabricated, and extensively tested in the field. Experimental results show that for moderate and high precision lifts, productivity can be increased 16–21%. Crane safety is also improved.