Caterpillar Inc.

Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

Amit Sharma

Brad Robert Van De Veer

Steven Conrad Budde

Brad Van De Veer

Eric Hughes

Matt I Moul

Jeremy J Diaz

Raghavendra Boloor

Curtis E Wendler

Stewart Hampton Fowler, Jr

Keith E Holtzman

Curtis Maas

Stewart H Fowler

Eric C Hughes

Stewart Fowler

A controller may identify a command to move an implement in a particular direction and an amount of time for the implement to move in the particular direction. The controller may determine an estimated velocity of the implement moving in the particular direction. The controller may determine a predicted travel distance of the implement in the particular direction. The controller may cause, based on a stop position associated with the particular direction and the predicted travel distance of the implement in the particular direction, the implement to move from a current position to a reset position. The controller may cause the command to be executed to cause the implement to move, in the particular direction and for the amount of time, from the reset position to another position without hitting the stop position associated with the particular direction.

Implement travel prediction for a work machine

A control may obtain first data related to a plurality of positions of an implement of a work machine during a first time period and may determine, based on the first data, a first noise value related to at least one velocity of the implement for the first time period. The control device may obtain second data related to a plurality of positions of the implement during a second time period and may determine, based on the second data, a second noise value related to at least one velocity of the implement for the second time period. The control device may determine, based on the first noise value and the second noise value, a start of motion of the implement. The control device may cause, based on determining the start of motion of the implement, the implement to be calibrated.

Determining a noise based start of motion of an implement of a work machine

A secondary control device may obtain main control information regarding an implement. The secondary control device may obtain monitoring information regarding the implement. The secondary control device may determine, using a first reduced functionality processing technique, secondary control information regarding the implement based on the monitoring information. The secondary control device may determine, using a second functionality processing technique, based on the main control information, the monitoring information, or the secondary control information, that a critical error associated with the implement has occurred. The secondary control device may determine a circumstance associated with the critical error. The secondary control device may select, based on determining the circumstance, a control technique and may control the implement using the control technique.

Efficient secondary control device for a work machine

A control device may obtain data related to at least one position of an implement of a work machine that has moved to a set position. The control device may identify one or more first noise amplitudes associated with the data and may determine, based on the one or more first noise amplitudes, a noise band related to the implement vibrating at the set position. The control device may identify one or more second noise amplitudes associated with the data and may determine, based on the noise band and the one or more second noise amplitudes, that the implement has settled at the set position. The control device may allow, based on determining that the implement has settled at the set position, the implement to move to another position.

Noise based settling detection for an implement of a work machine

A motor grader is disclosed. The motor grader may include an articulated implement. The motor grader may include an articulation control device. The articulation control device may be configured to determine that articulation motion of the articulated implement is occurring, for a threshold amount of time, in a second direction that is different from a first direction indicated by an articulation control command. The articulation control device may be configured to perform a response action based on determining that articulation motion of the articulated implement is occurring, for the threshold amount of time, in the second direction that is different from the first direction indicated by the articulation control command.

Detection of unintended directional movement of an articulated implement of a machine

An controller uses one of several transfer curves to map steering angle of an articulated machine to articulation angle. Because an articulated machine may have a range of steering angles that is much greater than the range of articulation angles, the controller uses one of several techniques to map the full range of steering angles to the full range of articulation angles. One technique involves multiple non-zero slope regions, another technique uses a less than one-to-one linear transfer function of steering angle to articulation angle.

Articulation covering complete range of steering angles in automatic articulation feature

Activation of an automatic articulation control function in an articulated machine is delayed until error conditions are cleared or a steering angle to alignment angle mismatch is corrected. A controller monitors a selector setting indicating a desire to activate the automatic articulation control function. The controller also evaluates whether conditions such as low ground speed, loss of signal from needed sensors, or articulation misalignment are present. If so, the conditions are monitored and when corrected, the automatic articulation control function is activated. An indicator may be set to inform an operator that the automatic articulation control function is pending activation.

Automatic articulation failure mode protection

When engaged, an articulation controller automatically adjusts an angle of articulation between a front frame and a rear frame of a motor grader based on a steering angle of the front wheels. If a groundspeed of the motor grader exceeds a threshold groundspeed, the articulation controller enters a mode that only allows decreasing the angle of articulation of the motor grader. When the angle of articulation reaches zero, the articulation controller disengages until the groundspeed is reduced below the threshold groundspeed.

Automatic articulation behavior during error and high speed conditions

An articulation control system for a machine may include an actual steering sensor configured to provide a signal indicative of an actual steering angle, a timer configured to provide a signal indicative of an elapsed predetermined period of time, and a controller in communication with the actual steering sensor and the timer. The controller may be configured to regulate automatic articulation to zero based on signals received from the actual steering sensor and the timer.

Dynamic deadband for automatic articulation

An example method may include determining a first planned stimulation location within the formation. The first planned stimulation location may be based, at least in part, on a pre-determined model of a formation. A borehole in the formation may be drilled with a downhole tool. The first planned stimulation location may be adjusted based, at least in part, on data received at the downhole tool. Additionally, the downhole tool may stimulate the formation at the adjusted first planned stimulation location. A second stimulation location also may be determined based on data received at the downhole tool after stimulation of the formation at the adjusted first planned stimulation location.

Systems and methods for optimized well creation in a shale formation

A controller monitors groundspeed in an articulated machine and selectively disables an automatic articulation control function when the groundspeed is at or near zero. If there is an indication that an operator may not be aware that the automatic articulation control function is active by comparing when a on switch was activated compared to a machine power cycle or an operator not being present, the automatic articulation control function may be inactivated until the on switch is toggled. If the articulated machine is in neutral and the groundspeed is at or near zero, the automatic articulation control function may disabled. If the groundspeed is at or near zero but the transmission is not in neutral, the machine may simply be stalled to due working conditions and the automatic articulation control function may be maintained.

Automatic articulation machine states

An apparatus and method are provided for operating a motor grader having steerable front wheels and a front and rear frame pivotally connected at an articulation joint. The method includes selecting an automatic articulation mode, and commanding front wheel steering to turn the motor grader, providing a plurality of front wheel steering corrections to an electronic controller, filtering the plurality of front wheel steering corrections using a method for filtering steering corrections based on the constant curve mode, wherein the method generates filtered front wheel steering corrections, and automatically commanding articulation of the front frame relative to the rear frame about the articulation joint in response to the filtered front wheel steering corrections.

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Peoria, IL, United States of America

Amit Sharma