Caterpillar Inc.

Anthony Keith Nathan Nelson

Suneel Venkata Kandula

Shane A May

Sai Praveen Gundlapalli

Ashish Abraham Varghese

Martin Victor Pilgrim

A retrofittable remote control system is provided for enabling remote controlling of an on-board component of machine that is inherently incapable of being remote controlled. An interface control module is retrofitted on machine and is configured to communicate with off-board remote control over wireless communication channel. The interface control module detects presence of an on-board control module that communicates with the on-board component over a digital communication channel. The interface control module is configured to then establish either a digital communication link with the on-board control module or a direct Input/Output (I/O) communication link with the on-board component of the machine based on the detection. The interface control module is configured to send a control signal over either the direct I/O communication link or the digital communication channel via the detected on-board control module, for controlling the on-board component.

Retrofit remote control system for a machine

A Machine Automation System (MAS) for a machine with an implement includes a plurality of Vehicle Electronic Control Modules (ECMs), a local transceiver, an Ethernet Local Area Network (LAN), a first Controller Area Network (CAN), an Autonomy Electronic Control Module (AECM), an environment monitoring system, and a Remote Shutdown Module (RSM). The AECM is configured to generate output control signals, and to transmit the output control signals to at least one ECM of the plurality of Vehicle ECMs, wherein the output control signals control an operation of the machine. The RSM is disposed on the machine and configured to receive a safety control signal from off-board the machine. The MAS is configured to operate advanced machine control features concurrently with execution of the input control signals received from off-board the machine.

Machine automation system with autonomy electronic control module

A MAS for a machine that includes an implement, and a related method of controlling such machine is provided. The MAS may comprise a plurality of Vehicle ECMs, a local transceiver, an Ethernet LAN, a first CAN, an AECM, an environment monitoring system and an RSM. The AECM is configured to generate output control signals based, at least in part, on input from the environment monitoring system, and to transmit the output control signals to at least one of the Vehicle ECMs, wherein the output control signals control an operation of the machine. The MAS is configured to execute semi-autonomous functions of the machine based on input from the environment monitoring system.

Command for underground

A control system and related method for controlling the machine in a mine. The control system may comprise a LADAR, an interface device, a processor and an AECM. The LADAR may be configured to capture scan data of physical mine walls. The interface device may be configured to display a mine map illustrating a section of the mine. The processor may be configured to add a virtual wall to the mine map in response to a first user input. The processor may be configured to add a temporary wall to the mine map in response to a second user input. The temporary wall may be based on scan data of a physical mine wall captured by the LADAR. The AECM is configured to control an operation of the machine, based on the mine map, to avoid collision of the machine with the virtual wall or the temporary wall.

Growing community of inventors

Tasmania, Australia

Anthony Keith Nathan Nelson