Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Sarl

Brad Robert Van De Veer

Michael William Bridenbaugh

Christian D Ritchie

Jeffrey Kent Berry

Terril James Johnson

Corey Lee Gorman

Anthony S Cooksey

Andrew John Kieser

Keegan Wade Roach

Daniel Joseph Whiting

Ian A Tiggemann

Joseph Leo Faivre

Rustin Glenn Metzger

Eric Wade Cler

Tony Ross Metzger

Brent R Frazier

Mihai Lazaroiu

Bryan Everett Copeland

Micheal David Valerio

Anthony Dean McNealy

Nathaniel S Doy

Norval P Thomson

Steven Conrad Budde

Michael David Case

Jeffrey Stephen Alig

Matthew James Gielda

Justin Michael Malohn

Zhijun Cai

Aaron Robert Shatters

Jeffrey Alan Brush

Bradley P Krone

Yongliang Zhu

Amit Sharma

Kurt L Winckler

Jared Scott Anderson

Nathan Daniel French

Jeffrey J Baker

Thomas E Beccue

Craig Allan Lehocky

Bradley Boone

Aaron R Hayes

David Eugene Cooper

Satish Huliyar

David Allen Ober

Matthew Bunge

Andrew Sumners

David C Copley

Bradley K Bomer

Aaron L Dunaway

Matthew Stephen Marquette

Kristen Ann Gerstner

Christopher D Derham

Shastri Ram

Rafael R Dela Rosa

Gregory J Parsons

Michael Lynn Johnson

Kevin Lee Welty

Qi Xing

Michael A Weber

Matthew Daniel Fike

Erick Alan Njos

Robert L Powers

Sharon Tao

Sarah Elizabeth Schonert

Matt I Moul

Thuong Dao Anh Le

Renita Ryan Metcalf

Eric C Hughes

Darrell Richards

Daniel J Whiting, Jr

Shailesh Babu Ramineni

Michael D Valerio

Allison Tolkacz

Matthew Todd Shepherd

Ian Alistair Tiggemann

Anthony Steven Cooksey

Kurt Lynn Winckler

Label with graphic ornamentation or display screen or portion thereof with graphical user interface

A method for assisting an operator in operating a machine. The method includes receiving, by a controller, a selection of a task of a plurality of tasks, each task associated with a corresponding movement pattern of the machine; sensing, by a sensor unit, at least one condition of at least one component of the machine associated with the selected task; and determining, by the controller, whether the condition is within a predetermined set of parameters associated with the selected task. In response to determining that the condition is not within the predetermined set of parameters, the method further includes generating, by the controller, an audible or a haptic signal associated with at least one of the condition or the at least one component.

Method for assisting or training operators to operate machines

A device may determine, based on image data of an environment that includes a ground surface, depth information indicating distances from a vehicle to different areas of the ground surface. The device may generate, based on the depth information, an overlay to indicate a range of distances from the vehicle. The range of distances may be associated with an area. The device may provide, for display, a video feed including the image data with the overlay on the ground surface. The overlay may provide the perception of depth, with respect to the area, during an operation of the vehicle.

Visual overlays for providing perception of depth

A work machine, an implement control console, a plurality of unique implement control pods, and a method of installing an implement control pod onto a work machine are disclosed. The work machine comprises a power unit, a locomotive device, an implement arm, a work tool, and an implement control console for controlling one or more functions of the work machine's components. The implement control console comprises a universal mounting bracket and an implement control pod, where the plurality of unique implement control pods may be installed, one at a time, to the universal mounting bracket. Advantageously, the plurality of unique implement control pods share a number of components, while the design of each implement control pod allows for concurrent one-handed operation.

Implement control console for work machines

During operation of a machine, an understanding of terrain features is critical. Accordingly, disclosed embodiments augment a video stream, captured by a camera mounted on the machine, with terrain information. In particular, an overlay is generated on at least one image frame. The overlay, which may comprise one or more semi-transparent bands, may cyclically recede from a foreground to a background of the image frame(s), cyclically advance from a background to a foreground of the image frame(s), or cyclically move horizontally across the image frame(s). The overlay may be colorized to illustrate the height of the terrain underneath the overlay.

Dynamic visual overlay for enhanced terrain perception on remote control construction equipment

A controller may monitor a plurality of operations performed using one or more implements of the work machine. The controller may determine that the work machine is performing a particular operation based on monitoring the plurality of operations. The controller may obtain, based on information regarding the particular operation, camera view information, from a data structure, indicating that the particular operation is associated with a particular camera of a plurality of cameras of the work machine. Each camera, of the plurality of cameras, may capture a respective view of a plurality of views of the work machine. The controller may determine, based on the camera view information, that a bandwidth associated with a video stream, of a particular view of the work machine captured by the particular camera, is to be increased. The controller may increase the bandwidth associated with the video stream provided by the particular camera based on determining that the bandwidth is to be increased.

Adjusting camera bandwidth based on machine operation

A system for controlling the climate of a cab of an autonomously operable machine when operated unmanned, and related machine. The system includes at least one temperature sensor to generate a signal indicative of the temperature within the cab and a controller configured to receive the signal as well as determine if the machine is being operated unmanned. If the machine is being operated unmanned, the controller is further configured to generate machine control commands to turn on the cab cooling device or cab heating device and adjust a blower as needed to maintain the cab temperature above the minimum and/or below the maximum temperature thresholds.

System and method of climate control in unmanned machine

An enhanced visibility system for a work machine includes an image capture device, a sensor, one or more control circuits, and a display. The image capture device is configured to obtain image data of an area surrounding the work machine. The sensor is configured to obtain data regarding physical properties of the area surrounding the work machine. The control circuits are configured to receive the image data and the data regarding the physical properties, and augment the image data with the data regarding the physical properties to generate augmented image data. The display is configured to display the augmented image data to provide an enhanced view of the area surrounding the work machine.

Enhanced visibility system for work machines

An input device for performing control functions of a machine having a work tool may include a left-hand joystick mounted on a left armrest of an operator's seat, and a right-hand joystick mounted on a right armrest of an operator's seat. Each of the left-hand and right-hand joysticks may include a base portion configured to conform to and least partially cradle an operator's hand, a handle extending from the base portion with a proximal end of the handle being connected to the base portion, and a distal end of the handle supporting a head portion of the joystick. The head portion of the joystick may include a front surface including a configurable face plate. The configurable face plate may include one of a pair of upshift and downshift buttons or a roller configured to perform one of discrete or continuously variable shifting, respectively, of a transmission of the machine. The handle may include a thumb rest area at the distal end of the handle transitioning into the head portion of the joystick.

Machine joystick with ergonomic features

An excavator machine includes an undercarriage assembly including a drive assembly, and a carriage assembly rotatably coupled to the undercarriage assembly and including an operator cab positioned at a front of the carriage assembly. The excavator machine also includes a boom assembly. The boom assembly is coupled to the carriage assembly via two branches, and the branches are coupled to the carriage assembly on opposing sides of the operator cab.

Machine with a boom assembly

A method of providing object detection warning to an operator of a machine is provided. The machine includes object detection modules, a display unit and a controller communicably coupled to the object detection modules and the display unit. The method detects at least one object being located within a predefined distance range from the machine and determines a distance and position of the detected at least one object relative to the machine. The method further displays a threat warning widget on the display unit. The widget includes a plurality of threat level indicators, each of the threat level indicators being representative of a warning level as a function of distance and position of the object relative to the machine. Furthermore, the method activates at least one threat level indicator based on the determined distance and position of the detected at least one object relative to the machine.

Method and system for providing object detection warning

Motor grader

A track-type machine includes first and second ground-engaging track assemblies, each having a drive motor, and a propulsion system including an operator station with first and second joysticks, and a travel control system including input devices resident on the first and second joysticks. The input devices are adjustable to vary at least one of a speed or a direction of the drive motors in the track assemblies. Adjustment of the drive motor speed can be in proportion to an adjustment of the corresponding input device.

Track-type machine propulsion system having independent track controls integrated to joysticks

Growing community of inventors

Washington, IL, United States of America

Brad Robert Van De Veer