Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies LLC

Caterpillar Inc.

Bruce John Wiewel

Francisco Roberto Green

Tony Ross Metzger

Robert L Powers

Richard Ryan Evenson

Yongliang Zhu

Phillip Alan Newberry

Vivek Bhaskar

Cody Joshua Ryerson

Richard R Evenson

An earthmoving system includes a blade, a controller, and a blade control system configured to control the positioning of the blade. While grading, the earthmoving system is configured to simultaneously position the blade according to each of a fixed slope grading mode, a design driven control grading mode, and an fixed load grading mode.

Grading mode integration

Systems and methods for implementing a machine control system within a construction machine. The machine control system may include a chassis orientation sensor configured to be mounted to a chassis of the construction machine for detecting a chassis pitch angle. The machine control system may also include an implement orientation sensor configured to be mounted to an implement of the construction machine for detecting an implement pitch angle. The machine control system may further include one or more processors configured to perform operations including receiving, from the chassis orientation sensor, the chassis pitch angle, receiving, from the implement orientation sensor, the implement pitch angle, determining a target pitch angle of the implement based on the chassis pitch angle and the implement pitch angle, and causing movement of one or more implement arms so as to set a pitch angle of the implement to the target pitch angle.

Slope assist chassis compensation

A method of controlling a blade of an earthmoving system is disclosed. The method includes enabling independent blade control so that the blade is controllable independent of the terrain contour design while a cutting edge of the blade is beneath the terrain contour design, and receiving first sensor signals from one or more first sensors of the earthmoving system, where the sensor signals indicate that the cutting edge of the blade is within a threshold distance from the terrain contour design. In response to receiving the first sensor signals, the method automatically controls the cutting edge of the blade to the terrain contour design, where the movement of the blade is dependent on the terrain contour design.

Blade control below design

Terrain-based machines are provided comprising a translational chassis movement indicator, a terrain-based implement, an implement inclinometer, and an implement state estimator. The translational chassis movement indicator provides a measurement indicative of movement of the machine chassis in one or more translational degrees of freedom. The implement inclinometer comprises (i) an implement accelerometer, which provides a measurement indicative of acceleration of the terrain-based implement in one or more translational or rotational degrees of freedom and (ii) an implement angular rate sensor, which provides a measurement of a rate at which the terrain-based implement is rotating in one or more degrees of rotational freedom. The implement state estimator generates an implement state estimate that is based at least partially on (i) implement position signals from an implement angular rate sensor and an implement accelerometer, and (ii) signals from the translational chassis movement indicator and the implement inclinometer.

Terrain-based machine comprising implement state estimator

Earthmoving machines are provided comprising a translational chassis movement indicator, an earthmoving implement inclinometer, and an implement state estimator. The translational chassis movement indicator provides a measurement indicative of movement of the machine chassis in one or more translational degrees of freedom. The implement inclinometer comprises (i) an implement accelerometer, which provides a measurement indicative of acceleration of the earthmoving implement in one or more translational or rotational degrees of freedom and (ii) an implement angular rate sensor, which provides a measurement of a rate at which the earthmoving implement is rotating in one or more degrees of rotational freedom. The implement state estimator generates an implement state estimate that is based at least partially on (i) implement position signals from an implement angular rate sensor and an implement accelerometer, (ii) signals from the translational chassis movement indicator and the implement inclinometer, and (iii) one or more weighting factors representative of noise in the signals from the translational chassis movement indicator and the implement inclinometer.

Earthmoving machine comprising weighted state estimator

An articulated machine and method of operation, the articulated machine having a first frame with a first traction device and a steering apparatus that controls a steering angle thereof, the first frame pivotally coupled to a second frame at an articulation joint, the second frame having a second traction device, a steering sensor configured to provide a steering signal indicative of the steering angle, and an electronic controller configured to automatically control an articulation angle based on the steering signal.

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East Peoria, IL, United States of America

Bruce John Wiewel