Caterpillar Inc.

Dustin J Funk

Kendall R Harrell

Andrew C Heebink

Jeremy G Valeck

Ryan David Funk

Joseph R Manley

Nathaniel P O'Brien

Mike C Gentle

Pramod Chembrammel

A system and method are described for moving a material volume to a specified destination, by a system including sensor data sources, a trip sequence planning system, and a controllable material mover. Sensor data sources provide, in real-time, terrain sensor data pertaining to the material volume to be moved to the specified destination. The system generates, based on the terrain sensor data, a three-dimensional mapping of the material volume. The system updates, based on the three-dimensional mapping, a current tile pattern of the material volume. The system determines, by performing a trip sequence optimization routine based upon the updated tile pattern, at least a next block of material to be moved from the material volume, wherein the trip sequence optimization routine is performed in accordance with a k-partite map generated from the current tile pattern, and the k-partite map incorporates path limitations arising from physical accessibility of tiles of material.

Material movement incorporating real-time tracking of a machine according to an optimized sequencing plan

An automatic interlock system for a motor grader is disclosed. The automatic interlock system may include one or more processors. The one or more processors may be configured to determine an operating mode for the motor grader based on one or more operating parameters of the motor grader. The one or more processors may be configured to determine an interlock configuration for the motor grader based on the operating mode. The one or more processors may be configured to selectively activate or deactivate one or more interlocks of the motor grader based on the interlock configuration.

Controlling interlocks based on an interlock configuration

A method of monitoring oil level in a transmission system of a machine is disclosed. The method includes monitoring an oil pressure and calculating an average value of the oil pressure over a first predetermined time duration. The method further includes calculating a variance of the oil pressure from the average value and recording a deviation if the variance is beyond a threshold variance. The method further includes detecting a low oil level condition if a count of deviations is above a threshold count within a second predetermined time duration.

System and method of monitoring oil level in transmission system of machine

Growing community of inventors

Dunlap, IL, United States of America

Dustin J Funk