Caterpillar Inc.

Shin Caterpillar Mitsubishi Ltd.

Eric Alan Reiners

Daniel Peter Sergison

Zhijun Cai

Qi Chen

Daniel J Martinez

Kenneth Lee Stratton

Jean-Jacques Clar

Benjamin J Hodel

Andrew O Fonkalsrud

Benjamin L Naasz

Paul Russell Friend

Corey Lee Gorman

Rustin Glenn Metzger

Dong Fei

Michael D Braunstein

Hans P Dietz

Richard George Ingram

Thomas G Skinner

Steven T Ufheil

Michael Angel Cobo

Paul Edmund Rybski

Andrew N McGilvray

Bradford Kough

Doyle G Heyveld

Mahmoud A Taher

Satish Yadav

Matthew F Vande Wiele

An inference system for monitoring a cementitious mixture for three-dimensional printing is provided. The inference system includes an ambient condition sensor, a temperature sensor, a moisture sensor and an image capturing device. The inference system also includes a controller coupled to the ambient condition sensor, the temperature sensor, the moisture sensor, and the image capturing device. The controller receives sensed ambient conditions, a temperature signal, and a moisture content signal. The controller receives an image feed of a portion of a cementitious mixture. The controller also receives signals indicative of a motor speed and a motor torque associated with a mixing container. The controller builds a model and determines a material suitability of the cementitious mixture using the model based on the received ambient conditions, the temperature signal, the moisture content signal, the image feed, the motor speed, and the motor torque and determines one or more corrective actions.

Monitoring system for three-dimensional printing

A construction system includes an excavator having a hydraulically controlled linkage and a hydraulic robot. The hydraulic robot includes a plurality of arms extending from a base, each arm having a hydraulic motor. The hydraulic robot further includes a robot control system directing movement of the plurality of arms and an end effector platform movable by rotation of the arms.

Hydraulic delta robot control system

A 3D construction system for creating an object includes, among other components, an online 3D blueprint model for the object and a 3D print head. An online control plan for controlling operation of the 3D print head to create the object according to the online 3D blueprint model is also provided. At least one 3D perception sensor scans a constructed portion of the object to generate sensor readings. A processing device, which is part of a computer system, creates an online 3D replica model of the constructed portion of the object using the sensor readings, and compares the online 3D replica model to the online 3D blueprint model or an ideal printed 3D model to identify a difference. The online control plan is modified responsive to the difference.

Three-dimensional construction systems and methods for creating an object

A system related to synthetic colorization of real-time immersive environments is disclosed. The system discloses converting real-time camera data on-board a machine into signatures which describe the real-time camera data. The signatures are based on image properties, such as color, intensity, and illumination. The signatures, which require much less bandwidth than the real-time camera data to transmit, are transmitted to a remote operator station. The remote operator station utilizes the signatures to synthetically color and texture the environment surrounding the machine to provide an immersive environment to a user at the remote operator station.

Synthetic colorization of real-time immersive environments

A positioning system and method for determining a position of a machine on a worksite are disclosed. The method may store a map of the worksite which includes one or more known objects in the worksite. The method may determine whether a locating device associated with the machine is accurately providing the position of the machine. The method may also include detecting one or more objects in the worksite. The method may further determine an unmatched object from among the detected objects that does not match the one or more known objects stored in the map. The method may also store the unmatched object in the map as a known object of the worksite.

Positioning system utilizing enhanced perception-based localization

Systems and methods for assisted positioning of a haul machine at a destination position for receiving materials from a loading machine are provided. The method includes obtaining from at least one perception device information reflecting a location or orientation of a first fiducial attached to the loading machine; determining a location or position of the first fiducial based on the information provided by the at least one perception device; determining the destination position based on the location or position of the first fiducial; and issuing guidance to an operator of the haul machine indicating an adjustment in steering angle based on the determined destination position.

Perception based loading

A management system for use at a worksite is disclosed. The management system may have at least one object detection sensor configured to generate a first signal indicative of a feature of a roadway traversed by the mobile machine, a positioning device configured to generate a second signal indicative of a position of the mobile machine, and at least one performance sensor configured to generate a third signal indicative of a performance parameter of the mobile machine as the mobile machine traverses the feature. The management system may also have a controller configured to determine a surface condition of the roadway based on the first signal, index the surface condition to a particular location on the roadway based on the second signal, and generate a map of the roadway providing a representation of the surface condition and the performance parameter.

Management system incorporating performance and detection data

In one particular embodiment, an internal combustion engine is provided. The engine comprises a block, a head, a piston, a combustion chamber defined by the block, the piston, and the head, and at least one thermoelectric device positioned between the combustion chamber and the head. In this particular embodiment, the thermoelectric device is in direct contact with the combustion chamber. In another particular embodiment, a cylinder head configured to sit atop a cylinder bank of an internal combustion engine is provided. The cylinder head comprises a cooling channel configured to receive cooling fluid, valve seats configured for receiving intake and exhaust valves, and thermoelectric devices positioned around the valve seats.

Thermoelectric system

A hydraulic system, particularly suitable for use in a work machine, is provided with a hydraulic pressure source. A first hydraulic load is associated with a first load function. A second hydraulic load is associated with a second load function. An independent metering valve assembly includes a plurality of independently and electronically controllable valves. The independent metering valve assembly includes an inlet fluidly coupled with the pressure source, a first outlet fluidly coupled with the first hydraulic load, and a second outlet fluidly coupled with the second hydraulic load. The hydraulic system is configured such that the independent metering valve assembly may operate and drive multiple hydraulic load functions.

Independent metering valve assembly for multiple hydraulic load functions

The present invention is adapted to provide a method for determining the torque of a driveshaft. In the preferred embodiment a drivetrain includes a front and a rear drivetrain. The drivetrain is also connected to an engine, torque converter, front and rear axle and a transmission. In one embodiment, the ability to determine the transmission output torque for an earth moving machine includes determining an output torque of the converter and a gear reduction of the engine, and then responsively determining the front and rear driveshaft torque in response to the converter output torque and the engine gear reduction. The driveshaft torque calculations may be performed while the earth moving machine is operating. The resulting front and rear driveshaft torque calculations may be used to determine an axle damage index, or axle life calculations.

Method for determining the transmission output torque for an earth moving machine

An apparatus for controlling the torque associated with a power train of a machine having a work implement is disclosed. A plurality of position sensors sense the position associated with the work implement and responsively produce respective position signals. A controller modifies the desired engine speed in response to the angular position of the work implement and regulates the speed of the engine at the modified desired engine speed to control the power train torque.

Apparatus and method for controlling the efficiency of the work cycle associated with an earthworking machine

A method for determining the front and rear axle weights of an earth moving machine. The method includes determining the weight of a portion of the earth moving machine, and the forces acting on the lift cylinder pin, lift arm pin, and the tilt cylinder pin. The axle weights are determined in response to the above mentioned weights and forces.

Method for determining the front and rear axle weight of an earth moving

In one aspect of the present invention, a method for determining the work cycle of an earth moving machine is disclosed. The machine has a transmission, a work implement, and a lift cylinder and a tilt cylinder connected to the work implement. The method includes the steps of determining a lift cylinder head end pressure, a displacement of the lift cylinder, a displacement of the tilt cylinder, and a direction of travel of the machine. The method further includes determining the work cycle of the machine in response to the displacement of the tilt and lift cylinders, and the lift cylinder head end pressure.

Method and apparatus for calculating work cycle times

A positive flow control system is provided that uses open-centered control valves in a series connection to provide priority between different fluid circuits and to provide requested flow regardless of the load pressure while minimizing unused or wasted flow. This is accomplished by providing a restriction in the last open-centered control valve to controllably restrict the flow therethrough when the valve is in its neutral position and having the source of pressurized fluid at a minimum displacement position that substantially matches the rate of flow across the restriction. A controller controls the displacement of the source of pressurized fluid and the displacement of the respective open-centered control valves in proportional to the respective input commands. Initial movement of the last open-centered control valve closes off the restricted flow thereacross to the reservoir prior to the source of pressurized fluid being communicated to the associated actuator. The subject system provides priority control and an effective control of wasted fluid while providing the needed flow rate regardless of the load without needing a special control arrangement for priority or separate bypass valve to control wasted flow.

Growing community of inventors

Washington, IL, United States of America

Eric Alan Reiners