Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.

Eric John Schultz

Corwin Eugene Storer

John Lee Marsolek

Bradley John Will

Douglas James Carlton

Karl Arthur Kirsch

Philip Carl Wallstedt

A control system for preventing vehicle collisions may include a vehicle location determination module, a terrain determination module, a terrain surface coefficient of friction estimation module, and a sensing system configured to generate signals indicative of vehicle speed, vehicle pose, vehicle size, vehicle weight, vehicle tire type, vehicle load, vehicle gear ratio, weather characteristics, and road conditions for a vehicle operating at a job site. A manned vehicle trajectory determination module may receive location information and plot a first travel path for a manned vehicle based at least in part on a location, heading, and speed of the manned vehicle and a desired destination for the manned vehicle. An autonomous vehicle trajectory determination module may receive location information, terrain information, and terrain surface coefficient of friction information, plot a second travel path for an autonomous vehicle, and determine projected slide trajectories for the autonomous vehicle at successive positions along the second travel path where the autonomous vehicle is predicted to lose traction based at least in part on signals received from the sensing system.

System and method for avoiding contact between autonomous and manned vehicles caused by loss of traction

A method for indirectly detecting a movement of a machine and a failure of a speed sensor is disclosed. The method may include receiving an operator input signal, and determining a first factor based on the operator input signal. The method may also include measuring a machine operation parameter, and determining a second factor based on the machine operation parameter. The method may further include identifying a movement of the machine if the first factor is out of a first threshold range and the second factor is out of a second threshold range for at least a first threshold length of time. The method may also include determining a speed sensor failure if the movement of the machine is identified and no speed is detected by the speed sensor for at least a second threshold length of time.

System and method for detecting machine movement and speed sensor failure

A hydrostatically driven vehicle has an engine operating a variable displacement propel pump, a displacement of which can vary based on an angle of a rotating swashplate, such that a fluid flow impelled by the pump transfers power to at least one propel motor rotating a wheel of the vehicle. An electronic controller of the vehicle senses an operating parameter of the system, for example, the angle of the rotating swashplate or the direction and speed of rotation of the propel motor with a sensor to yield an actual signal, and relays the actual signal to an electronic controller. The controller determines a desired angle for the rotating swashplate based on the control signal, and compares it to the actual signal from the sensor. Motion of the vehicle is stalled when the angle signal differs from the desired angle by a predetermined extent and for a predetermined period.

Hydrostatically driven vehicle and method therefor

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Washington, IL, United States of America

Eric John Schultz