Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.

Gautham Subramanian

Jacob John McAlpine

John Lee Marsolek

Chad Timothy Brickner

Mark William Whiting

Aaron Robert Shatters

Michael Anthony Spielman, Jr

Bradley K Bomer

Shane C McBride

Shabir Ahmed Umar Ali

Vishnu Gaurav Selvaraj

Vijayakumar Ramasamy

Keerthivasan Amuthanathan

Chandra Mouli Ravindran

Siddharth Kamal

Harshavardhan Veluru

Allen J Declerk

Sucheta Chitgopekar

Donald M Weinhold

Systems and methods are disclosed for optimal utilization of machines for performing tasks across a predetermined area. A request may be received to initiate a job on a predetermined area, the job comprising a plurality of tasks associated with a plurality of machines. In response to the request, a first machine of the plurality of machines may be deployed to the predetermined area to execute a first task of the plurality of tasks autonomously. A deployment event may be determined based on characteristics of the first machine and a second machine, and based on characteristics of the predetermined area. The second machine to the predetermined area, upon detection of the deployment event, to execute a second task of the plurality of tasks autonomously.

Methods and systems for effective utilization of autonomous machines

Display screen having a graphical user interface

A worksite management system may include a worksite controller including one or more worksite controller processors configured to receive a signal indicative of a task to be performed by a machine at a worksite, identify a machine for performing the task, and generate a signal indicative of the machine. The worksite management system may also include a mobile device including one or more mobile device processors configured to receive the signal indicative of the machine, display an image representative of the machine, and display a prompt for a person at the worksite to validate availability of the machine to perform the task.

System and method for validating availability of machine at worksite

A system and method for electronically assessing operator performance when operating a working machine adapted to handle or process ground material. The system and method can identify compliance with operating instructions for operating the working machine and/or can uniquely characterize functions of the working machine based on external factors.

Systems and methods for electronically assessing operator performance when operating a machine based on machine-related data associated with the machine

A method includes receiving a worksite plan to be executed by at least one machine at a worksite from a computing device of a supervising entity, the controller being located at a non-line-of-sight (NLOS) location with respect to the worksite. The worksite plan may include a boundary of the worksite at which the worksite plan is implemented, at least one task defining the worksite plan, and a selection of at least one machine to perform the task. The method may include receiving a validation signal from a device located at the worksite, the validation indicating that the worksite is ready for implementation of the worksite plan based on at least one parameter of worksite readiness. The method may include selecting a first mode of operation of the machine to perform the task and transmitting first instructions to the machine to perform the task based on the first mode of operation.

Worksite plan execution

A method includes receiving target data for a paving project corresponding to a work period. The method also includes receiving sensor data from one or more components associated with the paving project, determining a progress value representing progress of the one or more components of the paving project, and determining a threshold progress value for a time period, the time period having a duration that is less than a duration of a work period. The method further includes determining that the progress value is less than the threshold progress value, generating at least one of an alarm or a recommendation, and sending the alarm or the recommendation to an electronic device.

System and method for worksite project tracking

A work machine including a sensing device, a user interface, and a control unit is disclosed. The control unit may be configured to generate a productivity layer based on productivity data, and generate an image layer based on image data. The image data may include information relating to an image corresponding to a state of an operation associated with a worksite and a geospatial reference associated with the image. The control unit may be configured to generate a composite image of the worksite based on a map layer, the image layer, and the productivity layer, and cause the composite image to be displayed via the user interface. The composite image may position the image layer relative to the map layer based on the geospatial reference and geographical coordinates corresponding to the geospatial reference, and position the productivity layer relative to the image layer.

Image-based productivity tracking system

A paving machine including a frame, a hopper assembly, and a control unit is disclosed. The control unit may be configured to determine a location of the paving machine, determine a heading and a travel speed of the paving machine, and generate a non-circular geofence corresponding to the paving machine. The non-circular geofence may have an anchor point that is disposed at the location of the paving machine, and may be positioned and oriented based on the heading and the travel speed of the paving machine. The control unit may be configured to determine a location of a supply machine relative to the paving machine, and determine a state of the supply machine based on a comparison between the location of the supply machine and the non-circular geofence. The control unit may be configured to cause an action to be performed based on the state of the supply machine.

Positioning system for paving machines

An onsite computer system can be located at a material production facility and used to generate tickets associated with the transfer of bulk materials such as asphalt or concrete. A remote computer system can communicate with the onsite computer system and can be used to generate ticket templates and configuration files that may be uploaded to the onsite computer system. In addition, the remote computer system can access the onsite computer system to edit system software or perform other corrective actions in the event there are any errors with the onsite computer system.

System and method for remote configuration of asphalt plant

A system for validating a worksite includes determining extents of a worksite at which a job is to be performed. A graphical representation of the worksite may be presented to a user via a graphical user interface on a user device. The graphical user interface may also include an indication of a current location of the user or the user device. Sensor data, including data indicating a position of the user or the user device, can be used to determine whether the worksite is valid. The worksite plan may include information about additional conditions for validating the worksite and additional sensor data can be used to further validate the worksite. Further aspects may include controlling machines at the worksite when the worksite is validated.

System for validating worksites

A method may include receiving, with a controller, at least one signal from a communication device associated with a hauling machine. The signal may include position information indicating a position of the hauling machine along a travel path the hauling machine is assigned to traverse extending between a material transfer site to a dump site, a payload capacity of the hauling machine, and an estimated volume of a material loaded into the hauling machine based on the payload capacity of the hauling machine. The method may also include defining, with the controller, a degree of completion of a material transport based on the position information.

Systems and methods for material transport

A system, method, and device for electronically providing paving information for paving quality and control actions comprises receiving paving information at a first computer or processor, which can host an application to perform some or all of the paving quality and control actions. The paving information can include one or more electronic work tickets associated with respective paving material dump spots. The paving information can be displayed on a display if an electronic device associated with the first computer or processor. The first computer or processor can also receive paving quality and control information responsive to one or more inputs to the electronic device. The paving quality and control information can be output to another electronic device for consideration.

System, method, and device for electronically providing paving information

A work machine control device including a memory and a processor is disclosed. The processor may be configured to receive work order data associated with a haul machine. The work order data may identify the haul machine, a material requested for the haul machine, an amount of the material requested for the haul machine, and/or a work machine associated with the material. The processor may be configured to set an operating parameter of the work machine to perform an operation according to the work order data, and receive payload data associated with a payload of the work machine. The payload data may relate to a weight of the payload, a volume of the payload, and/or an operating state of the work machine. The processor may be configured to determine productivity data associated with the operation, and cause an action to be performed in connection with the productivity data.

Work order integration system

A control system for a machine operating on a worksite includes a telemetry module associated with the machine. The telemetry module generates signals indicative of operational data of the machine. A controller communicably coupled to the telemetry module receives the signals indicative of the operational data from the telemetry module. The controller processes the received signals to create a data model. The controller identifies multiple operational zones over the worksite based at least on an analysis of the created data model. The controller determines occurrence of work cycles of the machine over the worksite based at least on the identified operational zones. The controller determines productivity data of the worksite based at least on the identified work cycles. The controller controls the machine based on the determined productivity data.

Automatically determining construction worksite operational zones based on received construction equipment telemetry data

Systems and methods for estimating a dump location of material dumped by a transport vehicle are disclosed. A system may receive information that identifies a location of a paving machine, and may receive multiple data points associated with the transport vehicle. Each data point may indicate a respective location of the transport vehicle and a corresponding time at which the transport vehicle was at the respective location. The system may identify a subset of the multiple data points that indicate respective locations of the transport vehicle within a threshold proximity of the location of the paving machine. The system may estimate the dump location of the material dumped by the transport vehicle based on at least one of a set of locations indicated by the subset of data points or a set of times indicated by the subset of data points, and may output information that identifies the dump location.

Growing community of inventors

Peoria, IL, United States of America

Gautham Subramanian