Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Underground Mining Pty. Ltd.

Jeffrey Kent Berry

Brad Robert Van De Veer

Brian Mintah

John James Krone

Aaron Robert Shatters

Michael William Bridenbaugh

Jeffrey J Baker

Austin J Scott

Craig Allan Lehocky

Robert J Price

William Norbert O'Neill

Everett Gene Brandt

Benjamin J Hodel

Michael Anthony Spielman, Jr

Eric Wade Cler

Matthew Michael Tinker

Riley A Albers

Kevin Dwight King

Barry Mei

Matthew Stephen Marquette

Rudy Van Mills

Vijayakumar Janardhan

Jason P Wigg

Wayne E Harshberger, Ii

Bassam J Alshaer

David R Evans

James T Ferrier

John R Picolet

Shoji Tozawa

Edward William Mate

Jason Brinkman

Richard George Ingram

Sameer S Marathe

Paul Edmund Rybski

Mark A Robinson

Qi Wang

Sairam Gopalan Velamakanni

Joseph E Forcash

Jeffrey Dale Baskett

Timothy A Evans

Ken L Stratton

Randall Dean Pruitt

Brian Ulrich

Amanda C Doolittle

Shaun Randall Melchiori

Thuong Dao Anh Le

Beau James Berning

Scott Allen Pozzie

Travis Charles Parker

Michael Anthony Spielman

Qi Li

Jared James Harris

Dinny Jacob

Bryan K Schache

Subrat S Kamat

Fuaad Ahmed Sayeed

In a mobile equipment with an articulated front portion having a worktool, a fisheye camera with a wide field of view, containing the front portion, is often mounted in a fixed direction on a rear portion of the mobile equipment. Thus, when the front portion moves (e.g., rotates) relative to the rear portion, a view around the front portion may be compromised due to inherent cropping in fisheye-distortion correction. Digital panning of panoramic video is disclosed that rotates a projection surface, in accordance with movement of the front portion, and generates a projected video on the projection surface, utilizing information that may have otherwise been cropped, to expand the visible area around the worktool. The digital panning in the projected video may mimic an operator turning their head to look down the longitudinal axis of the front portion while using the worktool.

Digital panning of panoramic video to follow machine worktool movement

A device may determine, based on image data of an environment that includes a ground surface, depth information indicating distances from a vehicle to different areas of the ground surface. The device may generate, based on the depth information, an overlay to indicate a range of distances from the vehicle. The range of distances may be associated with an area. The device may provide, for display, a video feed including the image data with the overlay on the ground surface. The overlay may provide the perception of depth, with respect to the area, during an operation of the vehicle.

Visual overlays for providing perception of depth

During operation of a machine, an understanding of terrain features is critical. Accordingly, disclosed embodiments augment a video stream, captured by a camera mounted on the machine, with terrain information. In particular, an overlay is generated on at least one image frame. The overlay, which may comprise one or more semi-transparent bands, may cyclically recede from a foreground to a background of the image frame(s), cyclically advance from a background to a foreground of the image frame(s), or cyclically move horizontally across the image frame(s). The overlay may be colorized to illustrate the height of the terrain underneath the overlay.

Dynamic visual overlay for enhanced terrain perception on remote control construction equipment

A hydraulic system for controlling an implement on a work machine may include a hydraulic reservoir, a hydraulic pump in fluid communication with the reservoir, a central valve in fluid communication with the pump and configured for controlling the implement, a load sense pressure relief system, and a controller. The controller may be configured for controlling the central valve and the load sense pressure relief system and selecting between operating the hydraulic system at a first pressure and a second pressure based on a factor relating to implement position.

Variable system pressure based on implement position

A hydraulic system for controlling an implement on a work machine may include a hydraulic reservoir, a hydraulic pump in fluid communication with the reservoir, a central valve in fluid communication with the pump and configured for controlling the implement, a pressure relief system arranged in fluid communication with the hydraulic pump and the central valve, and a controller. The controller may be configured for controlling the hydraulic pump, the central valve and the pressure relief system and selecting between operating the hydraulic system at a first pressure and a second pressure based on a factor relating to implement position.

A method includes obtaining first fluidic pressure information indicative of fluidic pressure in a hydraulic cylinder of a machine as a function of time, and generating a first training set including second fluidic pressure information associated with impeller clutch engagement values. A training system associated with the machine computes a first plurality of test system response values based on the first training set, compares first plurality of test system response values with a plurality of observed response values, and determines a first response error. The training system determines whether the first response error is less than or equal to a threshold error value, generates a time-step predictive analytical model associated with the first training set, and provides the time-step predictive analytical model to an electronic control module of the machine. The time-step predictive analytical model is usable to control machine torque and/or an impeller clutch of the machine.

Analytical model training for a machine impeller control system

A system for proactively controlling rimpull limit of a machine includes a hydraulic system having a lift cylinder to move an implement; a lift cylinder pressure sensor that senses a hydraulic pressure of the lift cylinder and responsively produces a lift cylinder pressure signal; and a controller in operable communication with the power train and the lift cylinder pressure sensor. The controller is configured to receive the lift cylinder pressure signal; determine the rimpull limit based at least in part upon the lift cylinder pressure signal; and adjust the torque of the power train to the rimpull limit.

On demand machine rimpull adjustment to prevent tire slip

A method for mitigating powertrain abuse on a grade can include determining the grade a machine is on, the machine including an impeller clutch located between an engine and a powertrain so as to connect and disconnect engine power from the powertrain; and if the grade is over a threshold, a controller ignores any operator input to the impeller clutch such that machine speed retarding is utilized to keep the machine at a proper speed.

Control to mitigate operator abuse of drivetrain on grade

A perception-based alignment system can assist in aligning a loading machine with a material receptacle. The perception-based alignment system can be associated with a visual sensor network that can capture an image of the material receptacle. A fiducial marker is associated with the material receptacle. In an aspect, the perception-based alignment system can record an alignment data record of a loading operation and associate the alignment data record with the fiducial marker and, in another aspect, the perception-based alignment system can retrieve and execute the alignment data record to assist with a subsequent loading operation.

Perception-based alignment system and method for a loading machine

A system for controlling a machine impeller clutch includes a power source, a transmission unit, an impeller clutch operatively coupling the power source to the transmission unit, and an input device configured to generate a force data signal indicative of a working fluid pressure. An electronic control module in communication with the input device is configured to execute a time-step predictive analytical model for impeller clutch engagement. The electronic control module configured to receive the force data from the input device, determine an impeller clutch engagement value based at least in part on the force data signal and utilizing the time-step predictive analytical model, and cause engagement of the machine impeller clutch according to the impeller clutch engagement value.

Automated machine impeller clutch

A mounting system for mounting a sensor assembly to a pair of rotatable members coupled by an articulation joint includes a sensor mounting plate. The sensor mounting plate is coupled to a first rotatable member and supports at least one sensor element thereon such that the at least one sensor element is in alignment with an axis of the articulation joint. The mounting system also includes a target mounting plate that is disposed in a spaced-apart manner from the sensor mounting plate. The target mounting plate has a target mounting portion for supporting the target element thereon, and a support arm extending from the target mounting portion. Further, the mounting system also includes a post having a first end configured to couple with the second rotatable member and a second end that is configured to adjustably support the support arm of the target mounting plate via an adjustment block.

Mounting system for mounting a sensor assembly

A method for retrofitting a plurality of position sensors on a machine includes installing the plurality of position sensors on the machine, wherein the position sensors include at least two inertial measurement units (IMUs). The method further includes calibrating orientation of the IMUs, obtaining measurements from the IMUs, determining relative differences between the measurements obtained from the IMUs, and processing the relative differences using a Kalman filter procedure to determine positional data of the machine.

Systems and methods for implement position measurement

A system for controlling an earth moving machine may comprise: a speed sensor configured to communicate a speed signal indicative of a speed of the machine; an operator bucket lift command input configured to communicate an operator-input bucket lift command; and a controller configured to: receive the speed signal and the operator-input bucket lift command; determine a torque of the machine; using the speed signal and the determined torque, determine a controller-generated bucket lift command; and provide a bucket lift command which is the larger of the operator-input bucket lift command and the controller-generated bucket lift command.

Automatic dig assistance system for a machine

A machine includes a power generation system; a propulsion system; a work implement coupled to a body of the machine via a linkage that includes at least one actuator; a perception system configured to generate a signal that is indicative of a position of the machine relative to a material receptacle; and a controller operatively coupled to the perception system, the propulsion system, the power generation system, and the at least one actuator. The controller is configured to receive the signal from the perception system, determine a location of the work implement relative to the material receptacle based at least in part on the signal from the perception system, and actuate at least one of the propulsion system, the power generation system, and the at least one actuator based on the determined location of the work implement relative to the material receptacle.

System and method for operating a material-handling machine

Growing community of inventors

Yorkville, IL, United States of America

Jeffrey Kent Berry