Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Global Mining LLC

Mark H Banham

Craig L Koehrsen

Bryan James Everett

Ruchi Bhatia

James Decker Humphrey

Andrew J Vitale

Eric Alan Moughler

Bryan J Everett

Eric A Moughler

A system for autonomously controlling a fluid refill station (FRS) includes a sensor that generates an input signal indicative of an amount of fluid in a tank of an autonomous truck and a central controller. The central controller monitors the amount of fluid in the tank and assigns the autonomous truck to the FRS if the amount of fluid has reached a minimum threshold value. The central controller determines an alignment of the tank of the autonomous truck with a fluid outlet of the FRS, directs the FRS to refill the tank with fluid if the tank is in alignment with the fluid outlet of the FRS, and directs the FRS to stop refilling the tank when the amount of fluid in the tank has reached a maximum threshold value. The central controller marks the FRS as non-functional based on a determination of an anomaly with the FRS.

System and method for autonomously controlling fluid refill station

A device may determine a current level of moisture of a section of a ground surface. The device may determine a moisture removal rate of the section of the ground surface. The device may predict an expected level of moisture of the section of the ground surface at an estimated time of arrival of an autonomous machine with a water dispensing unit and determine an amount of water to be dispensed by the autonomous machine at the section of the ground surface. The expected level of moisture may be predicted based on the current level of moisture and the moisture removal rate. The amount of water may be determined based on the expected level of moisture and a desired level of moisture. The device may provide a command, to the autonomous machine, to cause the autonomous machine to dispense the amount of water to the section of the ground surface.

Water dispensing management for autonomous machines

A system for moving material from a first location to a second location includes a planning system to identify an initial spot location. A perception sensor is configured to generate perception signals indicative of whether an obstacle is in the path between a material carrying machine and the initial spot location. An alternate spot location is determined if an obstacle is in the path and a propulsion command is generated to move the material carrying machine from the current pose to the alternate spot location.

System for modifying a spot location

A system for regulating a dump rate of a truck is disclosed. The truck is configured to carry material and dump the material in a container. The system includes a first detection module and a controller in communication with the first detection module. The first detection module generates a signal indicative of a draw down rate of the container. The draw down rate corresponds to a rate at which the material is discharged from the container. The controller determines the draw down rate of the contained based on the signal received from the first detection module. The controller further determines a level of the material within the container based on the draw down rate. The controller then regulates the dump rate of the truck based on a relationship between the level of the material within the container and a threshold level.

Regulating dump rate of trucks

A control system for use at a dump location having a plurality of dump sites is disclosed. The control system may have a control module associated with a mobile machine and a worksite controller. The worksite controller may be configured to receive a signal from the control module indicative of the mobile machine crossing a boundary at a dump location, and assign a travel route for the mobile machine based on the signal. The travel route may include a travel segment on a common entrance row, a first single-use path from the common entrance row to a particular one of the plurality of dump sites, a second single-use path from the particular one of the plurality of dump sites to a common exit row, and a travel segment on the common exit row. The worksite controller may be further configured to communicate the travel route to the control module as the mobile machine moves toward the dump location.

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Victoria Point, Australia

Mark H Banham