Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Global Mining LLC

Mo Wei

Michael Allen Taylor

Thandava Krishna Edara

Troy Kenneth Becicka

Kenneth Lee Stratton

Timothy Joe Felty

Kyle Adam Edwards

Jean-Jacques Clar

Brian Gerard Funke

Seth J Redenbo

Jun Zuo

Steven E Empson

Benjamin J Hodel

Jacob Charles Maley

Justin Lee Steinlage

Daniel Stanek

James H DeVore

Matthew Michael Tinker

Matthew Edward Kontz

Paul D Lenzen

Seth J Rodenbo

Mikael Holmqvist

Manoj Pothugunti

A control system for a machine includes a machine body, a linkage assembly, a bucket coupled to the machine body via the linkage assembly, a user interface remote from the machine body, and a controller in communication with the user interface. The controller is configured to receive one or more signals defining a dump region. The dump region includes a front-most end point and a rear-most end point. The controller is also configured to receive one or more signals defining a dump order or dump specification and initiate an autonomous digging and dumping procedure.

Systems and methods for controlling a digging and dumping machine

A collision avoidance system and method for a mobile machine includes determining a boundary zone and providing a notification and/or control command to prevent a collision with another object. A first safety zone associated with a first and second portion of the mobile machine is determined. A second safety zone associated with the second portion of the mobile machine is determined. A boundary zone is determined as a function of a combination of the first and second safety zone. A notification and/or a control command is provided based on a relationship of an object to the boundary zone.

Systems and methods for collision avoidance for shape changing machines

A system for monitoring a work area of a work machine includes a sensor system. The sensor system generates one or more input signals corresponding to a position of at least one object present in at least one of the work area and a predetermined area. The input signals are indicative of the position of the object at different instances of time. The system also includes a controller communicably coupled to the sensor system. The controller includes one or more memories and one or more processors. The one or more processors receive the one or more input signals, determine a moving route of the object based on the receipt of the one or more input signals, and generate a response signal if a start point of the object is located in the predetermined area and an end point of the object is located at the work area.

System and method for monitoring work area

A collision detection system including a proximity sensor, positioning sensor, and controller. The controller includes a memory storing instructions, and a model of the machine that includes dimension information of the machine, location information of the proximity sensor, and pose information of movable portions of the machine. A processor is connected to the proximity sensor, positioning sensor, and memory, and is configured to update pose information of the model based on the pose of the movable portions determined using the positioning sensor. The processor may receive a detection of the object from the proximity sensor. The processor may determine an expected detection result of the proximity sensor using the model, and based on the location information of the proximity sensor and the updated pose information. The processor may compare the detection with the expected detection result to determine whether the detection results from the movable portion or a foreign object.

Systems and methods for detecting false positives in collision notifications

A system to control operation of a machine having a ground-engaging work implement for moving material about a worksite include a controller configured to determine a feasible target profile for the work implement to engage material. The feasible target profile may include a preload segment, a cut segment, and a loading segment. The controller determines a feasible prospective cut segment from a plurality of prospective cut segments. The controller generates a prospective preloading segment and a prospective loading segment associated with the feasible prospective cut profile. Position points associated with the loading segment are extracted and the controller determines if the ground-engaging work implement will align with the plurality of position points. The controller may also determine whether the load volume for the prospective cut segment is efficient.

System and method for controlling operation of a machine

A method includes sensing, with a sensor, an outer surface of a pile of material, with a controller located on an at least partially autonomously-controlled machine, a midpoint of the pile of material based on the sensed outer surface; determining, with the controller, a plurality of potential loading paths around the midpoint for loading the machine; selecting, with the controller, a primary loading path of the potential loading paths based on a cost function analysis, and causing, with the controller, the machine to perform a loading instance as defined by the primary loading path.

Systems and methods for autonomous movement of material

A system for moving material from a first work area to a second work includes a material moving machine, a machine position sensor and a controller system. The controller system performs first material moving operations including determining a premature termination of a material stacking operation. The controller system performs additional material moving operations including instructing a material moving machine in response to the premature termination of a material stacking operation.

System and method of layering material

A system for moving material from a first work area to a second work includes a material moving machine, a machine position sensor and a controller system. The controller system performs first material moving operations including determining a transition location from an inclined material stack operation to a flat material stack operation. The controller system performs second material moving operations including controlling the material moving machine.

A system for controlling operation of a machine having a frame supported by ground engaging members and a work implement movably supported by the frame includes a machine position sensor and an implement position sensor to output data pertaining to a position and orientation of the machine and the work implement within a worksite. The system further includes a controller that receives the data output by the machine position sensor and the implement position sensor. The controller computes an amount of gap that is required for alignment of the machine and the work implement with a slot based on the received data. The controller then controls a movement of the ground engaging members for positioning the machine at the computed amount of gap from a cut point located within the slot prior to the work implement entering a cut position for performing a cut within the slot.

System for controlling operation of a machine

A system for automated control of a machine along a first slot in a work surface includes a machine position sensor and a controller. The controller is configured to determine an elevation difference between each pair of laterally aligned positions of the first slot and a second adjacent slot, generate a first propulsion command to operate the machine according to a first propulsion mode while the machine is disposed along the first slot adjacent each pair of laterally aligned positions at which the elevation difference is less than a slot elevation difference threshold, and generate a second propulsion command to operate the machine according to a second propulsion mode while the machine is disposed along the first slot adjacent each pair of laterally aligned positions at which the elevation difference is greater than the slot elevation difference threshold.

System and method for controlling the operation of a machine

A system for moving material with a ground engaging work implement determines a topography of the work surface, a maximum cutting capacity for a cutting operation, and a maximum carrying capacity for a carrying operation. A first double cut location is determined based upon the maximum carrying capacity and the topography of the work surface and a second double cut location is determined based upon the maximum carrying capacity and a modified topography of the work surface. Individually, the amount of material from each of the first and second double cut locations is less than the maximum cutting capacity, and combined is less than the maximum carrying capacity. A first forward double cut command moves the first double cut material to an intermediate position and a second forward double cut command moves the first double cut material and the second double cut amount of material to a dump location.

A method of controlling a machine through an interrupted operation of the machine is provided. The method includes retrieving an existing load signal indicative of an existing external load on the machine by a controller prior to the interrupted operation. The method includes calculating an available load capacity for the machine defined as a difference between a maximum load capacity of the machine and the existing external load by the controller. Further, the method includes controlling the machine to execute a working operation by the controller corresponding to the available load capacity of the machine.

System and method for controlling a machine through an interrupted operation

A system for moving material with a work implement includes an image display device, an operator input device, and a position sensor. A controller is configured to determine a position of a work surface at a work site, display a portion of the work site on the image display device including an operational location at the work area, modify a position of the operational location on the image display device with the operator input device to define a modified operational location, generate a material movement plan based upon the position of the work surface and modified operational location, and generate command instructions to move the machine according to the material movement plan.

System and method for modifying a material movement plan

A system for determining a lowest cost distal end dump location is provided. A controller determines an amount of material to be moved from the first work area to the second work area, and evaluates a plurality of potential distal end dump locations at the second work area to determine a cost associated with moving the material at the second work area to form each second work area material configuration and select a lowest cost distal end dump location corresponding to a lowest cost second work area material configuration.

System and method for optimizing a material moving operation

A control system for determining a stale terrain value for use by an autonomous machine is provided. The control system includes a controller associated with the autonomous machine operating on a work surface. The controller is configured to receive position data associated with the autonomous machine from a position sensing system. The controller is configured to receive data related to a dump operation to be performed by the autonomous machine. The data includes a distance between a start location and an end location, a distance between two adjacent piles of material, and an average speed of travel of the autonomous machine. The controller is configured to determine the stale terrain value associated with the work surface. The controller is configured to trigger a control signal for shutting down the dump operation of the autonomous machine on approaching the stale terrain value based on receiving an operator input.

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Dunlap, IL, United States of America

Mo Wei