Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.

Caterpillar Inc.

Nathaniel S Doy

Lee M Hogan

Jason William Muir

John Lee Marsolek

Joseph Leo Faivre

Matthew-David S Frantz

Derek Peter Nieuwsma

Brian Joe Schlenker

Hyppolite Kuissi

Ryan Adam Enot

David E Gerding

Jacob M Saari

Robert J McGee

Lance Mathew Cowper

Joshua D Keyes

Erik Eddington

Eric Dishman

Matthew Thomas Hanson

Paul Russell Friend

Timothy Michael O'Donnell

Brad Robert Van De Veer

Jacob John McAlpine

Dario Sansone

Nathan L Mashek

Sangameshwar Sonth

Rustin Glenn Metzger

Brian D Nagel

Jeffrey Alan Brush

Lawrence Andrew Mianzo

Nicholas Bernard Johnson

Mark E Hartman

Corwin Eugene Storer

Todd Alex Impola

Paul J Koenen

Dustin William Sondreal

Micheal David Valerio

Robert K Iverson

Jeremy Lee

Nicholas Aaron Greene

Thomas J Olson

Conwell K Rife

Rolf Af Klinteberg

Matthew S Frantz

Heath Daryl Wilson

Matthew A Johnson

Robert E Shockency, Jr

Austin Robert Bies

Siddarth Desikan

Shanmukha Bhumireddy

Sri Sekharan

Gautham Subramanian

Joseph L Faivre

Robert Shockency

An apparatus of a work machine can include a sensor to provide information regarding a surface worked by a work machine. The apparatus can also include processing circuitry coupled to the sensor. The processing circuitry can generate a cut depth curve that represents cut depth subsequent to performing work on the surface, based on measurements provided by the set of sensors. The processing circuitry can perform an integration operation based on the cut depth curve to generate a measure of area worked by the work machine. The processing circuitry can determine at least one physical operational parameter of the work machine based on the measure of area worked by the work machine. Other systems and methods are described.

System for determining volume of material being cut

A method, for operating an indicator light mounted to an exterior of a work machine, includes receiving, by a controller, a digital input image of an environment surrounding the work machine from an image capturing device. Also, the method includes processing, by the controller, the digital input image to determine an ambient light intensity of the environment. In addition, the method includes generating, by the controller, based on the determined ambient light intensity of the environment, one or more control signals to correspondingly adjust at least one attribute of light output by the indicator light.

System and method for operating indicator lights of work machines

A compactor machine may include a frame, a compaction member attached to the frame, and a controller attached to the frame. The controller may be configured to detect, while the compactor machine is traveling on a paving material mat to perform compacting, an event that is to cause the compactor machine to perform a stop. The controller may be configured to identify, based on detecting the event, a zone that the compactor machine is to use to perform the stop. The controller may be configured to cause the compactor machine to travel to the zone to perform the stop.

Controlled stopping for a compactor machine

A machine for roadwork can include a frame, a power source, and a milling rotor that can be operatively connected to the power source and the frame. The machine for roadwork can also include at least one camera and an image processor. The at least one camera can be configured to capture one or more images of the milling rotor. The image processor can be in communication with the at least one camera. The image processor may be configured to analyze the one or more images of the milling rotor captured by the at least one camera. The image processor may also be configured to determine a scratch height of the milling rotor based on one or more images. The scratch height can define a height of the milling rotor on condition that the milling rotor is in contact with a surface of the roadway.

Auto scratch height for work machines

A worksite controller can manage machines, including a first machine configured to perform a first task and a second machine configured to perform a second task that follows the first task. The worksite controller can predict a time that the first machine will complete the first task at a work area. The worksite controller can also predict a time the second machine would arrive at the work area to perform the second task. Based on a comparison of the time the second machine would arrive at the work area and the predicted first task completion time, the worksite controller can instruct the second machine to enter or exit a low-power state. For example, if the second machine would arrive at the work area earlier than the predicted first task completion time, the worksite controller can instruct the second machine to avoid idling while waiting by entering the low-power state.

Remote management of machine based on different machine task progress

Various control systems and methods for a working machine such as a compactor are disclosed. The control system can include any one or combination of components including a controller in communication with at least a steering system and a position sensor. The controller can be configured to: receive position data from the position sensor including during operator implemented steering of the compactor, save the position data to a memory, determine from the position data saved in the memory a possible intent by an operator to create a compaction area, generate a prompt on an operator interface to confirm an actual intent of the operator, and generate a compaction plan for autonomously steering the compactor to compact in the compaction area. The compaction plan can be based at least partially upon the operator implemented steering of the compactor. The controller can implement the compaction plan via autonomous steering.

Active path monitoring control system and method for compactor

A method for controlling a construction machine can include dividing a work area into a plurality of work lanes; selecting a first set of consecutive work lanes of the plurality of work lanes that can be worked without an obstruction; and completing one or more passes on the selected first set of consecutive work lanes before moving on to another set of the plurality of work lanes.

Compaction pattern adjustments for automated compaction

A system and method include receiving sensor data from a of at least a portion of a work surface of a worksite including a first one or more material properties, a first timestamp, a first location, and the like, determining a multi-layer map based at least in part from this data and including new layer commands, meeting or exceeding data thresholds, new machine operations, machine learning models, and receiving additional sensor data containing a second same, similar, and/or different information, generating a new layer and/or overwriting the existing layer data, and providing a processed map to one or more machines, memory, additional devices, and the like. The method also includes saving prior layers and/or data of overwritten layers. The method further includes causing at least a part of the multi-layer material property map to be displayed. The displayed at least part of the multi-material property map including visual indicia indicating the first one or more material properties, the first timestamp, the first location, a first layer, etc. and one or more of a subsequent timestamp, the first location, a subsequent layer, and the like.

System and method for generating a multi-layer material property map

A control system for a compactor is disclosed. The control system can include any one or combination of one or more position sensors, a steering system, a control interface and a controller. The controller can be in communication with at least the control interface and the one or more position sensors. The controller can be configured to receive data recording a position of the compactor when physically operating the compactor along at least a portion of the desired boundary of a compaction area, determine from the data a virtual boundary of the compaction area corresponding to the position of the compactor when physically operating the compactor along the desired boundary of the compaction area, and generate at least a first work plan for operating the compactor to compact in the compaction area up to the virtual boundary.

Control system and method for defining and generating compactor work area

A system and method for marking a boundary while defining an autonomous worksite includes receiving first information indicative of a first maneuvering distance from a side of a machine and activating an indicator. The indicator, representative of the first maneuvering distance, is positioned at the side of the machine to be visible to an operator of the machine. The machine is positioned on a worksite surface along a path to be traversed when executing a work plan. After a control system receives a verification from the operator that the machine may operate outside the worksite area and within an outer boundary defined by the first maneuvering distance, a worksite perimeter is defined to include the path, and a geofence for the machine is determined to substantially overlay the outer boundary.

System and method for marking a boundary while defining an autonomous worksite

Non-line of sight (NLOS) remote control for machines is accomplished by a remote-control station with cellular connectivity to run multiple machines remotely. However, NLOS is expensive and may not work in areas with low cell tower coverage. Accordingly, the present disclosure pertains to providing on-machine remote control to operators of machines at a worksite. The on-machine remote control allows one machine to actively control another machine through connectivity between those two machines. For example, a tractor operator may use on-machine remote control to take control of a compactor, such that the compactor may be run using the tractor controls.

On-machine remote control

A method includes receiving information indicative of a perimeter of a first portion of a work surface, generating, based on the information, a first geofence substantially overlaying the perimeter, and causing a display to display the first geofence. The method also includes receiving a first input indicating an accuracy of the first geofence. The method further includes determining that at least part of the first geofence is less than a threshold distance from a second geofence associated with the work surface. The method also includes generating, based on determining that the at least part of the first geofence is less than the threshold distance from the second geofence, a third geofence associated with the work surface.

System and method for defining an area of a worksite

A machine for roadwork can include a frame, a power source, and a milling rotor operatively connected to the power source and the frame. The machine can also include means for detecting obstacles around an exterior of the machine; and means for activating an obstacle-detection response. The obstacle-detection response can adjust at least one milling parameter, change at least one sensor that the machine uses to control at least one mil ling parameter, or override at least one system on the machine to prevent the machine from automatically adjusting any milling parameters.

Milling system automated obstacle mitigation

A milling machine includes a rotor drive transmission having a plurality of gears disposed between a prime mover and a cutting rotor. The rotor drive transmission is associated with a rotor transmission hydraulic circuit including a hydraulic gearshift actuator to engage the plurality of gears in one or more gear ratios and a gearshift directional control valve to direct hydraulic fluid to and from the hydraulic gearshift actuator. In occurrence of a fault condition, the rotor transmission hydraulic circuit includes a gearshift trapping valve to maintain hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic gear actuator and the engaged gear ratio of the rotor drive transmission.

Milling machine with hydraulically actuated rotor drive transmission

A propelled milling machine includes a cutting rotor that receives power from an internal combustion engine via a rotor drivetrain. To adjust the speed of the cutting rotor, the rotor drivetrain includes a rotor drivetrain transmission operatively associated with a rotor drivetrain lubrication circuit. To regulate temperature of the lubricant, a heat exchanger circuit is associated with the rotor drivetrain lubrication circuit and includes a rotor drivetrain lubricant heat exchanger and a rotor drivetrain lubricant pump assembly. The quantity of lubricant directed to the heat exchanger is regulated based on one or more sensed operating parameters associated with the lubricant.

Milling machine with heat exchanger circuit

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Maple Grove, MN, United States of America

Nathaniel S Doy