Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.

Paul Russell Friend

Qi Chen

Frank Arthur Willis

Kenneth Lee Stratton

Drew Alan Fehr

Hong Chang

Andrew Whitten

Troy Kenneth Becicka

Jean-Jacques Clar

Brian Gerard Funke

Michael Edward Brandt

Eric Steven Engelmann

James Decker Humphrey

Conwell K Rife, Jr

Paul Edmund Rybski

Nicholas Robert Vogel

David Gitz

Clayton Padgett

Maikel Orlando Torres Pineiro

Nathaniel S Doy

Michael Allen Taylor

Thandava Krishna Edara

Eric Alan Reiners

Daniel Stanek

Steven R Krause

Daniel Dale Morris

Seth J Redenbo

Daniel Kimsey Dunn, Iii

Mathew Chacko

Nolan Andrew Graves

Timothy A Evans

Matthew James Sirovatka

Brad Kenneth Borland

Joshua D Keyes

Nicholas Aaron Greene

Matthew Daniel Fike

Robert A Hamann

Mark Holub

James W Ryan

Jodi Graf

Matthew Thomas Hanson

Mark M Smith

James William Ryan

Joseph Forcash

Salman Chikni

Jeffrey Walter Earleson

Winnie E Wong

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 light detection and ranging (LIDAR) controller is disclosed. The LIDAR controller may determine, based on a position of an implement, a scan area of the LIDAR sensor, wherein the scan area has an increased point density relative to another area of a field of view, of the LIDAR sensor, that includes the implement. The LIDAR controller may cause the LIDAR sensor to capture, with the increased point density, LIDAR data associated with the scan area. The LIDAR controller may process the LIDAR data to determine whether an object of interest is in an environment of the machine that is associated with the scan area. The LIDAR controller may perform an action based on the environment of the machine.

Method and system for performing dynamic LIDAR scanning

A milling machine may have a frame, a milling drum attached to the frame, and ground engaging tracks that support the frame and propel the milling machine in a forward or rearward direction. The milling machine may have a tank that stores hydraulic fluid. The milling machine may also have at least one actuator connecting the frame to the tracks. The actuator may adjust a height of the frame relative to a ground surface. A fluid conduit may connect the tank to the actuator. The milling machine may have a flow sensor in the fluid conduit. The flow sensor may determine a flow parameter associated with a flow of the hydraulic fluid into or out of the actuator. The milling machine may also have a controller that determines a height of the frame relative to the ground surface based on the flow parameter.

Milling machine having a fluid flow based height measurement system

A method for detecting an obstacle along a known path of a machine can include relating the location of the machine with a map. The map can include a worksite with a known path or known paths that the machine can travel on. The stopping distance of the machine can be determined and based on these identified known path and its characteristics along with a traveling speed and a weight of the machine. A LIDAR region of interest can be determined based on the stopping distance, the position and orientation of the machine, and characteristics of the known path. The machine can include a LIDAR system that can be configured to be oriented with respect to the LIDAR region of interest. A concentrated LIDAR scan can be performed to detect if an obstacle is present within the LIDAR region of interest.

Method and system for detecting an obstacle

A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) controller is disclosed. The LIDAR controller may receive cycle segment information identifying a cycle segment of an operation of a machine. The LIDAR controller may determine, based on the cycle segment information, a scan area within a field of view of the LIDAR sensor. The LIDAR controller may cause the LIDAR sensor to capture, with an increased point density relative to a non-scan area within the field of view, LIDAR data associated with the scan area. The LIDAR controller may process the LIDAR data to determine, using the increased point density, a status associated with the operation. The LIDAR controller may perform an action associated with indicating the status associated with the operation.

Configuration of a LIDAR sensor scan area according to a cycle segment of an operation of a machine

A vehicle pose sharing diagnostic system includes a first communication module and a first pose module in communication with the first communication module. The first pose module is configured to generate a pose signal corresponding to the first machine. The system further includes a first sensing module configured to generate a pose signal corresponding to at least one of a second machine and an infrastructure. The system includes a control module communicably coupled to the first communication module. The control module is configured to determine an operational error in the first communication module and the first pose module. The control module is also configured to generate diagnosis information corresponding to the determined operational error. Further, the system includes a feedback device communicably coupled to the control module. The feedback device is configured to receive the diagnosis information from the control module and display the diagnosis information thereon.

Vehicle pose sharing diagnostic system

A milling machine may have a frame, a milling drum attached to the frame, and ground engaging tracks that support the frame and propel the milling machine in a forward or rearward direction. The milling machine may have at least one actuator connecting the frame to at least one of the ground engaging tracks. The actuator may adjust a height of the frame relative to at least one of the tracks. The milling machine may also have a non-contact leg-height sensor attached to the frame. The sensor may generate a signal indicative of a height of the frame relative to at least one of the tracks. The milling machine may also have a controller configured to determine the height based on the signal.

Milling machine having a non-contact leg-height measurement system

A ranging radio relative machine positioning system for a first mobile machine and a second mobile machine is provided. The first mobile machine includes a platform rotatable relative to ground-engaging elements of the first mobile machine. A first set of ranging radios and at least one sensor are configured for attachment to the first mobile machine, and a second set of ranging radios are configured for attachment to the second mobile machine. The system also includes a controller programmed to identify a ground spotting location relative to the first mobile machine, track movement of the first mobile machine relative to the ground spotting location using the sensor to arrive at an offset, and provide a location, or pose, of the second mobile machine relative to the ground spotting location using the first and second sets of ranging radios and the offset.

Ranging radio relative machine positioning system and method

A calibration jig for calibrating an image capturing device mounted on a machine is provided. A second rope is connected to a first rope at a first connection point. A third rope is connected to the first rope and the second rope at a second connection point and a third connection point respectively. The first, second, and third ropes, when taut, define the calibration triangle with the first, second, and the third connection points as vertices of the calibration triangle. A center rope is connected to the first connection point with a first anchor point associated with the machine. A first tether rope is connected to the second connection point of the calibration triangle with a second anchor point associated with the machine. A second tether rope is connected to the third connection point of the calibration triangle with a third anchor point associated with the machine.

Calibration jig

A system for controlling operation of a first material engaging work implement includes a first machine, a second machine, and a controller. The controller is configured to store a kinematic model and characteristics of the implement system, determine a second machine operation zone, with the second machine operation zone being defined by a material movement plan of the second machine, and determine a current pose of the first machine. The controller is further configured to determine a first machine operation zone based upon the pose of the first machine, the kinematic model and characteristics of the implement system, and the second machine operation zone, with the first machine operation zone being spaced from the second machine operation zone, and generate a plurality of command signals to move the first material engaging work implement within the first machine operation zone between a first position and a second position.

Control system for a machine

A system for preparing a worksite for an additive construction operation includes a positioning system configured to determine positioning signals including topographical characteristics of the worksite. An additive construction plan includes, at least, structure placement data, configured for a desired location for constructing the structure, and toolpath instructions for guiding the implement to construct the structure. A controller is configured to determine a construction zone on the worksite based on the structure placement data and the topographical characteristics of the worksite. The controller is further configured for determining if the construction zone is readied for execution of the toolpath instructions at the construction zone and, if the construction zone is not readied for such execution, identifying one or more impediments to construction at the worksite, within the construction zone, based on the topographical characteristics of the worksite.

Systems and methods for preparing a worksite for additive construction

A material management system and method manages and tracks the progress of excavated material transferred through an excavation site by a conveyer system operating in cooperation with an in-pit crusher and conveyer (IPCC). The material management system distinguishes the material dispensed into the IPCC into identified material batches. To track the identified material batches, the material management system records data regarding the conveyer speed and the conveyer distance associated with the IPCC, as well as possible other data regarding the identified material batches. The material management system processes this to track the indentified material batches along the conveyer route.

Material management system and method for an in-pit crusher and conveyer

A control system for a machine, operating on a worksite is associated with an implement, which perform additive construction operations in accordance with a pre-determined implement control plan. The system includes a positioning system, one or more implement control actuators, and a controller. The positioning system is configured to determine positioning signals associated with, at least, a terrain of the worksite and any worksite objects existing thereon. The controller determine an available zone, in which the machine and implement are capable of executing the additive construction operations within the available zone, based on the positioning signals and the pre-determined implement control plan, and determine an operation zone, relative to a desired additive construction site on the worksite, within the available zone, wherein parameters of the operation zone are based, at least in part, on the available zone, the machine configuration, and the pre-determined implement control plan.

Control systems and methods to optimize machine placement for additive construction operations

A swing control assembly for a first machine is provided. The swing control assembly includes a position detection module configured to generate a signal indicative of a relative position of a second machine with respect to the first machine. The swing control assembly includes a controller communicably coupled to the position detection module. The controller is configured to receive the signal indicative of the relative position of the second machine with respect to the first machine. The controller is configured to determine a direction of swing associated with the first machine based on the received signal. The controller is configured to provide an instruction to initiate a swing operation of the first machine based on the determined direction of swing.

System and method for swing control

A guidance system and method for guiding excavation at an excavation site utilizes an excavating machine and an in-pit crusher and conveyer (IPCC) having a first hopper and a second hopper for receiving material. The guidance system can receive first hopper data associated with the first hopper and second hopper data associated with the second hopper and can process the first hopper data and second hopper data to determine a selected hopper for dispensing material. In an aspect, the guidance system can generate a guidance indication to display to the operator of the excavating machine that indicates the selected hopper.

Excavation utilizing dual hopper system

Growing community of inventors

Morton, IL, United States of America

Paul Russell Friend