Caterpillar Inc.

Other

Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.

Paul Thomas Corcoran

Liqun Chi

Allen John DeClerk

David O Philips

Brad L Holsapple

Federico Fernandez

Thomas Marshall Congdon

Adam J Gudat

Scott Alan Leman

John F Szentes

Robert A Herold

Sanat Arun Talmaki

Mark William Whiting

Jon S Burdick

George B Kokos

Nicholas Alan Oetken

George G Codina

Everett Gene Brandt

Dean R Potts

Thomas J Richards

Preston L Gale

J Scott Burdick

Katherine C Glee

Katherine Christine Braddy

Terry L Rasmussen

Kristian Stoeckel

Jeffrey F Birkel

Susan B Grandone

A method of controlling machines for performing operations at a worksite is disclosed. The method includes receiving pre-construction terrain data, design terrain data, and resource data and then defining a plurality of constraints based on the data. Operations of the machines are simulated based on the data. The method includes estimating process variables associated with the operations and defining and scheduling tasks to be performed by the machines. The method includes collecting real time data from the worksite and updating the estimated process variables and the scheduled tasks of the machines based on the collected real time data. Instructions are then provided to the machines for executing the tasks.

Method of optimizing performance of machines at a worksite

Method of controlling machines at a worksite

A system for determining a modulus of resilience of a work material during a compaction operation includes a processor configured to determine a work material stiffness based on a force applied to the work material and a displacement of the work material, and determine the modulus of resilience of the work material based on a relationship between the work material stiffness and the modulus of resilience of the work material.

System and method for determining a modulus of resilience

A system for validating compaction of work material at a work site including a compaction machine. A sensor and a location sensor are associated with the compaction machine. A controller is configured to receive compaction data from the sensor and position data from the location sensor and to determine a structural parameter of the work material based on the compaction data and physical properties of the compaction machine. The controller associates the structural parameter of the work material with the position data. The controller saves structural parameters and associated position data for different locations in the work site and for different layers of work material in the work site and compares the saved structural parameters and associated position data with predetermined structural design criteria for corresponding locations and layers in the work site.

System and method for validating compaction of a work site

A system for determining a state of compaction of a work material includes a compactor and a compaction sensor system. A controller is configured to determine an empirical state of compaction of the work material based upon signals from the compaction sensor system and the characteristics of a machine associated with the compaction sensor system.

System and method for determining a state of compaction

A worksite-management system includes a display component and one or more information-processors. The one or more information-processors may be configured to acquire information about a history of travel of one or more non-compactor mobile machines across a terrain surface of a worksite. The one or more information-processors may also be configured to process the acquired information to generate a digital map indicative of compaction of the terrain surface as a function of the history of travel of the one or more non-compactor mobile machines across the terrain surface. Additionally, the one or more information-processors may be configured to present on the display component information related to the compaction of the terrain surface as a function of the history of travel of the one or more non-compactor mobile machines across the terrain surface.

Worksite-management system

A method of operating a paving system includes establishing a plan for paving a work area which is based on a positional temperature model. The method further includes receiving temperature data for paving material and comparing the temperature data with data predicted by the positional temperature model. Operation of the paving system is adjusted where actual data differs from model predicted data. A paving system and control system are provided having an electronic control unit configured to compare electronic temperature data with a positional temperature model for paving material. The electronic control unit can control machines of the paving system based on comparing actual data with model predicted data, and can further update either or both of a plan for paving a work area and the positional temperature model itself based on differences between actual data and model predicted data. A complete temperature profile of a paving work area, including a comparison with the model may be recorded in computer readable memory for forensic and predictive analysis.

Paving system and method

A soil moisture mapping based method for transferring soil for an earthworks construction project includes outputting signals based on soil moisture data and position data indicative of a location within a cut area or a fill area of the soil. The method further includes selecting a location within a cut area for obtaining fill soil or a location within a fill area for depositing fill soil based on the signals. A system for supplying soil for an earthworks construction project includes at least one machine having a sensor configured to sense soil moisture, and a receiver configured to receive position data corresponding with a location of the soil, and a signaling device configured to output signals based on the position data and soil moisture data. A transfer machine is included in the system and configured to selectively transfer fill soil between the cut area and the fill area based on the signals.

System and method for preparing a worksite based on soil moisture map data

A method of operating a compactor machine includes moving the compacting machine within a work area and determining a compaction response disconformity exists between at least two regions of the work area. The method includes generating a compactor navigation signal responsive to the compaction response disconformity. A method of compacting a work area may include determining a work material compaction response associated with at least one region of the work area is aberrant, and maneuvering the compactor machine within the work area responsive to a signal associated with the aberrant compaction response. A system for compacting a work area includes a compactor machine and an electronic controller configured via a compactor maneuvering control algorithm to detect an aberrant work material compaction response in a region of the work area and responsively generate a compactor navigation signal.

Method of operating a compactor machine via path planning based on compaction state data and mapping information

A method of operating a compactor includes determining a value indicative of a compaction state of a region of work material after each of a plurality of compactor passes, and triggering a compaction fault condition if an incipient compaction response satisfies aberrant compaction criteria. A machine includes an electronic controller configured to trigger a compaction fault condition responsively to sensor input signals indicative that aberrant compaction criteria are satisfied by an incipient compaction response of a work material.

Machine and method of determining suitability of work material for compaction

Accurately determining the compaction state of a base material during the compaction process is a recognized problem in the construction industry. The present invention recognizes that the compaction state of the base material can be determined by ascertaining the effective roller radius of the compactor. In other words, in the case of powered compactors, the effective roller radius will asymptotically approach the actual roller radius as the base material changes from a soft un-compacted condition to a hard compacted state. Monitoring compaction state via indicative of an effective roller radius can be used alone as a means of determining compaction state in real time, or can be leveraged and combined with other independent means of monitoring the compaction state to a symbiotic affect in more accurately determining compaction state.

Compaction indication by effective rolling radius

The present invention is associated with a system and method of managing a compaction process. The method may include establishing a soil characteristic and establishing a machine performance characteristic in response to the soil characteristic. The machine performance characteristic may include a predictive compaction characteristic associated with a particular machine.

Method and system of forecasting compaction performance

In most construction processes, some quality assurance compaction test must be performed on a base material before further construction can take place on or relative to the compacted base material. In order to avoid costly downtime associated with waiting for a quality assurance test to be performed, the present invention contemplates generating compaction quality assurance data using on-board generated compaction quality control data. The quality control compaction data is based upon quantifying a sinkage deformation interaction between the compactor and the base material. The interaction might include monitoring an effective roller radius of the compactor, or an amount of energy transferred or consumed when the compactor moves over the base material, or even measuring a rut depth caused by the compactor. The compaction quality assurance data can be indicative of a proof rolling test result, a walk out test result, a penetrometer test result, a base material density test result, or possibly even a compactor sinkage into the base material.

Compaction quality assurance based upon quantifying compactor interaction with base material

Vehicular and/or walk behind vibratory compactors utilize a vibrated roller or plate to impose compaction forces on a densifiable strata, such as ground soil, a roadway base material or pavement. Utilizing a rotating energy source, such as a engine or hydraulic motor, to create the vibration appears to have reached its limit in the ability to provide a wide range of vibration frequencies and amplitudes to satisfy the ever increasing demands placed on vibratory compactors. Instead of relying upon rotational energy, the present invention contemplates the use of a linear oscillator to produce the vibrations, and preferably utilizes at least one electromagnet to control the frequency(s) and amplitude(s) of a compacting vibration. The present invention finds potential application in a wide range of vibratory compactors, including walk behind models that utilize a plate and larger vehicular models that include one or more vibrating rollers.

Vibratory compactor and method of using same

A method and apparatus for determining a profile of a pavement. The method and apparatus includes determining a slope of a mobile machine as the mobile machine traverses the pavement, and determining a change in elevation of the pavement as a function of the slope and a distance from a first ground engaging member on the mobile machine to a second ground engaging member on the mobile machine, the change in elevation being indicative of a profile of the pavement.

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Washington, IL, United States of America

Paul Thomas Corcoran