Caterpillar Inc.

Scott Andrew Kirkman

David James Edwards

Thomas Frank Doherty

Ryan Howell

Gregory Mark Wood

John Steven Harpour

Gregory Davis

Andrew Thiel

Kiriaco Rodrigo Dario Jarami Orellana

A method includes determining a first task requiring one of a plurality of machines to traverse along a first route and determining a second task requiring the one of the plurality of machines to traverse along a second route. The method also includes determining a first route score for the first route, the first route score being at least in part indicative of a difficulty of traversing along the first route, and determining a second route score for the second route, the second route score being at least in part indicative of a difficulty of traversing along the second route. The method may also include receiving sensor data generated by a sensor associated with a first machine of the plurality of machines and determining, based at least in part on the sensor data, an alertness metric associated with an operator of the first machine. Based at least in part on the alertness metric being equal to or greater than a threshold alertness metric, the method may also include determining the first task for completion by the first machine or determining the second task for completion by the first machine. The method may also include sending, to an electronic device associated with the operator of the first machine, information about the first route or the second route; and receiving confirmation information indicative of the first machine traversing along the first route or of the first machine traversing along the second route.

System and method for controlling machines using operator alertness metrics

A system and method of onboard and offboard visualization of material characteristics in mining is provided. According to one aspect, the method includes a step of providing a voxel representation of a mining area. The voxel representation includes a plurality of voxels. At least one voxel of the plurality of voxels is compared to a geological model of the mining area, and at least one material characteristic is assigned to the at least one voxel based on the geological model of the mining area. In another aspect, the method includes calculating a volume of extracted material, assigning at least one quantified material characteristic to the volume of extracted material based on a geological model, and displaying a visual representation of the volume of extracted material and at least one quantified material characteristic using a visualization tool.

System and method for onboard and offboard visualization of material characteristics in mining

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Camp Hill, Australia

Scott Andrew Kirkman