Caterpillar Inc.

Shane C McBride

Bradley K Bomer

Norval P Thomson

Daniel Peter Sergison

Adam Martin Nackers

Zhijun Cai

Chad Timothy Brickner

Michael David Beyer

Gautham Subramanian

Martin A Lehman

Kevin Anthony Davis

Brent R Frazier

Bryan Everett Copeland

Vishnu Gaurav Selvaraj

David Allen Ober

Todd Bartholomew Smith

Anders Christian Thomsen

Eric Durand

Allen J Declerk

Theodore Maestranzi

Gregory Durst

A method for machine usage visualization, the method including: receiving job site location information for a plurality of machines; receiving telematics data for multiple time periods from one or more of the plurality of machines, the data including: machine type, fault codes, and usage information; receiving a machine status for one or more of the plurality of machines; grouping the machines into machine groups by the received machine type; and grouping the machines into job site groups by the received job site location information.

Systems and methods for machine usage visualization

A system and method for tracking activity of a plurality of machines can comprise identifying at least one work segment of a smart machine based on sensor data from one or more sensors of the smart machine; and identifying at least one work segment of each of a plurality of non-smart machines based on the identified at least one work segment of the smart machine and location data transmitted from the non-smart machine. The identified at least one work segment of the smart machine can be identified in association a first location at a worksite. The at least one work segment of each of the non-smart machines can be identified when the non-smart machine is within a predetermined distance of the first location associated with the identified at least one work segment of the smart machine.

System and method for tracking activity of a plurality of machines

A system and method for electronically assessing operator performance when operating a working machine adapted to handle or process ground material. The system and method can identify compliance with operating instructions for operating the working machine and/or can uniquely characterize functions of the working machine based on external factors.

Systems and methods for electronically assessing operator performance when operating a machine based on machine-related data associated with the machine

A machine having a work implement includes a sensor connected to the work implement, the sensor providing a signal indicative of a change in acceleration of the work implement. A cycle controller associated with the sensor, the cycle controller disposed to receive the signal and operating to monitor the signal. The cycle controller is programmed and operates to analyze the signal to determine at least a presence and a duration of a change in acceleration of the work implement of the machine with respect to time, compile an actual time trace of the change in acceleration of the work implement, compare the actual time trace with a predefined time trace that represents a work cycle segment, and catalog presence and duration of a work cycle segment when the actual time trace is consistent with the predefined time trace.

Truck cycle segmentation monitoring system and method

A system and method involves a machine having a power train including a continuously variable transmission (CVT) associated with a plurality of virtual gear ratios. To shift between the plurality of virtual gear ratios, the machine may include an operator input device that may be movable between a plurality of distinct positions. A first position may be associated with a neutral position in which no shifting of virtual gear ratios occurs. A second position of the operator input device may be associated with a first incremental rate for shifting between the virtual gear ratios. A third position may be associated with a second incremental rate for shifting between the virtual gear ratios which is different than the first incremental rate.

Shifting virtual gears associated with a continuously variable transmission

An operator interface for advanced transmission control of a vehicle is disclosed. The operator interface may include a hand operated joystick mounted on a vehicle and a roller mounted on the joystick, the roller having at least two detents for providing at least four distinct states of speed control, the at least four distinct states including one or more increasing states and one or more decreasing states. In another embodiment, the roller of the operator interface may include at least one detent for providing at least three distinct states of speed control, the at least three distinct states including at least one increasing state, at least one decreasing state, and at least one other speed state provided in one of either an increasing state or a decreasing state.

Operator interface for machine control

The described system and method are implemented within a motor grader or other machine for grading of surfaces, wherein the machine includes a ground engaging element, as well as one or more blades for removing surface material. In this context, the described system and method prevent slippage of the ground engaging element against the underlying surface. In an embodiment, a torque limit is applied, wherein the torque limit corresponds to a torque that is less than that required for slippage under the current operating conditions, thus avoiding the problems caused by both overly aggressive and overly conservative cut depth strategies.

Motor grader wheel slip control for cut to grade

Growing community of inventors

Denver, CO, United States of America

Shane C McBride