Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.

Todd Alex Impola

Timothy Michael O'Donnell

John Lee Marsolek

Nicholas Alan Oetken

Jacob John McAlpine

Eric Arden Hansen

Nathaniel S Doy

Lawrence Andrew Mianzo

Mark E Hartman

Siddarth Desikan

Shanmukha Bhumireddy

Sri Sekharan

Shannon G Dudley

Christopher Andrew Wahlmark

Timothy M O′Donnell

According to one example, a system for control of a movement of a working vehicle within a work area is disclosed. The system can optionally include a steering system configured to direct the movement of the working vehicle, an object detection system, as speed sensor, and a controller. The object detection system can have one or more sensors configured to detect an object within the work area. The speed sensor can be configured to measure a speed of the working vehicle over a surface within the work area. The controller can be communicatively coupled to the steering system, the object detection system and the speed sensor. The controller can be configured to control the speed of the working vehicle based upon a steering angle of the working vehicle.

Controlling machine operation including limiting machine speed

A peripheral perception system for providing a 360-coverage of a peripheral region around a machine is disclosed. The peripheral perception system includes a first perception device mounted to a first surface of the machine, defining a first elevation and a first angle with respect to a vertical axis of the machine; and a second perception device mounted to a second surface of the machine, defining a second elevation and a second angle with respect to the vertical axis. The first perception device scans a first field of view covering a first peripheral region of the machine and the second perception device scans a second field of view covering a second peripheral region of the machine, such that the first field of view and the second field of view combinedly provide 360-degree coverage of the peripheral region around the machine.

Peripheral perception system for a machine

A work machine, light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system, and method of reducing false object detections are disclosed. The work machine may include a frame, a power unit, a locomotive device, and the LiDAR system. The LiDAR system may include at least one laser, at least one sensor, a bracket, and a control unit configured to execute an object detection program. The LiDAR system is configured to exclude from its object detection program a plurality of beams emitted toward the work machine through a design of the bracket and/or software methods of the control unit. The method may include storing a database of exclude coordinates and using the database to filter out undesirable data samples from the object detection program.

Work machine with LiDAR having reduced false object detection

A soil compactor machine can include: a machine frame; at least one cylindrical roller drum rotatably coupled to the machine frame and rotatable about a drum axis oriented generally transverse to a direction of travel of the compactor machine; a plurality of sensors mounting locations on the machine frame for mounting one or more lidar sensors and cameras; and a plurality of brackets, wherein, one of each of the plurality of brackets is positioned at each of the sensor mounting locations for mounting the lidar sensors and the cameras, wherein the bracket at each of the sensor mounting locations has a similar design as the other of the plurality of brackets.

Perception system lidar and camera bracket

A system for increasing lidar sensor coverage for use by a vehicle is described herein. The system includes a two lidar sensors oriented to emit light beams toward a surface proximate the vehicle. The system also includes at least one mirror associated with each lidar sensor configured to reflect light beams emitted away from the surface. The at least one mirror reflects the light beams toward the surface, thereby increasing lidar sensor coverage associated with the respective lidar sensor. The lidar sensors receive lidar returns, either directly from the surface or reflected off the mirror and may generate sensor data associated with an area proximate the vehicle. A vehicle computing system controls the vehicle based in part on the sensor data.

Systems and methods for increasing lidar sensor coverage

An autonomous articulated soil compactor machine can include: a machine frame; at least one cylindrical roller drum rotatably coupled to the machine frame and rotatable about a drum axis oriented generally transverse to a direction of travel of the compactor machine; a first lidar sensor on a front of the machine; a second lidar sensor on a first side of the machine; and a third lidar sensor on a second side of the machine; wherein the first, second and the third lidar sensors are positioned such that 360 degree lidar coverage is provided around the articulated compactor machine.

Perception system three lidar coverage

A work machine includes a frame, a sensor assembly, and an ultrasonic sensor. The frame includes a first portion and a second portion that includes a front bumper and is configured to pivot with respect to the first portion for steering the work machine. The sensor assembly is positioned on the first portion or the second portion of the frame and is configured to sense data for detection of obstacles within a first area around the work machine. The ultrasonic sensor is positioned on the front bumper of the second portion and is configured to sense data for detection of obstacles within a second area around the work machine, the second area outside the first area when the second portion is in an articulated position with respect to the first portion.

Ultrasonic sensors for work machine obstacle detection

An adjustable mass eccentric for a multi-amplitude vibratory mechanism can comprise a body and an internal cavity defined by the body such that the body surrounds the internal cavity. The internal cavity can include a first section, a second section, and a third section between the first section and the second section. The third section can define a volume and/or an area less than respective volumes and/or areas of the first section and the second section of the internal cavity. Filler material may be provided in the internal cavity and can migrate to and from the first, second, and third sections based on rotational movement of the body and internal cavity.

Adjustable mass eccentric for multi-amplitude vibratory mechanism for compactor and system and method thereof

A construction vehicle includes a frame, at least one drum, and a vibratory system. The vibratory system includes a first eccentric weight, a second eccentric weight, and a shift assembly adapted to vary an amplitude of the vibratory system. The shift assembly includes a shaft member adapted to move along a first axis for changing a position of the first eccentric weight relative to the second eccentric weight. The shift assembly also includes an actuator and a fork assembly adapted to move the shaft member along the first axis. The fork assembly includes a fork fixedly coupled to the actuator. The fork assembly also includes a housing member concentrically disposed around the shaft member, wherein the fork is pivotally coupled to the housing member at a pair of pivot points defined proximate to the second end of the fork. The fork assembly further includes a bearing member.

Construction vehicle

A soil compactor machine can include a machine frame; at least one cylindrical roller drum rotatably coupled to the machine frame and rotatable about a drum axis oriented generally transverse to a direction of travel of the compactor machine; and a radar sensor mounted to a front portion of the machine frame and positioned forward of the roller drum, wherein the radar sensor is mounted to the machine frame by a sensor bracket configured to directly mount to the machine frame for both a blade and a non-blade soil compactor machine configuration.

Autonomous soil compactor front radar

A vibratory system for a compactor machine, the vibratory system optionally including a key shaft, an input shaft, a first output shaft and a second output shaft. The key shaft can have a first internal helically splined portion and a second internal helically splined portion. The first internal helically splined portion can be oppositely splined with respect to the second internal helically splined portion and arranged axially of the second internal helically splined portion. The input shaft can be configured with an external helically splined portion configured to be complimentary to the first internal helically splined portion of the key shaft. The first output shaft can be configured couple to the input shaft for rotation therewith. The second output shaft can have an external helically splined portion configured to be complimentary to the second internal helically splined portion of the key shaft.

Growing community of inventors

Minnetonka, MN, United States of America

Todd Alex Impola