Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies LLC

Tony Ross Metzger

Michael William Bridenbaugh

Steven D Ott

Brad Robert Van De Veer

Joseph Leo Faivre

Randall Todd Anderson

Bradley P Krone

Andrew John Kieser

Bryan Everett Copeland

Bruce John Wiewel

Nathan Daniel French

David Allen Ober

Robert L Powers

Richard Ryan Evenson

Qi Xing

Chau Le

Chris Ha

Steve Ott

Katherine Miller

Richard R Evenson

A method for building a pad at a construction site using a geography-altering machine, the method comprising: receiving a design for the pad at the geography-altering machine, receiving a terrain surface model of the construction site at the geography-altering machine, wherein the terrain surface model is generated using an imaging device located on the geography-altering machine, generating a cut-and-fill map at the geography-altering machine based on the design for the pad and the terrain surface model, generating guidance for building the pad at the geography-altering machine, wherein the guidance includes a starting location and moving directions for the geography-altering machine, monitoring process of building the pad using the imaging device on the geography-altering machine; and updating the cut-and-fill map and the guidance based on the monitored process.

Systems and methods for building a pad

In one aspect, a method for shared access of a machine for operator training, the machine including a traction device and an implement, includes receiving an authorization from an access device to share access to the machine, and entering a shared control state based on at least the authorization received from the access device. The method also includes receiving commands from a remote operation device during the shared control state and operating at least one of the traction device or the implement of the machine based on at least the commands from the remote operation device while an operator is present in the machine.

Remote training system and method

Display screen with animated icon

Display screen with icon

An earthmoving system includes a blade, a controller, and a blade control system configured to control the positioning of the blade. While grading, the earthmoving system is configured to simultaneously position the blade according to each of a fixed slope grading mode, a design driven control grading mode, and an fixed load grading mode.

Grading mode integration

A device for managing material delivery productivity is disclosed. The device may receive information identifying a job site, a load zone, a dump zone, a quantity of loads, and a material. The device may provide, to a user device associated with a machine, information indicating that the load zone, the dump zone, the quantity of loads, and the material are assigned to the machine, and may receive, over a time period, location information associated with the machine. The device may determine statuses of the machine over the time period and based on the location information, and may calculate a dump count of the material and a quantity of material delivery cycles, for the machine and at a particular time, based on the statuses of the machine. The device may perform an action based on the dump count of the material and the quantity of material delivery cycles.

Managing material delivery productivity

A machine having a ground-engaging work tool is disclosed includes a traction device configured to move the machine on a ground surface, a control system configured to determine a slip experienced by the machine as the machine moves on the ground surface, and a display device. The display device may be configured to pictorially display (a) the determined slip, and (b) one or more target ranges of slip, wherein the machine efficiency when slip has a value within a target range may be higher compared to the efficiency when slip is outside the target range.

Performance monitor for a machine

A method of controlling a blade of an earthmoving system is disclosed. The method includes enabling independent blade control so that the blade is controllable independent of the terrain contour design while a cutting edge of the blade is beneath the terrain contour design, and receiving first sensor signals from one or more first sensors of the earthmoving system, where the sensor signals indicate that the cutting edge of the blade is within a threshold distance from the terrain contour design. In response to receiving the first sensor signals, the method automatically controls the cutting edge of the blade to the terrain contour design, where the movement of the blade is dependent on the terrain contour design.

Blade control below design

An input device is disclosed for use with a machine having a work tool. The input device may have a handle with proximal and distal ends. The input device may also have a proportional control element located at the distal end, and configured to pivot in a first direction to generate a first signal and to pivot in a second direction to generate a second signal. The work tool may have a first axis of rotation that is generally horizontal relative to a ground surface and generally perpendicular relative to a travel direction, and a second axis of rotation that is generally vertical relative to the ground surface and generally perpendicular relative to the first axis. The first signal may be indicative of a desire to pitch the work tool about the first axis, and the second signal may be indicative of a desire to yaw the work tool about the second axis.

Machine input device having multi-axis tool control

Controller

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Congerville, IL, United States of America

Tony Ross Metzger