Caterpillar Inc.

Troy Kenneth Becicka

Michael Allen Taylor

Thandava Krishna Edara

Kenneth Lee Stratton

Mo Wei

Jean-Jacques Clar

Kyle Adam Edwards

Paul Russell Friend

Brian Gerard Funke

Daniel Stanek

Timothy Joe Felty

Seth J Redenbo

Robert J McGee

Lance Mathew Cowper

Frank Arthur Willis

Matthew Edward Kontz

Daniel Kimsey Dunn, Iii

Carl P Darukhanavala

Peter Beasley

Seth J Rodenbo

Kimberly N Stratton

Ross McAree

Paroma Banerjee

A system for controlling operation of a machine having a frame supported by ground engaging members and a work implement movably supported by the frame includes a machine position sensor and an implement position sensor to output data pertaining to a position and orientation of the machine and the work implement within a worksite. The system further includes a controller that receives the data output by the machine position sensor and the implement position sensor. The controller computes an amount of gap that is required for alignment of the machine and the work implement with a slot based on the received data. The controller then controls a movement of the ground engaging members for positioning the machine at the computed amount of gap from a cut point located within the slot prior to the work implement entering a cut position for performing a cut within the slot.

System for controlling operation of a machine

A system for moving material with a work implement includes an image display device, an operator input device, and a position sensor. A controller is configured to determine a position of a work surface at a work site, display a portion of the work site on the image display device including an operational location at the work area, modify a position of the operational location on the image display device with the operator input device to define a modified operational location, generate a material movement plan based upon the position of the work surface and modified operational location, and generate command instructions to move the machine according to the material movement plan.

System and method for modifying a material movement plan

A system for moving material from a first work area to a second work area includes a change in terrain sensor, a machine position sensor, and a controller. The controller performs first material moving operations including tip head operations until the void at the second work area is filled to a predetermined extent. The controller performs second material moving operation including backstacking operations until a predetermined amount of material has been moved from the first work area.

System and method for moving material

A terrain mapping system is disclosed for a machine having at least one traction device. The system may have a sensor associated with the machine and configured to generate a signal indicative of a position of the machine. The system may also have at least one controller in communication with the sensor. The at least one controller may be configured to receive the signal from the sensor, and divide an area between the at least one traction device and a work surface into a plurality of virtual tracking features based on the signal and known geometry of the machine. The at least one controller may also be configured to track movement of the plurality of virtual tracking features, and update an electronic terrain map of a worksite based on the movement of the plurality of virtual tracking features.

Terrain mapping system using virtual tracking features

A system for monitoring a machine at a work site includes a prime mover, a ground-engaging drive mechanism to propel the machine, and a plurality of sensors. A controller generates propulsion commands to propel the machine about the work site in an autonomous or semi-autonomous manner and determines a plurality of performance characteristics of the machine. The controller further determines whether the plurality of performance characteristics meet a plurality of performance thresholds and generates an alert command if any of the plurality of performance characteristics do not meet the plurality of performance thresholds.

System and method for monitoring a machine

A method, system, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for calibrating an implement actuation sensor of a machine are disclosed. The method may include calculating a first elevation value of an implement of the machine. The method may include calculating a second elevation value of a ground-engaging device of the machine. The method may include, in response to determining that the machine is spreading, adjusting the second elevation value based on a compaction factor to determine an adjusted second elevation value. The method may further include determining a first elevation difference value based on a difference between the first elevation value and the adjusted second elevation value. The method may further include calibrating the implement actuation sensor based on the determined difference.

Implement position calibration using compaction factor

A system for automated control of a machine includes a position sensor and a controller. The controller is configured to determine a position of a work surface along a first slot and along a second slot. The work surface along the first slot and the second slot define at least a portion of a berm. The controller is further configured to determine a physical characteristic of the first slot and the second slot and generate a berm reduction command if the physical characteristic of the first slot and the second slot is less than the characteristic threshold of the first slot and the second slot.

System and method for controlling the operation of a machine

A system for setting an end location of a path of operation of a machine at a work site includes a position sensor configured to determine a position of a path at the work site and a controller. The controller is configured to determine a position of a first path and a position of a second path, the first path and the second path defining a pair of paths on opposite sides of the path of operation and determine a physical characteristic of the pair of paths based upon the position of the first path and the position of the second path. The controller is further configured to determine whether the physical characteristic of the pair of paths is less than a threshold characteristic and set the end location of the path of operation if the physical characteristic of the pair of paths is less than the threshold characteristic.

System and method for setting an end location of a path

A system for remotely controlling a machine includes a remote input device, a transmitter remote from the machine, and a receiver at the machine. A controller is configured to store a desired communications threshold, receive input commands from the remote input device, generate a plurality of remote control input signals based upon the input commands, and transmit the plurality of remote control input signals at a location remote from the machine. The controller is further configured to receive at least some of the plurality of remote control input signals at the machine, determine a communications parameter based upon at least one of the plurality of remote control input signals, compare the communications parameter to the desired communications threshold, and generate a command to stop the machine if the communications parameter is outside the desired communications threshold.

System for remotely controlling a machine

A computer-implemented method for automatically detecting a need for a ripping pass to be performed by a machine along a work surface is provided. The method may include monitoring one or more of machine parameters of the machine and profile parameters of the work surface, determining whether one or more predefined trigger conditions suggestive of the need for the ripping pass are met based on the machine parameters and the profile parameters, and generating a ripping pass request if one or more of the trigger conditions are satisfied.

Automatic ripping pass detection

A method, system, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for calibrating an implement actuation sensor of a machine are disclosed. The method may include calculating a first elevation value of an implement of the machine in a gravity reference frame of the machine. The method may further include calculating a second elevation value of a ground-engaging device of the machine in the gravity reference frame of the machine. The method may further include determining a difference between the first elevation value and the second elevation value. The method may further include calibrating the implement actuation sensor based on the determined difference.

Implement position control system having automatic calibration

A method and system for determining an alignment error between sensors mounted to a machine is disclosed. The method may include calculating a first orientation value based on a signal received from a first sensor. The method may further include calculating a second orientation value based on a signal received from a second sensor. The method may further include calculating an alignment error between the first sensor and the second sensor based on a difference between the first orientation value and the second orientation value.

Machine positioning system having alignment error detection

A system for automated control of a machine within a work area having a crest includes a first data map and a second data map. At least one sensor system generates operating data indicative of a change in terrain and a controller compares the operating data to the first data map while the machine is within a zone adjacent the crest. If the change in terrain exceeds a threshold, the controller generates an alert command signal. A method is also provided.

System and method for operating a machine

A system for automated control of a machine having a ground engaging work implement includes an implement load sensor system. A controller determines a change in terrain based at least in part upon a change in the load on the ground engaging work implement. If the change in terrain exceeds a threshold, the controller generates an alert command signal. A method is also provided.

System and method for detecting a crest

A system for controlling movement of a machine includes a drive system, a position sensor, and a communications system. A controller is configured to determine the position of the machine and determine a signal transmission threshold based at least in part upon the position of the machine. The controller may stop movement of the machine upon an interruption in signal transmission from a remote system exceeding the signal transmission threshold.

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Sahuarita, AZ, United States of America

Troy Kenneth Becicka