Caterpillar Inc.

Yang Liu

Jonny Ray Greiner

Bhavin Jagdishbhai Vyas

Shawn Nainan Mathew

Christopher Ha

Bhavin Jagdishbhal Vyas

Conrad G Grembowicz

Masoud K Zavarehi

Qi Wang

William Todd Hasty

Yongtao Li

Todd Philip Cole

Sanghyun Shin

Larry James Wilson

Johny Greiner

Donald Franklin Smith, Jr

A controller-implemented method for automated control of at least one of an autonomous or semiautonomous machine to clear at least one windrow along a work surface. The method includes utilizing a visual perception sensor to detect said windrow, generating a plurality of windrow visual detection signals, determining a position of a windrow relative to the machine based upon the plurality of windrow visual detection signals, and generating machine control commands to clear the windrow.

System and method of autonomously clearing a windrow

A method for loading a payload carrier of a machine includes receiving, from a camera on the machine, a two-dimensional image of an interior of the payload carrier as material is loaded into the payload carrier. The method further includes filtering the image to identify a contour of the loaded material and determining an area of the contour. The method further includes controlling a display device indicate the determined area.

Optimizing loading of a payload carrier of a machine

A method for loading a payload carrier of a machine includes receiving, from a camera on the machine, a two-dimensional image of an interior of the payload carrier as material is loaded into the payload carrier. The method further includes sectioning the two-dimensional image into a plurality of regions, and determining, for individual of the regions, whether the region includes a representative of fill material. The method may also include determining a fill volume based on the regions having fill and those not having fill.

Determining payload carrier volume using a neural network

A method for managing haul routes in work environments comprises collecting performance data associated with a machine operating in a work environment. The method also includes determining a drive axle torque of the machine and estimating a total effective grade associated with the machine based on the drive axle torque. The estimated total effective grade is compared with a threshold level and, if the estimated total effective grade exceeds the threshold level, a design performance of the machine may be simulated based on the calculated total effective grade. Design performance data is compared with the collected performance data, and a payload limit of the machine is adjusted if the design performance is inconsistent with collected performance data.

Performance-based haulage management system

A method for managing haul routes in work environments comprises receiving performance criteria associated with a haul route and establishing a target total effective grade for at least one machine associated with the haul route based on the performance criteria. The method also includes collecting performance data associated with the at least one machine. A drive axle torque of the at least one machine is determined and an actual total effective grade associated with the at least one machine is estimated. The at least one machine is identified as an underperforming machine if the actual total effective grade for the at least one machine exceeds the target total effective grade. An average total effective grade for the at least one machine is determined as a function of the actual total effective grade. A haul route deficiency is identified if the average total effective grade exceeds a threshold level.

Systems and methods for improving haul route management

A method for improving haul road surface conditions comprises collecting performance data associated with at least one machine operating on a haul route and determining a rolling resistance of each of the at least one machine based on the performance data. An average rolling resistance associated with one or more portions of the haul route is determined based on the rolling resistance of each of the at least one machine. The one or more portions of the haul route are identified as irregular if the average rolling resistance of the one or more portions exceeds a threshold resistance value. A proposed modification to the irregular portion of the haul route is generated, and performance of the at least one machine is simulated based on the proposed modification. The method also includes outputting results of the simulated performance.

Systems and methods for improving haul road conditions

A method for haul road design based on greenhouse gas emissions comprises receiving a first set of performance data associated with a plurality of machines and establishing a greenhouse gas emission limit for the plurality of machines based on the first set of performance data. A target greenhouse gas emission level for each of the plurality of machines is determined based on the greenhouse gas emission limit, and total effective grade is determined based on the target greenhouse gas emission level for the respective machine. The method also includes generating a haul road design based on the total effective grade.

Systems and methods for haul road management based on greenhouse gas emissions

A method for designing a haul road based on machine performance comprises receiving one or more haul road parameters and identifying at least one type of machine to be operated on the haul road. The method also includes selecting at least one target operating parameter associated with the at least one type of machine and simulating performance of the at least one type of machine to predict an operating value corresponding with the at least one target operating parameter. If the predicted operating value is not within a threshold range of the corresponding target operating parameter, one or more haul road parameters are adjusted.

Systems and methods for designing a haul road

A method for data transfer between a client system and a server comprises receiving one or more user-defined file transfer specifications and establishing a communication channel between a client system and a server system based on the file transfer specifications. The method also includes initializing transfer of operation data between the client system and the server system via the communication channel. The method further includes providing an exception notification to one or more user-designated recipients if the transfer of the operation data between the client system and the server system is inconsistent with the file transfer specifications.

System and method for remote machine data transfer

A method of measuring rolling resistance of a machine is disclosed. The method may include determining a drive axle torque value of the machine and calculating a total effective grade value using the drive axle torque value. The method may further include determining at least one drivetrain efficiency loss factor value and calculating a total drivetrain efficiency loss value of the machine using the at least one drivetrain efficiency loss factor value. The method may also include determining position data of the machine and calculating an actual grade value based on the position data. The method may additionally include calculating a rolling resistance value of the machine by subtracting the actual grade value and the drivetrain efficiency loss value from the total effective grade value and outputting the rolling resistance value.

System and method for measuring machine rolling resistance

Individual cylinder output deviations from a normal operating engine cylinder are detected via an analysis of crank shaft speed fluctuations. In the detection phase, the engine is operated at a steady state low idle condition, and engine speed data is collected over a plurality of engine cycles. This data is then averaged, filtered and compared to expected engine speed data. A substantial deviation from the expected speed data in the region of crank shaft angles associated with an individual cylinder during its power stroke adjacent its top dead center position indicates a power level deviation in that cylinder. The magnitude of the power level deviation can then be assessed through a similar procedure where engine speed data is collected, averaged, filtered and compared to expected engine speed data when the engine is operating in a steady state rated condition.

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Dunlap, IL, United States of America

Yang Liu