Method and system for collecting machine operation data using a mobile device

• US 10,134,204 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2016
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Katter, Jr., James G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mawari, Redhwan K
• Assistant Examiner(s): Torchinsky, Edward
• Application Number:
  US15/162,660
• Publication Number:
  US 20170084089A1
• Time in Patent Office: 910 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/04 with a tipping movement of load-transporting element dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/02 Means for marking measuring points
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/02 Rotary gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/02 by making use of inertia forces using solid seismic massesG01P15/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/02 Agriculture; Fishing; Forestry; Mining
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/08 Construction
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2205/02 using a vehicle scan tool
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/02 Registering or indicating driving, working, idle, or waiting time only apparatus forming part of taximeters G07B13/00

Abstract

A method for collecting machine operation data of a machine is disclosed. Initially, first and second sensor data is determined by a mobile sensor of a mobile device processor located on or within a machine. A first dynamic characteristic is determined based on at least one of the first and second sensor data. Next, the mobile device connects wirelessly to an external computing platform and the first dynamic characteristic is transmitted from the mobile device to the external computing platform. Third and fourth sensor data are determined by the mobile sensor. A second dynamic characteristic is determined based on at least one of the third and fourth sensor data. The second dynamic characteristic is transmitted to the external computing platform. A first dynamic change is determined based on the first and second dynamic characteristics. A first operation performed by the machine is determined based on the first dynamic change.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining, by a mobile sensor included in a mobile device, first sensor data and second sensor data while the mobile device is located on or within a machine;

determining, by the mobile device and based on at least one of the first sensor data or the second sensor data, a first dynamic characteristic of the machine;

connecting wirelessly the mobile device to an external computing platform;

transmitting, by the mobile device, information identifying the first dynamic characteristic to the external computing platform;

determining, by the mobile sensor included in the mobile device, third sensor data and fourth sensor data while the mobile device is located on or within the machine;

determining, by the mobile device and based on at least one of the third sensor data or the fourth sensor data, a second dynamic characteristic of the machine;

transmitting, by the mobile device, information identifying the second dynamic characteristic to the external computing platform;

determining, based on the first dynamic characteristic and the second dynamic characteristic, a dynamic change of the machine,

the dynamic change being a profile of vibrational frequencies of the machine over time; and

determining, based on the profile of vibrational frequencies, an operation performed by the machine.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile sensor is at least one of an accelerometer, a gyroscopic sensor, a magnetometer, a Global Positioning System (GPS), an Assisted GPS (A-GPS), a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), or a WiFi based positioning system of the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first sensor data includes data regarding at least one of an acceleration, an angular velocity, an azimuth, a roll, a pitch, a latitude, a longitude, an altitude, a horizontal accuracy of the mobile device, or a magnetic field strength around the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first dynamic characteristic is at least one of a speed, an acceleration, or a direction of the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting machine data, regarding the operation performed by the machine, from the mobile device to the external computing platform.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the operation performed by the machine comprises:

determining, by the mobile device and based on the profile of vibrational frequencies, the operation performed by the machine.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining, the operation performed by the machine comprises:

determining, by the external computing platform and based on the profile of vibrational frequencies, the operation performed by the machine.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the first dynamic characteristic and the second dynamic characteristic in a memory of the mobile device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the mobile device, information regarding a machine type of the machine.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein determining the operation performed by the machine comprises:

determining, based on the machine type of the machine and the profile of vibrational frequencies, the operation performed by the machine.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving the information regarding the machine type of the machine comprises:

receiving an operator input at the mobile device,

the operator input indicating the information regarding the machine type of the machine.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing, by the mobile device, instructions to change the operation performed by the machine to a different operation of the machine based on the profile of vibrational frequencies.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

scanning an identifier on the machine to determine a type of the machine,

wherein determining the operation performed by the machine comprises;

determining the operation performed by the machine based on the profile of vibrational frequencies and the type of the machine.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying instructions to avoid a pothole or an obstruction indicated by the profile of vibrational frequencies; and

providing, for display or to the machine, the instructions.

15. A method comprising:

connecting, by a computing system, to a mobile device located on or within a machine;

receiving, by the computing system and from the mobile device, information identifying a first dynamic characteristic of the machine,

the first dynamic characteristic being determined based on at least one of first sensor data or second sensor data from a mobile sensor of the mobile device;

receiving, by the computing system and from the mobile device, information identifying a second dynamic characteristic of the machine,

the second dynamic characteristic being determined based on at least one of third sensor data or fourth sensor data from the mobile sensor of the mobile device;

determining, by the computing system and based on the first dynamic characteristic and the second dynamic characteristic, a dynamic change of the machine,

the dynamic change being a profile of vibrational frequencies of the machine over time; and

determining, by the computing system and based on the profile of vibrational frequencies, an operation performed by the machine.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein determining the operation performed by the machine comprises:

determining, based on a machine type of the machine and the profile of vibrational frequencies, the operation performed by the machine.

17. A mobile device comprising:

a mobile sensor; and

one or more processors to;

identify a first dynamic characteristic of a machine while the mobile device is located on or within the machine,

the first dynamic characteristic being based on sensor data from a mobile sensor of the mobile device;

identify a second dynamic characteristic of the machine while the mobile device is located on or within the machine;

determine, based on the first dynamic characteristic and the second dynamic characteristic, a dynamic change of the machine,

the dynamic change being a profile of vibrational frequencies of the machine over time; and

determine, based on the profile of vibrational frequencies, an operation performed by the machine.

18. The mobile device of claim 17,

wherein the one or more processors are further to:

identify information regarding a machine type of the machine after the mobile device is used to scan an identifier on the machine, and

wherein, when determining the operation performed by the machine, the one or more processors are to;

determine the operation performed by the machine based on the profile of vibrational frequencies and the information regarding the machine type.

19. The mobile device of claim 17, wherein the one or more processors are further to:

provide, based on the profile of vibrational frequencies, an instruction for the machine to avoid a location of a pothole.

20. The mobile device of claim 17, wherein the operation performed by the machine comprises one or more of:

a path traversed by the machine, or

a task performed by the machine.