Work machine operating system and method

• US 20050283295A1
• Filed: 06/22/2004
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Sarl (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Sarl (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: Normann, James Brian
• Granted Patent: US 7,539,570 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/26 Indicating devices E02F5/145 takes precedence

Abstract

A method is provided of operating a work machine having at least one work tool. The method includes sensing at least one operational characteristic of the work machine indicative of an application of the work tool. The operation of the work machine is altered in response to a new application of the work tool.

Claims

1. A method of operating a work machine having at least one work tool, comprising:

sensing at least one operational characteristic of the work machine indicative of an application of the work tool of the work machine; and

altering the operation of the work machine in response to a new application of the work tool.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the altering of the operation of the work machine requires operator approval.

3. The method of claim 1, further including performing at least one operation step of the new application automatically, without operator input.

4. The method of claim 1, further including sensing at least one operational characteristic of the work machine indicative of an operator experience level.

5. The method of claim 4, further including altering the operation of the work machine in response to an operator experience level.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one operational characteristic is measured by at least one of a fluid pressure sensor, a work tool position sensor, or a fluid flow sensor of the work machine.

7. The method of claim 1, further including altering the operation of the work tool in response to a new application of the work tool.

8. A method of operating a work machine having at least one work tool, comprising:

sensing at least one operational characteristic of the work machine; and

altering the operation of the work machine in a manner specific to the application being performed by the at least one work tool of the machine, the altering of the operation being based on the sensing of the at least one operational characteristic of the work machine.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one operational characteristic is indicative of an application of the at least one work tool being performed by the machine.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one operational characteristic is indicative of an operator experience level.

11. The method of claim 10, further including altering the operation of the work machine in a manner specific to the operator experience level.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one operational characteristic is measured by at least one of a fluid pressure sensor, a work tool position sensor, or a fluid flow sensor of the work machine.

13. The method of claim 8, further including:

sensing a plurality of operational characteristics of the work machine;

creating an application signature indicative of the application being performed by the at least one work tool; and

comparing the application signature to a known application signature.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the altering requires operator approval.

15. The method of claim 8, further including performing at least one aspect of the application being performed by the machine automatically, without operator input.

16. The method of claim 8, further including altering the operation of the work tool in response to the sensing of the at least one operational characteristic of the work machine.

17. A method of operating a work machine having at least one work tool, comprising:

operating the work machine for a first work tool application;

operating the work machine for a second work tool application different than the first work tool application;

sensing at least one operational characteristic of the work machine during the second work tool application; and

automatically performing at least one operational step of the second work tool application in a manner specific to the second application.

18. The method of claim 17, further including:

sensing a plurality of operational characteristics of the work machine during the second work tool application;

creating an application signature indicative of the second work tool application; and

comparing the application signature to a known application signature.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the performing of the at least one operational step requires operator approval.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one operational characteristic is indicative of the second application.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one operational characteristic is indicative of an operator experience level.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one operational characteristic is measured by at least one of a fluid pressure sensor, a work tool position sensor, or a fluid flow sensor of the work machine.

23. The method of claim 17, further including altering the operation of the work tool in response to the sensing of the at least one operational characteristic.

24. A method of operating a work machine having at least one work tool, comprising:

operating the work machine for a first work tool application;

operating the work machine for a second work tool application different than the first work tool application;

sensing at least one operational characteristic of the work machine during the second work tool application;

requiring operator approval to automatically alter the operation of the work machine; and

automatically performing at least one aspect of the second work tool application based on the sensing of the at least one operational characteristic of the work machine.

25. The method of claim 24, further including:

sensing a plurality of operational characteristics of the work machine during the second work tool application;

creating an application signature indicative of the second work tool application; and

comparing the application signature to a known application signature.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least one operational characteristic is indicative of the second work tool application.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least one operational characteristic is indicative of an operator experience level.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the at least one operational characteristic is measured by at least one of a fluid pressure sensor, a work tool position sensor, or a fluid flow sensor of the work machine.

29. The method of claim 24, further including altering the operation of the work tool in response to the sensing of the plurality of operational characteristics.

30. A work machine, comprising:

at least one work tool;

at least one sensor configured to sense at least one operational characteristic of the work machine indicative of an application of the work tool; and

a control unit configured to alter the operation of the work machine in response to a new application of the work tool.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to sense at least one operational characteristic of the work machine indicative of an operator experience level.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the control unit is configured to alter the operation of the work machine in response to an operator experience level.

33. The system of claim 30, wherein the at least one sensor is a fluid pressure sensor, a work tool position sensor, or a fluid flow sensor.

34. The system of claim 30, further including an electric control configured to alter the operation of the work tool in response to the new application of the work tool