Worksite preparation method using compaction response and mapping information

• US 20070239338A1
• Filed: 09/07/2006
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Corcoran, Paul T., Brandt, Everett G., Congdon, Thomas M., Potts, Dean
• Application Number:
  US11/517,066
• Publication Number:
  US 20070239338A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/288 adapted for monitoring characteristics of the material being compacted, e.g. indicating resonant frequency, measuring degree of compaction, by measuring values, detectable on the roller; using detected values to control operation of the roller, e.g. automatic adjustment of vibration responsive to such measurements
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 1/022 by investigating mechanical properties of the soil E02D1/027 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 3/02 Improving by compacting E02D3/11 takes precedence; compacting soil locally before or while forming foundations E02D27/26, E02D27/28
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 3/026 by rolling with rollers usable only for or specially adapted for soil compaction, e.g. sheepsfoot rollers rollers for soil working in agriculture A01B29/00; rollers for road paving, such rollers usable also for compacting soil E01C19/23

Abstract

A worksite preparation method includes moving a compactor machine across at least one region of a worksite, and sensing values indicative of a compaction response of work material in a compacted region. The method also includes generating a machine traffic plan in real time responsive to the sensed values, outputting control signals corresponding to the machine traffic plan and taking a worksite fill action responsive to the control signals.

Claims

1. A method of preparing a worksite comprising the steps of:

moving a compactor machine across at least one region of the worksite;

sensing values indicative of a work material compaction response in at least one region of the worksite; and

generating a machine traffic plan for the worksite responsive to the sensed values at least in part via an electronic controller of the compactor machine.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of broadcasting a control signal corresponding to the machine traffic plan from the compactor machine.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising a step of taking a worksite fill action responsive to the broadcast control signal, including a step of selectively depositing a work material fill load at the worksite responsive to the control signal.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the steps of:

receiving position signals indicative of a relative position of the compactor machine within the work area; and

determining a work material compaction response associated with each one of a plurality of regions of the worksite responsive to the position signals and sensed values.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of selectively depositing a work material fill load further comprises:

depositing a work material fill load at a first region, if the compaction response associated with the first region is a target compaction response and the region is not at a desired fill state; and

depositing a work material fill load at a region different from the first region, if the compaction response associated with the first region differs from a target compaction response.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of selectively depositing a work material fill load further comprises depositing a work material fill load at a region different from the first region, if the determined compaction response of the first region is a target compaction response and the first region is at a desired fill state.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of selectively depositing a work material fill load comprises controlling a lift thickness of the fill load based at least in part on a compaction response of work material in a selected region.

8. The method of claim 2 further comprising a step of determining a moisture condition of at least one region of the worksite responsive to the sensed values, wherein the generating step comprises generating the machine traffic plan responsive to the determined moisture condition, if the determined moisture condition is an undesired moisture condition.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the broadcasting step includes broadcasting a machine dispatching control signal responsive to an undesired moisture condition, the method further comprising a step of receiving the machine dispatching control signal with a machine separate from the compactor machine and responsively adjusting a moisture condition of the at least one region.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein moving the compactor machine across the at least one region includes moving the compactor machine across the at least one region via a plurality of preliminary passes, the method further comprising the steps of moving the compactor machine across the at least one region via a plurality of subsequent passes, sensing values indicative of a work material compaction response in the at least one region during the plurality of subsequent passes, and generating a different machine traffic plan for the worksite responsive to the values sensed during the subsequent passes.

11. A method of preparing a worksite comprising the steps of:

moving a compactor machine across at least one region of the worksite;

determining a work material compaction response associated with at least one region of the worksite;

generating a signal associated with the compaction response of the at least one region;

receiving the generated signal with a machine different from the compactor machine; and

taking a work material fill action at the worksite responsive to the signal with a machine different from the compactor machine.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of determining a compaction response includes determining a compaction response of a work material in each one of a plurality of regions of the worksite, and wherein the step of taking a work material fill action comprises a step of selecting one of the plurality of regions for deposition of a work material fill load.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising a step of receiving position signals indicative of a relative position of the compactor machine within the work area, wherein the determining step includes sensing values indicative of work material relative compaction with at least one sensor of the compactor machine, and determining a compaction response associated with each one of the respective regions based at least in part on the position signals and the sensed values.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising a step of generating a machine traffic plan for the worksite responsive to the determined compaction response associated with each one of the respective regions of the worksite.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of generating a signal comprises generating a machine maneuvering control signal according to the machine traffic plan, and the receiving step comprises receiving the machine maneuvering control signal with a machine configured to transport and deposit a work material fill load at the worksite.

16. The method of claim 15 comprising a step of generating a lift thickness deposition signal, wherein the step of taking an action comprises depositing a work material fill load at a desired lift thickness at the worksite responsive to the lift thickness deposition signal.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of generating a signal comprises generating a machine dispatching control signal according to the machine traffic plan, and the receiving step comprises receiving the dispatching control signal with a machine configured to adjust a work material moisture condition at the worksite.

18. A worksite preparation system comprising:

a compactor machine;

at least one sensor configured to sense parameter values indicative of a work material compaction response in a region of the worksite; and

at least one electronic controller coupled with the at least one sensor and configured via a worksite fill planning control algorithm to generate a machine traffic plan control signal responsive to the sensed parameter values.

19. The worksite preparation system of claim 18 wherein the at least one sensor comprises a sensor of the compactor machine configured to sense values indicative of relative compaction of the work material during a compactor pass across a region of the worksite, and wherein the at least one electronic controller includes an electronic controller mounted on the compactor machine and configured to broadcast the worksite traffic plan control signal from the compactor machine.

20. The worksite preparation system of claim 19 wherein the at least one electronic controller is configured via the fill planning control algorithm to determine at least one of, an excess moisture condition, an insufficient moisture condition, a lift thickness condition and a target compaction condition of a selected region of the worksite, and further configured to generate said worksite traffic plan control signal responsive to a determined condition.