SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ANALYZING A ROUTE LOCATION

• US 20100106415A1
• Filed: 10/28/2008
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Pierz, Stephen J., Paulson, Leslie J.
• Application Number:
  US12/259,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20100106415A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3602 Input other than that of destination using image analysis, e.g. detection of road signs, lanes, buildings, real preceding vehicles using a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08355 Routing methods
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 using optical or ultrasonic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/048 with provision for compensation of environmental or other condition, e.g. snow, vehicle stopped at detector

Abstract

A system and method for analyzing a route location is provided. The system has a position determining system for identifying a route location, a data measurement system on a machine for obtaining a route parameter at the route location at a first time and a route parameter at the route location at a second time; a data storage system for storing the route parameters; and a comparator for detecting a change in the route parameters over time.

Claims

1. A system for analyzing a route location, comprising:

a position determining system for identifying the route location;

a data measurement system on a machine for obtaining a route parameter at the route location at a first time and a route parameter at the route location at a second time;

a data storage system for storing the route parameters; and

a comparator for detecting a change in the route parameters over time.

2. The system of claim 1, including a data display system for displaying information corresponding to at least one route parameter.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the position determining system is a global positioning system.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the position determining system is a laser-guided system.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the route parameter includes a photographic image.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the route parameter includes an ultrasonic image.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the route parameter includes an infrared image.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the route parameter includes spectroscopic data.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the route parameter includes subsurface information.

11. The method of claim 1O, further comprising the step of displaying information corresponding to the first set of route parameter data and the second set of route parameter data.

10. A method of analyzing a route location, comprising the steps of:

identifying a route location;

obtaining a first set of route parameter data at the route location from a machine traversing the route at a first time;

recording the first set of route parameter data to a computer-readable storage medium;

obtaining a second set of route parameter data at the route location from a machine traversing the route at a second time; and

recording the second set of route parameter data to a computer-readable storage medium; and

comparing the first and second sets of route parameter data.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of sending a machine to the route location in response to the comparison of the first and second sets of route parameter data.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of scheduling a work task at the route location in response to the comparison of the first and second sets of route parameter data.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the work task includes removing material from the route location.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the work task includes changing a smoothness characteristic of the route location.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the work task includes moving water or snow at the route location.