Slippage condition response system

• US 20100152946A1
• Filed: 12/17/2008
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Koch, Roger Dale
• Granted Patent: US 8,073,609 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09675 where a selection from the received information takes place in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 where the origin of the information is another vehicle

Abstract

A slippage condition response system for a machine is disclosed. The response system may have a sensing system configured to sense a parameter indicative of a slippage condition of the machine. Additionally, the response system may have a locator configured to sense a parameter indicative of a location of the machine. The response system may also have a map configured to store at least one known slippage condition location. Each known slippage condition location may have a slippage condition position and a modified speed limit. In addition, the response system may have a controller, which may be in communication with the sensing system, the locator, and the map. The controller may be configured to monitor the location of the machine, monitor the parameter indicative of a slippage condition of the machine, and update the map, based on the monitored parameter and the monitored location.

Claims

1. A slippage condition response system for a machine, comprising:

a sensing system configured to sense a parameter indicative of a slippage condition of the machine;

a locator configured to sense a parameter indicative of a location of the machine;

a map configured to store at least one known slippage condition location, each known slippage condition location including;

a slippage condition position, and

a modified speed limit; and

a controller in communication with the sensing system, the locator, and the map, the controller being configured to;

monitor the location of the machine,

monitor the parameter indicative of a slippage condition of the machine, and

update the map, based on the monitored parameter and the monitored location.

2. The slippage condition response system of claim 1, wherein the locator is included in the sensing system.

3. The slippage condition response system of claim 1, wherein the map is stored in and updated by an offboard system.

4. The slippage condition response system of claim 3, wherein the offboard system includes a worksite control facility.

5. The slippage condition response system of claim 1, wherein the sensing system includes at least one of a pose device, a steering angle sensor, a traction device speed sensor, or an accelerometer.

6. The slippage condition response system of claim 1, wherein each known slippage condition location further includes a traversal count indicative of a number of traversals of the slippage condition position of the known slippage condition location, wherein the traversals are:

at the modified speed limit of the known slippage condition location, and

without experiencing a slippage condition.

7. A slippage condition response system for a machine, comprising:

a locator configured to sense a parameter indicative of a location of the machine;

a map configured to store at least one known slippage condition location, each known slippage condition location including;

a slippage condition position, and

a modified speed limit; and

a controller in communication with the locator and the map, the controller being configured to;

monitor the location of the machine, and

adjust a speed of the machine, based on the monitored location and the map.

8. The slippage condition response system of claim 7, further including a sensing system configured to sense a parameter indicative of a slippage condition of the machine, wherein the controller is in communication with the sensing system and is further configured to:

monitor the parameter indicative of a slippage condition of the machine, and

update the map, based on the monitored parameter and the monitored location.

9. The slippage condition response system of claim 8, wherein the sensing system includes at least one of the locator, a pose device, a steering angle sensor, a traction device speed sensor, or an accelerometer.

10. The slippage condition response system of claim 7, wherein each known slippage condition location further includes a traversal count indicative of a number of traversals of the slippage condition position of the known slippage condition location, wherein the traversals are:

at the modified speed limit of the known slippage condition location, and

without experiencing a slippage condition.

11. The slippage condition response system of claim 7, wherein each known slippage condition location further includes a time at which a slippage condition was last experienced at the slippage condition position of the known slippage condition location.

12. The slippage condition response system of claim 7, wherein the map is stored in and updated by an offboard system.

13. A method of responding to a slippage condition, comprising:

monitoring a location of a first machine;

determining, based on the monitored location of the first machine, that the first machine is approaching a slippage condition position of a known slippage condition location stored in a map, the known slippage condition location also including a modified speed limit; and

adjusting a speed of the first machine, based on the modified speed limit of the known slippage condition location.

14. The method of claim 13, further including:

monitoring a location of a second machine;

monitoring a parameter indicative of a slippage condition of the second machine; and

updating the map, based on the monitored location of the second machine and the monitored parameter indicative of a slippage condition of the second machine.

15. The method of claim 13, further including:

monitoring a parameter indicative of a slippage condition of the first machine; and

updating the map, based on the monitored location of the first machine and the monitored parameter indicative of a slippage condition of the first machine.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the monitoring of the parameter indicative of a slippage condition of the first machine includes monitoring a parameter indicative of a slippage condition of the first machine affecting at least one of a heading or the location of the first machine.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the monitoring of the parameter indicative of a slippage condition of the first machine includes monitoring a parameter indicative of a slippage condition of the first machine causing one or more traction devices of the first machine to rotate irregularly.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the known slippage condition location further includes a traversal count indicative of a number of traversals of the slippage condition position of the known slippage condition location, wherein the traversals are;

at the modified speed limit of the known slippage condition location, and

without experiencing a slippage condition; and

the updating of the map includes incrementing the traversal count.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the known slippage condition location further includes a time at which a slippage condition was last experienced at the slippage condition position of the known slippage condition location; and

the updating of the map includes setting the time.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the updating of the map includes adding a known slippage condition location to the map.