AUTONOMOUS MACHINE CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20120089291A1
• Filed: 10/12/2010
• Published: 04/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: HALDER, Bibhrajit, Vitale, Andrew J.
• Application Number:
  US12/902,612
• Publication Number:
  US 20120089291A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/23
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/205 Remotely operated machines, e.g. unmanned vehicles E02F3/8866 takes precedence

Abstract

An offboard operator interface station configured to display a graphics user interface for an autonomous machine control system is disclosed. The graphics user interface may have an overall machine response field configured to display an arbitrated machine action currently being implemented on an autonomous machine. The graphics user interface may also have a responsible subsystem field configured to display which of a plurality of machine subsystems is contributing to the arbitrated machine action.

Claims

1. An offboard operator interface station configured to display a graphics user interface for an autonomous machine control system, the graphics user interface comprising:

an overall machine response field configured to display an arbitrated machine action currently being implemented on an autonomous machine; and

a responsible subsystem field configured to display which of a plurality of machine subsystems is contributing to the arbitrated machine action.

2. The offboard operator interface station of claim 1, further including a subsystem status list configured to display different machine actions recommended by the plurality of machine subsystems, from which the arbitrated machine action is determined.

3. The offboard operator interface station of claim 2, further including:

a regulated speed field configured to display a speed limit associated with the arbitrated machine action; and

a desired speed field associated with a current machine command.

4. The offboard operator interface station of claim 3, further including virtual controls configured to allow a user to regulate playback of recorded machine operation.

5. A computer readable medium for use with an autonomous machine control system, the computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method of machine control comprising:

monitoring a status of a plurality of machine components divided into separate subsystems and generating a plurality of recommended machine actions corresponding to the plurality of separate subsystems based on the status of each of the plurality of machine components;

arbitrating each of the plurality of recommended machine actions to determine an overall machine response; and

commanding implementation of the overall machine response.

6. The computer readable medium of claim 5, wherein the method further includes communicating with an offboard operator interface station the overall machine response and which of the plurality of subsystems contributed to the overall machine response.

7. The computer readable medium of claim 6, wherein the overall machine response is based on a recommended action having a highest severity level.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 6, wherein the method further includes maintaining the overall machine response until the highest severity level of the recommended actions has been reduced or the offboard operator interface station provides a manual override command.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 6, wherein, when the overall machine response includes turning off an associated autonomous machine, the method includes confirming that the autonomous machine has been turned off before changing the overall machine response, even if the recommended machine actions change before the autonomous machine has been turned off.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the method includes receiving from the offboard operator interface station a new route plan for the autonomous machine when the overall machine response changes.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 5, wherein the overall machine response is based on a combination of recommended actions and a severity level of each recommended action of the combination.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 5, wherein commanding implementation of the overall machine response includes directing separate commands to each of the plurality of subsystems.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 5, wherein the method further includes recording at least one of the status of the status of the plurality of components, the corresponding recommended machine actions, and the overall machine response.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 5, wherein the method includes following an emergency procedure in the event of miscommunication with the plurality of subsystems.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the emergency procedure includes commanding an associated autonomous machine to stop or stop and turn off depending on which of the plurality of subsystems is experiencing the miscommunication.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 5, further including providing an additional recommended machine action based on environmental conditions affecting machine operation, wherein the overall machine response is arbitrated based also on the additional recommended machine action.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 5, wherein the plurality of components includes at least one of an actuation component, a sensing component, and a communication component.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 5, wherein the overall machine response includes at least one of allowing normal machine operation, slowing an associated autonomous machine, stopping the autonomous machine, and turning off the autonomous machine.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 5, wherein generating the plurality of recommended actions includes continuously generating the plurality of recommended actions.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 5, wherein the plurality of subsystems includes one or more of a brake subsystem, a steering subsystem, an powertrain subsystem, a tool subsystem, and a guidance subsystem.