VEHICLE MODEL CALIBRATION SYSTEM FOR A MOBILE MACHINE

• US 20130000092A1
• Filed: 06/30/2011
• Published: 01/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Hukkeri, Ramadev Burigsay, Taylor, Michael Allen
• Application Number:
  US13/173,341
• Publication Number:
  US 20130000092A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/402.01
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/021 specially adapted to land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49718 Repairing

Abstract

A method of calibrating a vehicle model is disclosed. A machine is autonomously controlled based on the vehicle model to perform an operation at a worksite. During performance of the operation, at least one condition is identified for which the vehicle model is to be calibrated. Machine performance of the operation is determined during the at least one condition. The vehicle model is selectively adjusted based on the determination.

Claims

1. A method of calibrating a vehicle model, comprising:

autonomously controlling a machine, based on the vehicle model, to perform an operation at a worksite;

during performance of the operation, identifying at least one condition for which the vehicle model is to be calibrated;

determining machine performance of the operation during the at least one condition; and

selectively adjusting the vehicle model based on the determination.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining machine performance includes comparing a predicted performance of the operation during the at least one condition with an actual performance of the operation during the at least one condition, and

wherein selectively adjusting the vehicle model includes selectively adjusting the vehicle model based on the comparison.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining machine performance includes comparing a predicted performance of the operation during the at least one condition with an actual performance of the operation during the at least one condition, and

wherein selectively adjusting the vehicle model includes selectively adjusting the vehicle model when a result of the comparison is greater than a threshold amount.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining machine performance includes determining that a difference between a predicted performance of the operation during the at least one condition and an actual performance of the operation during the at least one condition exceeds a threshold amount,

wherein selectively adjusting the vehicle model includes selectively adjusting the vehicle model based on the difference, and

wherein the method further includes:

continuing adjustment of the vehicle model until a difference between a predicted performance of the operation during the at least one condition using the adjusted vehicle model and an actual performance of the operation during the at least one condition using the adjusted vehicle model is less than the threshold amount.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining machine performance includes comparing an actual performance of the operation during the at least one condition with a performance of the operation during the at least one condition which is predicted using the vehicle model, and

wherein selectively adjusting the vehicle model includes selectively adjusting the vehicle model based on the comparison.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining machine performance includes comparing an actual performance of the operation during the at least one condition with a performance of the operation during the at least one condition which is predicted using the vehicle model, and

wherein selectively adjusting the vehicle model includes selectively adjusting the vehicle model when a result of the comparison is greater than a threshold amount.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining machine performance further includes using at least one sensor on the machine to determine an actual performance of the machine during the at least one condition.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the at least one sensor is any of a speed sensor configured to sense a speed of the machine, a steering angle sensor configured to sense a steering angle of the machine, a load weight sensor configured to sense a weight hauled by the machine, a weight distribution sensor configured to sense a weight distribution of a load hauled by the machine, an orientation sensor configured to sense an orientation of the machine, a location sensor configured to sense a geographical location of the machine, and a heading sensor configured to sense a heading of the machine.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein identifying at least one condition further includes identifying a weight at which the machine is expected to be loaded on the worksite as the condition, and

wherein determining machine performance further includes loading the machine with the weight and determining machine performance loaded at the weight.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein determining machine performance further includes determining steering performance of the machine loaded at the weight.

11. A method of calibrating a vehicle model, comprising:

autonomously controlling a machine, based on the vehicle model, to perform an operation at a specified calibration area of a worksite;

during performance of the operation, identifying at least one condition for which the vehicle model is to be calibrated;

determining machine performance of the operation during the at least one condition; and

selectively adjusting the vehicle model based on the determination.

12. The method according to claim 11, further including:

detecting, with a sensor on the machine, that an area of the worksite is suitable to be used as the calibration area.

13. The method according to claim 11, further including:

programming the machine to drive to the calibration area.

14. The method according to claim 11, further including:

prior to autonomously controlling the machine on the worksite, programming the machine to include a vehicle model that is based on a calibrated vehicle model from another machine.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein determining machine performance includes comparing a predicted performance of the operation during the at least one condition with an actual performance of the operation during the at least one condition, and

wherein selectively adjusting the vehicle model includes selectively adjusting the vehicle model based on the comparison.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein determining machine performance includes comparing a predicted performance of the operation during the at least one condition with an actual performance of the operation during the at least one condition, and

wherein selectively adjusting the vehicle model includes selectively adjusting the vehicle model when a result of the comparison is greater than a threshold amount.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein determining machine performance includes determining that a difference between a predicted performance of the operation during the at least one condition and an actual performance of the operation during the at least one condition exceeds a threshold amount,

wherein selectively adjusting the vehicle model includes selectively adjusting the vehicle model based on the difference, and

wherein the method further includes:

continuing adjustment of the vehicle model until a difference between a predicted performance of the operation during the at least one condition using the adjusted vehicle model and an actual performance of the operation using the adjusted vehicle model is less than the threshold amount.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein determining machine performance includes comparing an actual performance of the operation during the at least one condition with a performance of the operation during the at least one condition predicted using the vehicle model, and

wherein selectively adjusting the vehicle model includes selectively adjusting the vehicle model based on the comparison.

19. The method according to claim 11, wherein determining machine performance includes comparing an actual performance of the operation during the at least one condition with a performance of the operation during the at least one condition predicted using the vehicle model, and

wherein selectively adjusting the vehicle model includes selectively adjusting the vehicle model when a result of the comparison is greater than a threshold amount.

20. A computer readable medium having executable instructions for performing a method for vehicle model calibration, the method comprising:

autonomously controlling a machine, based on the vehicle model, to perform an operation at a worksite;

during performance of the operation, identifying at least one condition for which the vehicle model is to be calibrated;

determining machine performance of the operation during the at least one condition; and

selectively adjusting the vehicle model based on the determination.