Laser Sensors For Trolley Guidance Signal
First Claim
1. A method for guiding an off-highway truck along a roadway with respect to a trolley line, the off-highway truck having a processor configured as a controller, the method comprising:
- the controller determining a position of the off-highway truck on the roadway by sensing two or more roadside objects located beside the roadway;
the controller using the determined position of the off-highway truck on the roadway and a known position of the trolley line relative to the two or more roadside objects to automatically determine a relative position of the off-highway truck under the trolley line; and
based on the determined relative position of the off-highway truck under the trolley line, the controller automatically steering the off-highway truck to alter the position of the off-highway truck relative to the trolley line.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for guiding an off-highway truck along a roadway with respect to a trolley line determine a position of the off-highway truck on the roadway by sensing two or more roadside objects and uses the determined position of the off-highway truck and a known position of the trolley line relative to the two or more roadside objects to automatically determine a relative position of the off-highway truck under the trolley line. Based on the relative position of the off-highway truck under the trolley line, the off-highway truck is automatically steered to alter the position of the off-highway truck relative to the trolley line, e.g., to maintain an electrical power flow from the trolley line to the off-highway truck.
16 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method for guiding an off-highway truck along a roadway with respect to a trolley line, the off-highway truck having a processor configured as a controller, the method comprising:
-
the controller determining a position of the off-highway truck on the roadway by sensing two or more roadside objects located beside the roadway; the controller using the determined position of the off-highway truck on the roadway and a known position of the trolley line relative to the two or more roadside objects to automatically determine a relative position of the off-highway truck under the trolley line; and based on the determined relative position of the off-highway truck under the trolley line, the controller automatically steering the off-highway truck to alter the position of the off-highway truck relative to the trolley line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A system for automatic guidance of an off-highway truck at a work site, the work site including a trolley line for supplying electric power to the off-highway truck, the trolley line running along a roadway having two or more roadside features, the system comprising:
-
a pantograph for selectively contacting the trolley line; one or more sensors associated with the off highway truck; and a controller linked to the one or more sensors and to a machine steering control and configured to detect a position of the off-highway truck relative to the trolley line by detecting the two or more roadside features and to automatically steer the truck via the machine steering control to maintain the pantograph in contact with the trolley line. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A system for automatic guidance of an off-highway truck having an onboard laser sensor, the system including:
-
a trolley line for supplying electric power to the off-highway truck, the trolley line running along a roadway; a plurality of poles positioned consecutively in the direction of the roadway and positioned at a fixed distance from the trolley line in a direction perpendicular to the roadway; and a reflective element fixed to each of the plurality of poles at a fixed distance above the roadway such that the laser sensor of the off-highway truck is able to detect two or more of the plurality of poles based on reflections from the reflective elements associated with the two or more of the plurality of poles.
-
Specification