Monitoring System for a Machine

• US 20140170617A1
• Filed: 12/19/2012
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Johnson, Lonny E., Mason, James, Felty, Timothy, Kherat, Samir M.
• Application Number:
  US13/719,591
• Publication Number:
  US 20140170617A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/219
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/04 Access control involving a hierarchy in access rights
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/167 Control of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/06 with both visual and audible presentation of the material to be studied

Abstract

A system for reporting operator performance of a machine includes a plurality of sensors and a communications interface. A portable computing device is removably mounted on the machine and has a user identification data code unique to a machine operator. A controller determines an identity of the machine operator based upon the user identification data code, determine the operating conditions based upon signals from the sensors. The controller generates a performance report based at least in part upon performance data and provides the performance report to at least one of the portable computing device and a system remote from the machine.

Claims

1. A system for reporting operator performance of a machine at a work site, comprising:

a plurality of sensors for generating signals indicative of operating conditions of the machine;

a communications interface for communicating with a system remote from the machine;

a portable computing device removably mounted on the machine, the portable computing device having;

a processor; and

a data storage system including a user identification data code unique to a machine operator; and

a controller configured to;

communicate with components of the portable computing device;

determine an identity of the machine operator based upon the user identification data code;

receive signals from the plurality of sensors;

determine the operating conditions of the machine based upon the signals received from the plurality of sensors;

determine performance data generated as a result of operation of the machine;

generate a performance report based at least in part upon the performance data; and

provide the performance report to at least one of the portable computing device and the system remote from the machine.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to provide a performance report to both the portable computing device and the system remote from the machine.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to provide a first performance report to the portable computing device and a second performance report to the system remote from the machine.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first performance report further includes instructions for an operator to improve performance.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the performance data based at least in part upon the operating conditions of the machine.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to store the performance data as the machine performs a plurality of tasks.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the performance data includes instances of traction device slippage.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the controller includes predetermined ranges of acceptable machine positions and the performance data includes instances in which the machine is positioned outside of the predetermined ranges.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the performance data includes instances in which the machine was within a predetermined distance from a keep-out area.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the performance data further includes visual data.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the visual data includes images of the work site.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to provide feedback during operation of the machine.

13. A method for reporting operator performance of a machine at a work site, comprising:

removably mounting a portable computing device on the machine, the portable computing device having a processor and a data storage system including a user identification data code unique to a machine operator;

communicating with components of the portable computing device;

determining an identity of the machine operator based upon the user identification data code;

receiving signals from a plurality of sensors for generating signals indicative of operating conditions of the machine;

determining the operating conditions of the machine based upon the signals received from the plurality of sensors;

determining performance data generated as a result of operation of the machine;

generating a performance report based at least in part upon the performance data; and

providing the performance report to at least one of the portable computing device and a system remote from the machine.

14. The method of claim 13, further including providing the performance report to both the portable computing device and the system remote from the machine.

15. The method of claim 14, further including providing a first performance report to the portable computing device and providing a second performance report to the system remote from the machine.

16. The method of claim 15, further including providing instructions with the first performance report for an operator to improve performance.

17. The method of claim 13, further including determining the performance data based at least in part upon the operating conditions of the machine.

18. The method of claim 13, further including storing the performance data as the machine performs a plurality of tasks.

19. The method of claim 13, further including providing feedback to an operator during operation of the machine.

20. A method of monitoring operator performance of a machine at a work site, comprising:

removably mounting a portable computing device on the machine, the portable computing device having a portable device controller;

receiving signals from a plurality of sensors operatively associated with the machine indicative of operating conditions of the machine;

determining the operating conditions of the machine based upon the signals;

transmitting a plurality of machine signals to a machine instrument array indicative of the operating conditions of the machine and, for each operating condition, the machine instrument array having a predetermined configuration;

transmitting visual image signals from a visual image sensor indicative of a point of view relative to the machine to a remote console;

displaying point of view images at the remote console based upon the visual image signals;

determining a plurality of console signals indicative of the operating conditions of the machine and defining a configuration of a console instrument array of the remote console and, for each of a plurality of the operating conditions, the configuration of the console instrument array being generally identically to the predetermined configuration of the machine instrument array; and

transmitting the plurality of console signals to the console instrument array of the remote console.