System and Method for Monitoring a Machine

• US 20160076226A1
• Filed: 09/12/2014
• Published: 03/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Stanek, Daniel, Edara, Thandava K., Taylor, Michael, Wei, Mo, Becicka, Troy K.
• Granted Patent: US 9,605,415 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/205 Remotely operated machines, e.g. unmanned vehicles E02F3/8866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2054 Fleet management
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2066 of the type combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/267 Diagnosing or detecting failure of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 99/005 Testing of complete machines, e.g. washing-machines or mobile phones testing of machine parts G01M13/00; testing of electric apparatus or components G01R31/50
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0816 Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0841 Registering performance data recording measured values G01D; information storage G11B

Abstract

A system for monitoring a machine at a work site includes a prime mover, a ground-engaging drive mechanism to propel the machine, and a plurality of sensors. A controller generates propulsion commands to propel the machine about the work site in an autonomous or semi-autonomous manner and determines a plurality of performance characteristics of the machine. The controller further determines whether the plurality of performance characteristics meet a plurality of performance thresholds and generates an alert command if any of the plurality of performance characteristics do not meet the plurality of performance thresholds.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a machine at a work site, comprising:

a prime mover;

a ground-engaging drive mechanism operatively connected to the prime mover to propel the machine about the work site;

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

a controller configured to;

store a plurality of performance thresholds of the machine;

generate propulsion commands to propel the machine about the work site in an autonomous or semi-autonomous manner;

receive a plurality of signals from the plurality of sensors;

determine a plurality of performance characteristics of the machine based upon the plurality of signals;

determine whether the plurality of performance characteristics meet the plurality of performance thresholds; and

generate an alert command if any of the plurality of performance characteristics do not meet the plurality of performance thresholds.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of performance thresholds is movement of the machine along a predetermined distance over a predetermined time period.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of performance thresholds is slip of the ground-engaging drive mechanism over a predetermined time period.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to store a plurality of waypoints along a path of the machine and one of the plurality of performance thresholds is whether the machine has reached a waypoint within a predetermined time period.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of performance thresholds is an efficiency of machine operation.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of performance thresholds is an extent to which a work implement is under digging.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of performance thresholds is an extent to which a work implement is over digging.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of sensors is a position sensor associated with the machine for generating position signals indicative of a position of the machine at the work site.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to store an electronic map of the work site including a topography of the work site and whether the alert command is generated is dependent upon the topography at which the machine is operating.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to store an electronic map of the work site including material characteristics of the work site and whether the alert command is generated is dependent upon the material characteristics at which the machine is operating.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to monitor a plurality of machines, each machine including:

a controller configured to;

store a plurality of performance thresholds of the machine;

generate propulsion commands to propel the machine about the work site in an autonomous or semi-autonomous manner;

receive a plurality of signals from a plurality of sensors;

determine a plurality of performance characteristics of the machine based upon the plurality of signals;

determine whether the plurality of performance characteristics meet the plurality of performance thresholds; and

generate an alert command if any of the plurality of performance characteristics do not meet the plurality of performance thresholds.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the alert command identifies the machine that does not meet the plurality of performance thresholds.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to store a priority with respect to each performance threshold and the alert command includes the priority of a performance threshold that has not been met.

14. A controller implemented method of monitoring a machine at a work site, comprising:

storing a plurality of performance thresholds of the machine;

generating propulsion commands to propel the machine about the work site in an autonomous or semi-autonomous manner;

receiving a plurality of signals from a plurality of sensors associated with the machine;

determining a plurality of performance characteristics of the machine based upon the plurality of signals;

determining whether the plurality of performance characteristics meet the plurality of performance thresholds; and

generating an alert command if any of the plurality of performance characteristics do not meet the plurality of performance thresholds.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein one of the plurality of performance thresholds is movement of the machine along a predetermined distance over a predetermined time period.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein one of the plurality of performance thresholds is slip of the ground-engaging drive mechanism over a predetermined time period.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein one of the plurality of performance thresholds is whether the machine has reached a waypoint within a predetermined time period.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein one of the plurality of performance thresholds is an efficiency of machine operation.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein one of the plurality of performance thresholds is an extent to which a work implement is over digging.

20. A machine comprising:

a prime mover;

a ground-engaging work implement for engaging a work surface at a work site;

a ground-engaging drive mechanism operatively connected to the prime mover to propel the machine about the work site;

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

a controller configured to;

store a plurality of performance thresholds of the machine;

generate propulsion commands to propel the machine about the work site in an autonomous or semi-autonomous manner;

receive a plurality of signals from the plurality of sensors;

determine a plurality of performance characteristics of the machine based upon the plurality of signals;

determine whether the plurality of performance characteristics meet the plurality of performance thresholds; and

generate an alert command if any of the plurality of performance characteristics do not meet the plurality of performance thresholds.