SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GUIDING A COMPACTING MACHINE

• US 20160222602A1
• Filed: 01/30/2015
• Published: 08/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: DOWNING, Bryan Joseph
• Application Number:
  US14/610,844
• Publication Number:
  US 20160222602A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/004 Devices for guiding or controlling the machines along a predetermined path for graders or bulldozers E02F3/841; for other soil-shifting machines E02F9/2045
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/26 self-propelled or fitted to road vehicles E01C19/231, E01C19/235 , E01C19/27 - E01C19/29 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/288 adapted for monitoring characteristics of the material being compacted, e.g. indicating resonant frequency, measuring degree of compaction, by measuring values, detectable on the roller; using detected values to control operation of the roller, e.g. automatic adjustment of vibration responsive to such measurements
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/48 for laying-down the materials and consolidating them, or finishing the surface , e.g. slip forms therefor, forming kerbs or gutters in a continuous operation in situ E01C19/002, E01C23/065 take precedence; devices for guiding or controlling the machines along a predetermined path E01C19/004
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0246 using a video camera in combination with image processing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

A guidance system for a compacting machine has a data interface configured to receive real-time information indicative of a paving parameter and to receive project-specific information indicative of a construction parameter. The system further has a locating device configured to determine a location of the compacting machine and processing device in communication with the data interface and the locating device. The processing device is configured to use the real-time information and the project-specific information to determine a rolling pattern for the compacting machine and, based on the location of the compacting machine and the rolling pattern, provide directional guidance to the compacting machine.

Claims

1. A guidance system for a compacting machine, comprising:

a data interface configured to receive real-time information indicative of a paving parameter and project-specific information indicative of a construction parameter;

a locating device configured to determine a location of the compacting machine; and

a processing device in communication with the data interface and the locating device, wherein the processing device is configured to;

use the real-time information and the project-specific information to determine a rolling pattern for the compacting machine; and

based on the location of the compacting machine and the rolling pattern, provide directional guidance to the compacting machine.

2. The guidance system of claim 1, wherein:

the rolling pattern identifies a first mixture area having compacting priority over a second mixture area; and

the processing device provides the directional guidance to the first mixture area.

3. The guidance system of claim 1, wherein the rolling pattern depends on the location of the compacting machine relative to a first mixture area.

4. The guidance system of claim 1, further including one or more sensors associated with at least one of the compacting machine and an associated paving machine, wherein the data interface receives the real-time information from the one or more sensors.

5. The guidance system of claim 4, wherein the paving parameter includes at least one of a temperature-related parameter, a paver-related parameter, and a compactor-related parameter.

6. The guidance system of claim 1, wherein:

the processing device is in further communication with a paving machine co-located at a common worksite with the compacting machine, with a management center, and a remote control station; and

the data interface is configured to receive the project-specific information from one or more input devices associated with at least one of the compacting machine, the paving machine, the management center, and the remote control station.

7. The guidance system of claim 6, wherein the construction parameter includes at least one of a mixture-related parameter, a machine-related parameter, and a job-related parameter.

8. The guidance system of claim 1, wherein the rolling pattern includes at least one of a vibrational amplitude of the compacting machine, a vibrational frequency of the compacting machine, and a required number of passes that the compacting machine should make.

9. The guidance system of claim 1, further including a display device located inside the compacting machine, wherein the processing device is configured to present the directional guidance to an operator of the compacting machine on the display device.

10. The guidance system of claim 9, further including at least one image capturing device configured to acquire real-time image data from an environment of the compacting machine, wherein:

the display device is further configured to present the real-time image data to the operator, and

the processing device is configured to show a visual representation of the rolling pattern integrated with the image data on the display device.

11. The guidance system of claim 1, wherein the processing device is further configured to provide guidance regarding a velocity of the compacting machine and a frequency of a drum associated with the compacting machine.

12. A guidance system for a compacting machine, comprising:

a data interface configured to receive real-time information indicative of a paving parameter;

an image capture device configured to acquire real-time image data from an environment of the compacting machine;

a display device located inside the compacting machine; and

a processing device configured to;

use the real-time information to determine a rolling pattern for the compacting machine; and

present a visual representation of the rolling pattern integrated with the image data on the display device.

13. The guidance system of claim 12, wherein:

the rolling pattern identifies a first mixture area having rolling priority over a second mixture area; and

the visual representation provides guidance to the first mixture area.

14. The guidance system of claim 12, wherein the processing device is further configured to overlap the visual representation on top of the image data.

15. The guidance system of claim 12, wherein the processing device is further configured to present information regarding a recommended velocity for the compacting machine and a recommended frequency for a drum associated with the compacting machine.

16. The guidance system of claim 12, wherein the visual representation changes according to movement of the compacting machine.

17. The guidance system of claim 12, wherein the processing device is further configured to retrieve information from image data, and to use information to determine the rolling pattern.

18. The guidance system of claim 12, wherein the processing device is further configured to present a representation of compacting process progress on the display device.

19. The guidance system of claim 12, wherein the processing device is further configured to determine the rolling pattern based on project-specific information indicative of at least one of a mixture-related parameter, a machine-related parameter, and a job-related parameter.

20. A software product stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium and comprising data and computer implementable instructions, which when executed by a processing device of a compacting machine cause the compacting machine to perform operations comprising:

receiving real-time information indicative of a paving parameter;

acquiring real-time image data from an environment of the compacting machine;

using the real-time information to determine a rolling pattern for the compacting machine; and

displaying a visual representation of the rolling pattern integrated with the image data.

21. A compacting machine, comprising:

a data interface configured to receive real-time information indicative of a paving parameter and project-specific information indicative of a construction parameter;

a locating device configured to determine a location of the compacting machine; and

a processing device in communication with the data interface and the locating device, wherein the processing device is configured to;

use the real-time information and the project-specific information to determine a rolling pattern for the compacting machine; and

based on the location of the compacting machine and the rolling pattern, provide directional guidance to an operator of the compacting machine.

22. The compacting machine of claim 21, wherein:

the rolling pattern identifies a first mixture area having compacting priority over a second mixture area; and

the processing device provides the directional guidance to the first mixture area.

23. The compacting machine of claim 21, wherein the rolling pattern depends on the location of the compacting machine relative to a first mixture area.

24. The compacting machine of claim 21, further including one or more sensors associated with at least one of the compacting machine and an associated paving machine, wherein the data interface receives the real-time information from the one or more sensors.

25. The compacting machine of claim 24, wherein the paving parameter includes at least one of a temperature-related parameter, a paver-related parameter, and a compactor-related parameter.

26. The compacting machine of claim 21, wherein:

the processing device is in further communication with a paving machine co-located at a common worksite with the compacting machine, with a management center, and a remote control station; and

the data interface is configured to receive the project-specific information from one or more input devices associated with at least one of the compacting machine, the paving machine, the management center, and the remote control station.

27. The compacting machine of claim 26, wherein the construction parameter includes at least one of a mixture-related parameter, a machine-related parameter, and a job-related parameter.

28. The compacting machine of claim 21, wherein the rolling pattern includes at least one of a vibrational amplitude of the compacting machine, a vibrational frequency of the compacting machine, and a required number of passes that the compacting machine should make.

29. The compacting machine of claim 21, further including a display device located inside the compacting machine, wherein the processing device is configured to present the directional guidance to the operator of the compacting machine on the display device.

30. The compacting machine of claim 29, further including at least one image capturing device configured to acquire real-time image data from an environment of the compacting machine, wherein:

the display device is further configured to present the real-time image data to the operator, and

the processing device is configured to show a visual representation of the rolling pattern integrated with the image data on the display device.

31. The compacting machine of claim 21, wherein the processing device is further configured to provide guidance regarding a velocity of the compacting machine and a frequency of a drum associated with the compacting machine.