BLEND CONTROL TRUCK ASSIGNMENT MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20190033808A1
• Filed: 07/27/2017
• Published: 01/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Mountford, Gordon Wayne, Wood, Greg M., Brockhurst, Russell, Doherty, Thomas F.
• Granted Patent: US 10,852,707 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/048 Monitoring; Safety
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/39242 Velocity blending, change in a certain time from first to second velocity

Abstract

A site management system for tracking material movement in an environment includes a plurality of material sources, one or more processors, and a plurality of machines. Each of the machines operates according to operating instructions to capture material from one material source and deliver the material at or near at least one processor. The site management system also includes an environment monitoring system having a controller configured to monitor movement of the machines, track a cumulative material blend at each of the processors based on the movement of the machines, and modify the operating instructions to maintain the cumulative material blend within a target blend range.

Claims

1. A site management system for tracking material movement in an environment, including:

a plurality of material sources;

one or more processors;

a plurality of machines, wherein each of the machines operates according to operating instructions to capture material from one material source and deliver the material at or near at least one processor; and

an environment monitoring system having a controller configured to;

monitor movement of the machines;

track a cumulative material blend at each of the processors based on the movement of the machines; and

modify the operating instructions to maintain the cumulative material blend within a target blend range.

2. The site management system of claim 1, wherein the machines includes one or more loaders and one or more haulers.

3. The site management system of claim 1, wherein the processors include one or more of a crusher, a stockpile, and a machine bed.

4. The site management system of claim 1, wherein the controller communicates with:

a configuration database;

a pre-fetched assignment database;

a mine image database; and

a material blending scenario database;

wherein the configuration database, the pre-fetched assignment database, the mine image database, and the material blending scenario database are each operably connected to a processor of the controller.

5. The site management system of claim 1, wherein the machines and the environment monitoring system are configured to communicate environmental information to the controller.

6. The site management system of claim 5, wherein the environmental information includes source material specifications, processing site material specifications, machine location information, and machine load information.

7. The site management system of claim 1, wherein each machine has an on-board computer having a display configured to provide operational instructions to a user.

8. The site management system of claim 4, wherein the controller is further configured to:

access environmental information generated by the machines and the environment monitoring system;

compare the environmental information against the cumulative material blend for each processor;

generate an optimal material blend input for each processor;

access the mine image database for machine location information and machine load information for the machines;

access the material blending scenario database for operational scenarios based on information from the mine image database;

generate one or more predictions using the predictive model, the optimal material blend input, and machine location information; and

provide modified operating instructions for machines in the environment using the predictions.

9. The site management system of claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to:

communicate with the on-board computer of a selected machine;

generate modified operating instructions for the selected machine; and

display the modified operating instructions on the display of the selected machine.

10. The site management system of claim 9, wherein the modified operating instructions provide that the selected machine take no further action.

11. The site management system of claim 9, wherein the modified operating instructions provide that the selected machine continue to operate according to current operating instructions.

12. A non-transient computer-readable medium including program instructions for tracking material movement in an environment using a site management system, the computer-readable medium further including program instructions for:

obtaining real-time environmental information, including;

machine location information, machine load information, material source information at a plurality of material sources, and material specification information at one or more processors;

obtaining information about an optimal material blend for the processors based on anticipated future information at the processors, future environmental information, and the real-time environmental information; and

determining, based on the real-time environmental information and the optimal material blend, modified operating instructions for machines to attain the optimal material blend at the processors.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 12, further including program instructions for providing the modified operating instructions to a display of each machine.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the material specification information includes a minimum threshold value and a maximum threshold value.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the machine load information includes size and material type.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the real-time environmental information further includes predictions of machine maintenance or downtime.

17. A method for tracking material movement in an environment using a site management system, the method including steps of:

obtaining real-time environmental information, including;

machine location information, machine load information, material source information at a plurality of material sources, and material specification information at one or more processors;

obtaining information about an optimal material blend at the processors, including;

anticipated future information at the processors, future environmental information, and the real-time environmental information; and

determining, based on the real-time environmental information and the optimal material blend, modified operating instructions for machines to attain the optimal material blend at the processors.

18. The method of claim 17, further including a step of storing the modified operating instructions in a database.

19. The method of claim 18, further including a step of providing the modified operating instructions to the machines.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the anticipated future information at the processors includes material blend information based on the real-time environmental information and initial operating instructions.