Excavator data acquisition and control system and method of use
First Claim
1. A data acquisition and control system for an excavator, the excavator including propulsion means and excavation means for respectively propelling the excavator and excavating along a predetermined excavation route, the system comprising:
- geologic imaging means for acquiring geological information along the predetermined excavation route;
position determining means for determining a position of the excavator along the predetermined excavation route;
excavator control means for coordinating the operation of the propulsion means and the excavating means;
a main user interface for receiving input commands from an operator of the excavator and for displaying information to the operator; and
a main controller for receiving the acquired geological information from the geologic imaging means, for receiving position information from the position determining means, and for receiving operational information from the excavator control means;
wherein the main controller includes means for estimating excavator performance parameters in response to the received geological, position, and operational information, and the excavator control means includes means for modifying the operation of the propulsion means and excavating means in response to the estimated excavator performance parameters.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An excavator data acquisition and control system and process for characterizing the subsurface geology of an excavation site, and for utilizing the acquired data to optimize the production performance of an excavator. A geologic imaging system and a geographic positioning system are employed to initially survey a predetermined excavation site or route. A geologic characterization unit may also be employed to enhance the geologic imaging data. The acquired data are processed to provide detailed geologic and position data for the excavation site and utilized by a main control unit to optimize excavator production performance. In one embodiment, the main control unit accesses a geologic filter database, which includes geologic profile data for numerous types of geology, when analyzing unknown subsurface geology. Removing geological filter data content corresponding to known geology from the acquired geologic imaging data provides for immediate recognition of unknown and suspect subsurface objects. The geologic imaging system preferably includes a ground penetrating radar system having a plurality of antennas oriented in an orthogonal relationship to provide three-dimensional imaging of subsurface geology. Correlation software is employed to correlate acquired geologic image data to historical excavator production performance data to characterize the structural mechanics of subsurface geology. Accurate geographic mapping of an excavation site is provided by the geographic positioning system which preferably includes a mobile transponder mounted to an excavator and a plurality of ground-based transponders and, in one embodiment, Global Positioning System (GPS) signals.
148 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A data acquisition and control system for an excavator, the excavator including propulsion means and excavation means for respectively propelling the excavator and excavating along a predetermined excavation route, the system comprising:
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geologic imaging means for acquiring geological information along the predetermined excavation route; position determining means for determining a position of the excavator along the predetermined excavation route; excavator control means for coordinating the operation of the propulsion means and the excavating means; a main user interface for receiving input commands from an operator of the excavator and for displaying information to the operator; and a main controller for receiving the acquired geological information from the geologic imaging means, for receiving position information from the position determining means, and for receiving operational information from the excavator control means; wherein the main controller includes means for estimating excavator performance parameters in response to the received geological, position, and operational information, and the excavator control means includes means for modifying the operation of the propulsion means and excavating means in response to the estimated excavator performance parameters. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A data acquisition system for acquiring geological information and position information, comprising:
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a ground penetrating radar system for transmitting source electromagnetic signals through a subsurface and for receiving and storing reflected source electromagnetic signals reflected by the subsurface; quantizing means for quantifying the reflected source electromagnetic signal in a digital format; filtering means for filtering the reflected source electromagnetic signals with geologic filtering data corresponding to predetermined types of subsurface geology to remove reflected source electromagnetic signal content corresponding to the predetermined types of geology; location determining means for determining the location of the subsurface subjected to the source electromagnetic signals; and user interface means for interfacing with the ground penetrating radar system and the position determining means, and for displaying images representative of the subsurface geology. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for characterizing the subsurface geology of a predetermined excavation route and controlling an excavator along the predetermined excavation route, including the steps of:
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transporting a geologic imaging system and a positioning system along the predetermined excavation route; acquiring geological imaging data and position data for the predetermined excavation route; storing the acquired geological imaging data and position data in a controller disposed on the excavator; and modifying the excavating operation of the excavator in response to the acquired geological imaging data and position data stored in the controller as the excavator traverses along the predetermined excavation route. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification