Method for determining the productivity of an earth moving machines
First Claim
1. A method for automatically determining the productivity of an earthmoving machine in real-time using an onboard computer, the earthmoving machine operating in cycles having a first portion and a second portion, the earthmoving machine moving in a first direction during the first portion and in a second direction during the second portion, comprising:
- for a series of cycles, detecting the start of each cycle;
determining a start position of the earthmoving machine at the start of the first portion of each said cycle;
determining an end position of the earthmoving machine at the end of the first portion of each said cycle;
calculating a horizontal distance moved as a function of said start and end positions for each said cycle;
calculating a slope as a function of said start and end positions for each said cycle;
calculating a cumulative horizontal distance traversed;
calculating a cumulative slope traversed; and
calculating a measure of productivity as a function of at least one of said cumulative horizontal distance and said cumulative slope traversed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for automatically determining the productivity of an earthmoving machine in real time using an onboard computer. The earthmoving machine operates in cycles having a first portion and a second portion. The earthmoving machine moves in a first direction during the first portion and in a second direction during the second portion. The method includes the steps of detecting the starts of each cycle for a series of cycles, determining a machine parameter corresponding to each cycle, calculating a cycle parameter as a function of the machine parameter, and calculating at least one measure of productivity as a function of the cycle parameter.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for automatically determining the productivity of an earthmoving machine in real-time using an onboard computer, the earthmoving machine operating in cycles having a first portion and a second portion, the earthmoving machine moving in a first direction during the first portion and in a second direction during the second portion, comprising:
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for a series of cycles, detecting the start of each cycle; determining a start position of the earthmoving machine at the start of the first portion of each said cycle; determining an end position of the earthmoving machine at the end of the first portion of each said cycle; calculating a horizontal distance moved as a function of said start and end positions for each said cycle; calculating a slope as a function of said start and end positions for each said cycle; calculating a cumulative horizontal distance traversed; calculating a cumulative slope traversed; and calculating a measure of productivity as a function of at least one of said cumulative horizontal distance and said cumulative slope traversed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for automatically determining the productivity of an earthmoving machine in real-time using an onboard computer, the earthmoving machine operating in cycles having a first portion and a second portion, the earthmoving machine moving in a first direction during the first portion and in a second direction during the second portion, comprising:
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for a series of cycles, detecting the start of each cycle; determining a start position of the earthmoving machine at the start of the first portion of each said cycle; determining an end position of the earthmoving machine at the end of the first portion of each said cycle; calculating a horizontal distance moved as a function of said start and end positions for each said cycle; calculating a cumulative horizontal distance traversed corresponding to said series of cycles; and calculating a measure of productivity as a function of said cumulative horizontal distance, said measure of productivity including an average horizontal distance.
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5. A method for automatically determining the productivity of an earthmoving machine in real-time using an onboard computer, the earthmoving machine operating in cycles having a first portion and a second portion, the earthmoving machine moving in a first direction during the first portion and in a second direction during the second portion, comprising:
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for a series of cycles, detecting the start of each cycle; determining a start position of the earthmoving machine at the start of the first portion of each said cycle; determining an end position of the earthmoving machine at the end of the first portion of each said cycle; and
,calculating a slope as a function of said start and end positions for each said cycle; calculating a cumulative slope traversed corresponding to said series of cycles; and calculating a measure of productivity as a function of said cumulative slope traversed, said measure of productivity including an average slope traversed.
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6. A method for automatically determining the productivity of an earthmoving machine in real-time using an onboard computer, the earthmoving machine operating in cycles having a first portion and a second portion, the earthmoving machine moving in a first direction during the first portion and in a second direction during the second portion, wherein the earthmoving machine is operating at a site, the site being modelled in a database, the database including an initial site model and a current site model, the initial site model and the current site model including a series of elevations, comprising the steps of:
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for a series of cycles, detecting the start of each cycle; determining the time the earthmoving machine spent in the first direction during said each cycle; determining the time the earthmoving machine spent in the second direction during said each cycle; updating the current site model by determining current elevations as the earthmoving machine traverses the site; calculating a cycle parameter as a function of said time spent in the first direction and second direction and said updated current site model, corresponding to said series of cycles; and calculating a measure of productivity as a function for said cycle parameter. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for automatically determining the productivity of an earthmoving machine in real-time using an onboard computer, the earthmoving machine operating in cycles having a first portion and a second portion, the earthmoving machine moving in a first direction during the first portion and in a second direction during the second portion, comprising:
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(1) for a series of cycles, detecting the start of each first portion and the start of each second portion of each cycle; (2) determining a first machine parameter corresponding to the first portion of said each cycle in said series of cycles; (3) determining a second machine parameter corresponding to the second portion of said each cycle in said series of cycles; (4) calculating a first cycle parameter as a function of said at least one first machine parameter; (5) calculating a second cycle parameter as a function of said at least one second machine parameter; (6) calculating a first measure of productivity as a function of said at least one first cycle parameter; and
,(7) calculating a second measure of productivity as a function of said at least one second cycle parameter.
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11. A method for automatically determining the productivity of an earthmoving machine in real-time using an onboard computer, the earthmoving machine operating in cycles having a first portion and a second portion, the earthmoving machine moving in a first direction during the first portion and in a second direction during the second portion, comprising:
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for a series of cycles, detecting the start of each cycle; determining a start position of the earthmoving machine at the start of the first portion of each said cycle; determining an end position of the earthmoving machine at the end of the first portion of each said cycle; calculating a horizontal distance moved as a function of said start and end positions for each said cycle; calculating a cumulative horizontal distance traversed corresponding to said series of cycles; and calculating a measure of productivity as a function of said cumulative horizontal distance. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A method for automatically determining the productivity of an earthmoving machine in real-time using an onboard computer, the earthmoving machine operating in cycles having a first portion and a second portion, the earthmoving machine moving in a first direction during the first portion and in a second direction during the second portion, comprising:
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for a series of cycles, detecting the start of each cycle; determining a start position of the earthmoving machine at the start of the first portion of each said cycle; determining an end position of the earthmoving machine at the end of the first portion of each said cycle; calculating a slope as a function of said start and end positions for each said cycle; calculating a cumulative slope traversed corresponding to said series of cycles; and calculating a measure of productivity as a function of said cumulative slope traversed. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification