System and method for representing parameters in a work site database

• US 5,935,192 A
• Filed: 12/12/1996
• Issued: 08/10/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Shetty, Satish M., Koehrsen, Craig L., Henderson, Daniel E., Kleimenhagen, Karl W.
• Primary Examiner(s): ZANELLI, MICHAEL J
• Application Number:
  US08/761,996
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 701/50, 701/208, 701/300, 701/211, 340/995, 707/101, 707/102, 707/104
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/841 Devices for controlling and guiding the whole machine, e.g. by feeler elements and reference lines placed exteriorly of the machine construction of roads E01C19/008
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2045 Guiding machines along a predetermined path for graders E02F3/841; machines for construction of roads E01C19/004

Abstract

The present invention provides a site database structure for storing data for access by an application program being executed on a control system on a work machine. The work machine operates at a work site. The data representing a parameter of the work site. A data structure is stored in the memory. The data structure includes information resident in a database used by the application program. A plurality of data objects are associated with the data structure. Each data object represents a defined section of the work site and is represented by a set of predefined coordinates. At least one layer object is associated with each data object. Each layer object has a predefined number of cell objects. Each cell object has an associated value of the parameter.

Claims

1. An apparatus for directing the operation of a working machine on a work site, comprising:

a position sensing system adapted to sense the position of at least one fixed point located on the working machine as the working machine traverses the work site and responsively producing a position signal;

a controller, adapted to receive the position signal, the controller containing a database containing data representing a parameter of the work site, the data contained in a data structure, the data structure containing a plurality of data objects associated with the data structure, each data object representing a defined section of the work site and represented by a set of predefined coordinates and at least one layer object, each layer object having a predefined number or cell objects, each cell object having an associated value of the parameter and defined by a set of coordinates derived from said set of predefined coordinates; and

directing means, coupled to the controller, for accessing the database and responsively directing operation of the working machine.

2. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the directing means includes an operator display.

3. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the directing means includes an automatic control.

4. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein only data objects representing a defined section of the work site which is required by the working machine is stored in the memory.

5. A method for storing data for access by an application program being executed on a control system on a work machine, the work machine operating at a work site, the data representing a parameter of the work site, including the steps of:

dividing the work site into a plurality of defined sections, each defined section having predetermined dimensions;

assigning a data object to each defined section, each data object including a set of predefined coordinates, the set of predefined coordinates representing a corresponding defined section;

associating each data object with at least one layer object, each layer object having a predefined number of cell objects, each cell object having an associated value of the parameter; and

deriving a coordinate of each of said cell objects from its data object'"'"'s set of predefined coordinates.

6. A memory for storing data for access by an application program being executed on a control system on a work machine, the work machine operating at a work site, the data representing a parameter of the work site, comprising:

a data structure stored in the memory, the data structure including information resident in a database used by the application program;

a plurality of data objects, associated with the data structure, each data object representing a defined section of the work site and represented by a first set of predefined coordinates; and

at least one layer object associated with each data object, each layer object having a predefined number of cell objects, each cell object having an associated value of the parameter and represented by a second set of coordinates derived from said first set of predefined coordinates.

7. A memory, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the data represents a second parameter, at least one layer object including a predefined number of cell objects having associated values of the second parameter.

8. A memory, as set forth in claim 6, including first and second data objects, the first data object having M₁ layers, the second data object having M₂ layers.

9. A memory, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the parameter is elevation.

10. A memory, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the parameter is a number representative of material type.

11. A memory, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the parameter is actual elevation.

12. A memory, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the parameter is desired elevation.

13. A memory, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the parameter is a past elevation.

14. A memory, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the parameter is a number of passes.

15. A memory, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the parameter is a compaction level.

16. A memory, as set forth in claim 6, wherein only data objects representing a defined section of the work site which is required by the working machine is stored in memory.