Method and apparatus for design placement for earthmoving applications

• US 6,751,540 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2001
• Issued: 06/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Koehrsen, Craig L., Keefer, Claude W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Broadhead, Brian J
• Application Number:
  US09/974,286
• Publication Number:
  US 20030069679A1
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• Field of Search: 701/50, 701/23, 701/25, 701/202, 701/205, 701/208, 701/211, 701/212, 345/630
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2045 Guiding machines along a predetermined path for graders E02F3/841; machines for construction of roads E01C19/004
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/26 Indicating devices E02F5/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/00 Beacons or beacon systems transmitting signals having a characteristic or characteristics capable of being detected by non-directional receivers and defining directions, positions, or position lines fixed relatively to the beacon transmitters; Receivers co-operating therewith position fixing by co-ordinating a plurality of determinations of direction or position lines G01S5/00

Abstract

Method and apparatus for storing earthwork design templates in an on-board system on a work machine. The machine operator may select one or more of the templates and place and orient the template on a topographic map displayed on a screen. The operator may adjust the position and heading in the x-y plane and adjust the elevation, slope, and cross slope of the template relative to the map.

Claims

1. A method for planning earthwork placement for a worksite, the planned earthworks to be constructed by an operator of a work machine, the work machine including an onboard system, comprising the steps of:

storing electronically at least one design template in a data storage system of said onboard system;

storing electronically a map in said data storage system;

positioning by the operator said template on said map; and

altering by the operator the position of said template relative to said map.

2. The method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said altering step includes the steps of:

translating said template in an x-y plane of said map; and

orienting said template in the x-y plane.

3. The method, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said orienting step includes the step of:

selecting a design heading for said template.

4. The method, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said translating step includes the steps of:

selecting an anchor point on said template;

selecting an origin point on said map; and

positioning said template on said map wherein said anchor point overlays said origin point.

5. The method, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said orienting step includes the step of:

rotating said template about said anchor point.

6. The method, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said altering step further includes the steps of:

altering the elevation of said template relative to said map;

altering the slope of said template relative to said map; and

altering the cross slope of said template relative to said map.

7. The method, as set forth in claim 6, further including the step of:

viewing said elevation in a profile view of said template and said map.

8. The method, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said altered elevation, slope, and cross slope of said template are visible in said profile view.

9. The method, as set forth in claim 1, further including the steps of:

designing said template on an offboard system; and

delivering said template to said onboard system.

10. An apparatus for planning earthwork placement for a work site, the planned earthwork to be constructed by an operator of a work machine, comprising:

an onboard system comprising;

a data storage system for electronically storing at least one design template of an earthwork and a map of at least one portion of the worksite;

a display for displaying said template and said map;

an input device for providing operator input to said processor; and

a processor for manipulating by operator input a position of said template relative to said map.

11. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 10, further comprising:

an office system for designing said template, and

wherein said onboard system further comprises a communication system for communicating with said office system.

12. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 10, wherein said display displays said template overlaid on said map.

13. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 12, wherein said processor translates said template in an x-y plane of said map and orients said template in the x-y plane.

14. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 13, wherein said processor selects an origin point on said map and identifies an anchor point on said template and positions said template on said map wherein said anchor point overlays said origin point.

15. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 14, wherein to orient said template, said processor rotates said template around said anchor point.

16. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 12, wherein said processor alters the elevation of said template relative to said map, wherein said processor alters the slope of said template relative to said map, and wherein said processor alters the cross slope of said template relative to said map.

17. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 16, wherein said display further includes a profile view of said template and said map.

18. An apparatus for planning earthwork placement for a worksite, the planned earthworks to be constructed by an operator of a work machine, the work machine including an onboard system, comprising:

display means in said onboard system for displaying visual representations of a template of an earthwork and a map of at least a portion of the worksite; and

manipulation means in said onboard system for manipulating by the operator said template relative to said map.

19. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 18, wherein said manipulation means further includes:

translation means for translating said template in an x-y plane of said map;

orientation means for orienting said template in the x-y plane;

elevation means for altering the elevation of said template relative to said map;

first alteration means for altering a cross slope of said template relative to said map; and

second alteration means for altering a slope of said template relative to said map.