Slippage condition response system

• US 8,340,907 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2012
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Stratton, Kenneth Lee, Mintah, Brian, Hull, Gary Edward, Humphrey, James Decker, Everett, Bryan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US13/368,091
• Publication Number:
  US 20120136546A1
• Time in Patent Office: 322 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/517
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2210/16 Off-road driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/175 Brake regulation specially adapted to prevent excessive wheel spin during vehicle acceleration, e.g. for traction control safety devices for propulsion unit control responsive to, or preventing, skidding of wheels B60K28/16

Abstract

A slippage condition response system for a first machine of a plurality of machines is disclosed. The response system may have a sensing system configured to sense a parameter indicative of a slippage condition of the first machine. Additionally, the response system may have a locator configured to sense a parameter indicative of a location of the first machine. The response system may also have a transmitter. In addition, the response system may have a controller, which may be in communication with the sensing system, the locator, and the transmitter. The controller may be configured to monitor the location of the first machine. The controller may also be configured to monitor the parameter indicative of a slippage condition of the first machine. Additionally, the controller may be configured to transmit to an offboard system at least one location where the first machine experienced a slippage condition.

Claims

1. A slippage condition response system comprising:

a sensor configured to sense a parameter indicative of a speed of one or more traction devices of an off-highway vehicle;

a locator configured to determine geographic location information of the off-highway vehicle;

a transmitter; and

a controller in communication with the sensor, the locator, and the transmitter, the controller being configured to;

identify whether a slippage condition exists based on at least;

the geographic location information of the off-highway vehicle, and

the parameter indicative of the speed of the one or more of the traction devices,

wherein the controller is configured to identify whether a slippage condition exists by comparing the geographic location information of the off-highway vehicle to predicted geographic location information of the off-highway vehicle;

associate the identified slippage condition with a geographic location of the off-highway vehicle; and

transmit the geographic location associated with the identified slippage condition to a system off-board of the off-highway vehicle.

2. The slippage condition response system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to identify whether a slippage condition exists by:

receiving first geographic location information of the off-highway vehicle at a first time;

predicting second geographic location information of the off-highway vehicle at a second time;

receiving second geographic location information of the off-highway vehicle at the second time;

determining a difference between the received second geographic location information and the predicted second geographic location information; and

determining if the difference exceeds a threshold distance.

3. The slippage condition response system of claim 2, wherein the predicted second geographic location information is based on at least the geographic location information of the off-highway vehicle and the parameter indicative of the speed of one or more of the traction devices.

4. The slippage condition response system of claim 2, wherein the threshold distance is a function of a type of worksite in which the off-highway vehicle is located.

5. The slippage condition response system of claim 2, wherein the threshold distance is a function of a type of the off-highway vehicle.

6. The slippage condition response system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to use the parameter indicative of the speed of the one or more of the traction devices to determine an occurrence of irregular rotation of the one or more traction devices.

7. The slippage condition response system of claim 1, further including a steering angle sensor, wherein the controller is further configured to determine a heading of the off-highway vehicle using the steering angle sensor.

8. A method for operating a worksite, comprising:

sensing with a sensor a parameter indicative of a speed of one or more traction devices of an off-highway vehicle;

receiving with a locator geographic location information of the off-highway vehicle;

identifying with a controller whether a slippage condition exists near the off-highway vehicle based on at least;

the geographic location information of the off-highway vehicle, and

the sensed parameter indicative of the speed of one or more of the traction devices,

wherein identifying whether a slippage condition exists includes comparing the geographic location information of the off-highway vehicle to predicted geographic location information of the off-highway vehicle;

associating the identified slippage condition with a geographic location; and

transmitting the geographic location associated with the identified slippage condition.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein identifying with a controller whether a slippage condition exists includes:

receiving first geographic location information of the off-highway vehicle at a first time;

predicting second geographic location information of the off-highway vehicle at a second time;

receiving second geographic location information of the off-highway vehicle at the second time;

determining a difference between the received second geographic location information and the predicted second geographic location information; and

determining if the difference exceeds a threshold distance.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the predicted second geographic location information is based on at least the geographic location information of the off-highway vehicle and the speed of the one or more traction devices.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the threshold distance is a function of a type of worksite in which the off-highway vehicle is located.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the threshold distance is a function of a type of the off-highway vehicle.

13. The method of claim 9, determining an occurrence of irregular rotation of the one or more traction devices using the parameter indicative of the speed of one or more of the traction devices.

14. The method of claim 9, further including determining a heading of the off-highway vehicle using a steering angle sensor.

15. A slippage condition response system comprising:

a locator configured to determine position information of an off-highway vehicle;

a transmitter; and

a controller in communication with the locator and the transmitter, the controller being configured to;

identify whether a slippage condition exists by;

receiving first position information of the off-highway vehicle at a first time;

predicting second position information of the off-highway vehicle at a second time;

receiving second position information of the off-highway vehicle at the second time;

determining a difference between the received second position information and the predicted second position information; and

determining if the difference exceeds a threshold distance

associate the identified slippage condition with a geographic location of the first off-highway vehicle;

transmit the geographic location associated with the identified slippage condition to a system off-board of the off-highway vehicle.

16. The slippage condition response system of claim 15, further including a sensor configured to sense a parameter indicative of a speed of one or more traction devices of the off-highway vehicle.

17. The slippage condition response system of claim 16, wherein the predicted second position information is based on at least the position information of the off-highway vehicle and the parameter indicative of the speed of one or more of the traction devices.

18. The slippage condition response system of claim 16, wherein the controller is further configured to use the parameter indicative of the speed of the one or more of the traction devices to determine an occurrence of irregular rotation of the one or more traction devices.

19. The slippage condition response system of claim 15, wherein the threshold distance is a function of a type of worksite in which the off-highway vehicle is located.

20. The slippage condition response system of claim 15, wherein the threshold distance is a function of a type of the off-highway vehicle.