Worksite management system implementing anticipatory machine control

• US 8,463,460 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2011
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Sprock, Christopher M., Anderson, Robert S., Tobaa, Mahmoud M., Tejeda, Balmes, Verheyen, Michael R., Greiner, Jonny R., Landes, James W., Mitchell, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): TESTARDI, DAVID A
• Application Number:
  US13/030,662
• Publication Number:
  US 20120215379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2, 701/50
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2054 Fleet management
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/268 with failure correction follow-up actions
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

A worksite management system for use with a mobile machine is disclosed. The worksite management system may have a control module located onboard the mobile machine and configured to control operations of the mobile machine, and a controller in communication with the control module. The controller may be configured to anticipate a non-failure machine performance irregularity, and determine an adjustment to an operation of the mobile machine that positively affects the machine performance irregularity. The controller may also be configured to cause implementation of the adjustment before the machine performance irregularity occurs.

Claims

1. A worksite management system for use with a mobile machine, comprising:

a control module located onboard the mobile machine and configured to control operations of the mobile machine; and

a controller in communication with the control module and configured to;

anticipate a non-failure machine performance irregularity;

determine an adjustment to an operation of the mobile machine that positively affects the machine performance irregularity by comparing an occurrence history variable to a threshold value;

cause implementation of the adjustment before the machine performance irregularity occurs;

implement a temporary modification of at least one of an engine speed, a transmission shifting, an acceleration, a differential locking, a machine maneuvering, and a timing of machine maneuvering relative to worksite locations, when the occurrence history variable is less than the threshold value; and

implement a semi-permanent reconfiguration of an operational relationship stored in a memory of the control module, when the occurrence history variable is greater than the threshold value.

2. The worksite management system of claim 1, wherein the controller is in remote communication with the control modules of multiple mobile machines operating at a common worksite.

3. The worksite management system of claim 2, wherein the performance irregularity is associated with at least one of a productivity, an efficiency, a fuel economy, a speed, and a traffic congestion.

4. The worksite management system of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to anticipate the machine performance irregularity based on at least one of a weather condition, a payload, a braking event, wheel slip, machine location, and a worksite condition.

5. The worksite management system of claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to anticipate the machine performance irregularity by analyzing historical data collected by the control module from onboard the mobile machine.

6. The worksite management system of claim 4, wherein:

the mobile machine is a first mobile machine; and

the controller is configured to anticipate the machine performance irregularity for the first mobile machine by analyzing historical data collected by a control module onboard a second mobile machine located at a common worksite.

7. The worksite management system of claim 6, wherein:

the machine performance irregularity has already occurred in conjunction with operation of the second mobile machine; and

the controller is configured to cause implementation of the adjustment onboard the first mobile machine before the machine performance irregularity occurs in conjunction with operation of the first mobile machine,

8. The worksite management system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to cause implementation of the adjustment by communicating information regarding the adjustment to the control module and allowing the control module to implement the adjustment.

9. The worksite management system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to cause implementation of the adjustment by directly reconfiguring at least one of a control parameter and an operational relationship stored within the memory of the control module.

10. A worksite management system for use with a mobile machine, comprising:

a control module located onboard the mobile machine and configured to control operations of the mobile machine; and

a worksite controller in communication with the control module and configured to;

anticipate a machine performance irregularity associated with at least one of a productivity, an efficiency, a fuel economy, a speed, or a traffic congestion based on at least one of a weather condition, a payload, a braking event, wheel slip, machine location, or a worksite condition;

determine an adjustment of the mobile machine that positively affects the machine performance irregularity by comparing an occurrence history variable to a threshold value;

directly implement the adjustment before the machine performance irregularity occurs;

implement a temporary modification of at least one of an engine speed, a transmission shifting, an acceleration, a differential locking, a machine maneuvering, and a timing of machine maneuvering relative to worksite locations, when the occurrence history variable is less than the threshold value; and

implement a semi-permanent reconfiguration of an operational relationship stored in a memory of the control module, when the occurrence history variable is greater than the threshold value.

11. A method of managing a worksite, comprising:

collecting data associated with at least one of a machine operation at the worksite and a worksite condition;

analyzing the data to anticipate a non-failure machine performance irregularity;

determining an adjustment to an operation of a mobile machine at the worksite that positively affects the machine performance irregularity by comparing an occurrence history variable to a threshold value;

implementing the adjustment before the machine performance irregularity occurs;

implementing a temporary modification of at least one of an engine speed, a transmission shifting, an acceleration, a differential locking, a machine maneuvering, and a timing of machine maneuvering relative to worksite locations, when the occurrence history variable is less than the threshold value; and

implementing a semi-permanent reconfiguration of at least one of a transmission shift map, a torque limit map, and an engine calibration, when the occurrence history variable is greater than the threshold value.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein collecting data includes collecting data from onboard the mobile machine.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the mobile machine is a first mobile machine; and

collecting data includes collecting data from onboard a second mobile machine located at a common worksite.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the machine performance irregularity has already occurred in conjunction with operation of the second mobile machine; and

the method includes implementing the adjustment onboard the first mobile machine before the machine performance irregularity occurs in conjunction with operation of the first mobile machine.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the worksite condition includes at least one of a surface contour and a weather condition.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein implementing the adjustment includes communicating information regarding the adjustment to a control module located onboard the mobile machine, and allowing the control module to implement the adjustment.