Simulation system implementing historical machine data

• US 8,485,822 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2006
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Lind, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yip, Jack
• Application Number:
  US11/443,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20070282577A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,603 Days
• Field of Search: 434/29, 434/62, 434/63, 434/64, 434/65, 434/66, 434/69, 703/6, 703/13, 701/29, 701/35, 701/1, 701/24, 701/29.1, 701/36, 701/50, 701/400, 701/408, 373/47, 373/48, 373/66, 373/79, 374/11, 273/400
• US Class Current: 434/29
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/15 Vehicle, aircraft or watercraft design
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/20 Design optimisation, verification or simulation optimisation, verification or simulation of circuit designs G06F30/30

Abstract

A simulation system for a machine is disclosed. The simulation system has a user interface configured to display a simulated environment, and a controller in communication with the user interface. The controller is configured to receive historical information related to performance of a machine, and recreate a past operation of the machine from the received historical information. The controller is also configured to provide to the user interface the recreated past operation for display in the simulated environment.

Claims

1. A machine simulation system, comprising:

a user interface configured to display a simulated environment; and

a controller in communication with the user interface, the controller having a stored first example of operation of a machine work tool to perform a task, the controller being configured to;

receive historical information related to performance of the machine work tool, the machine work tool being adapted to perform at least one of loading, digging, and grading at a worksite;

recreate a past manual operation of the machine work tool by a first operator of the machine work tool from the received historical information, the past manual operation of the machine work tool being a second example of operation of the machine work tool to perform the task;

provide to the user interface the first example of the operation of the machine work tool for display in the simulated environment;

communicate via the user interface that the first example of the operation of the machine work tool represents a preferred way to perform the task compared to the second example of operation of the machine work tool by the first operator;

analyze the recreated past operation and recognize a need for operator improvement based on the analysis of the recreated past operation; and

provide to the user interface;

the second example of the operation of the machine work tool to enable the first operator to visualize differences between the first operator'"'"'s manual operation of the machine work tool to perform the task, as represented by the second example of the operation of the machine work tool, and the preferred operation of the machine work tool to perform the task, as represented by the first example of the operation of the machine work tool; and

results of an analysis as to whether an actual terrain of the worksite is compatible with a desired terrain of the worksite.

2. The machine simulation system of claim 1, wherein the analysis of the recreated past manual operation includes a comparison of the first past manual operation to a second past manual operation.

3. The machine simulation system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to recommend a training simulation for the first operator based on the recognized need for operator improvement.

4. The machine simulation system of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to provide the user interface with the training simulation for display in the simulated environment.

5. The machine simulation system of claim 1, wherein the simulated environment includes a plurality of selectable reference viewpoints.

6. The machine simulation system of claim 5, wherein a first of the plurality of selectable reference viewpoints is from inside of an operator cabin of a machine looking toward the machine work tool.

7. The machine simulation system of claim 6, wherein a second of the plurality of selectable reference viewpoints is from inside of the operator cabin looking toward one or more operator controls of the machine.

8. The machine simulation system of claim 7, wherein a third of the plurality of selectable reference viewpoints is from a predetermined distance outside of the operator cabin looking toward the machine.

9. The machine simulation system of claim 1, further including a machine data module located on a machine and configured to collect the historical information and communicate the collected historical information to the controller.

10. The machine simulation system of claim 1, wherein the analysis of the recreated past operation includes whether a machine work tool placement produced maximum loading.

11. The machine simulation system of claim 1, wherein the analysis of the recreated past operation includes whether a machine work tool movement minimized power loss.

12. The machine simulation system of claim 1, wherein the user interface is further configured to simulate operator hand movements relative to machine work tool controls inside a machine, and wherein the operator hand movements are associated with the recreated past manual operation of the machine work tool by the first operator.

13. The machine simulation system of claim 1, wherein the stored first example of operation of the machine work tool to perform the task is a recreated past operation of the machine work tool by a second operator.

14. The machine simulation system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

analyze the differences between the first operator'"'"'s manual operation of the machine work tool and the preferred operation of the machine work tool; and

determine whether the first operator'"'"'s manual operation of the machine work tool meets efficiency criteria associated with operation of the machine work tool.

15. The machine simulation system of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to indicate a need for at least one of training and operator improvement based on the determination.

16. A method of improving machine operation, the method comprising:

receiving, via a controller, historical information related to performance of a machine work tool, the machine work tool being adapted to perform at least one of loading, digging and grading at a worksite;

recreating, via the controller, a preferred operation of the machine work tool from the received historical information;

analyzing, via the controller, a recreated manual operation of the machine work tool by an operator for efficiency and whether an actual terrain of the worksite is compatible with a desired terrain of the worksite;

recognizing a need for operator improvement based on the analysis of the recreated manual operation;

training the operator to manually control the machine work tool by displaying, via a user interface, the recreated preferred operation and the recreated manual operation in a simulated environment to enable the operator to visualize differences between the recreated preferred operation and the recreated manual operation, and providing, to the operator, results of the analysis as to whether the actual terrain of the worksite is compatible with the desired terrain of the worksite; and

subsequently, operating the machine work tool under full manual control that mimics the recreated preferred operation.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein training the operator further includes displaying onboard a machine the recreated preferred operation of the machine work tool by the operator.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein training the operator further includes displaying offboard a machine the recreated preferred operation of the machine work tool by the operator.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein displaying offboard the machine includes displaying the recreated preferred operation from a plurality of selectable reference viewpoints.

20. A machine, comprising:

a plurality of sensing elements disposed on the machine to produce one or more signals indicative of a performance of a machine work tool, the machine work tool being adapted to perform at least one of loading, digging and grading at a worksite;

a machine data module located on the machine to collect the one or more signals;

a user interface configured to display a simulated environment; and

a controller in communication with the machine data module and the user interface, the controller being configured to;

receive historical information related to performance of the machine work tool;

recreate a past operation of the machine work tool from the received historical information;

analyze the recreated past operation for efficiency by comparing the recreated past operation to a historical operation previously recorded from a common machine and a common worksite and recognize a need for operator improvement based on the analysis of the recreated past operation;

recommend a training simulation for an operator based on the recognized need for operator improvement; and

provide to the user interface the recreated past operation, the recommended training simulation, and results of an analysis as to whether an actual terrain of the worksite is compatible with a desired terrain of the worksite for display in the simulated environment to enable the operator to visualize differences between the recreated past operation and the historical operation.