System, method, and computer software code for optimizing performance of a powered system

• US 8,649,963 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2008
• Issued: 02/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Young, Henry Todd, Kumar, Ajith Kuttannair, Worden, Bret Dwayne, Bastien, Bertrand, Brown, Timothy Warren
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US12/335,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20090177335A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,883 Days
• Field of Search: 701/123, 701/50, 701/19
• US Class Current: 701/123
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0657 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/00 Input parameters relating to infrastructure
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/20 Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0644 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18 Propelling the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/188 Controlling power parameters of the driveline, e.g. determining the required power
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/024 in which a parameter or coefficient is automatically adjusted to optimise the performance
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2616 Earth moving, work machine

Abstract

A system to optimize performance of a powered system, the system including a data device configured to provide current information about current operating conditions of the powered system and/or prior information about the powered system, a controller configured to control operation of the powered system, and a processor configured to provide at least one control command to the controller for use in operating the powered system and/or user information with at least one recommended command to a user to control the powered system, wherein the at least one control command and/or user information are based at least in part on the current information and/or the prior information. A system and computer software code, stored on a computer readable media and executable with a processor, are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system to modify performance of a mining haul truck, the system comprising:

a data device configured to provide current information about current operating conditions of the mining haul truck and prior information obtained from at least one prior haul cycle and based on learning the haul cycle of the mining haul truck;

a controller configured to control operation of the mining haul truck; and

a processor configured to provide at least one control command to the controller for use in operating the mining haul truck and/or user information with at least one recommended command to a user to control the mining haul truck, wherein the at least one control command and/or user information are based at least in part on the current information and the prior information, wherein the processor is configured to obtain prior information about the at least one prior haul cycle of the mining haul truck and determine at least one parameter for at least one current haul cycle based on the obtained information about the at least one prior haul cycle, wherein the at least one parameter is used for controlling the mining haul truck during the at least one current haul cycle.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an interface configured to receive the at least one recommended command from the processor and to convey the at least one recommended command to the user using vision, sound, and/or touch.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the data device is configured to collect data from the mining haul truck, information from a dispatch, information about at least one environmental condition, and/or information contained in a database having historical operating information.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to compare a performance target for the mining haul truck to an actual operating parameter of the mining haul truck, and, based on a difference between the target and actual operating parameter, to provide the at least one control command to the controller for operating the mining haul truck to meet the performance target.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the processor, the data device, or the controller are further configured to determine an operating cycle of the mining haul truck, wherein the operating cycle is used to determine a current operating parameter of the mining haul truck.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the controller, the processor, and the data device are configured in a closed-loop configuration through which the mining haul truck is controlled.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the closed-loop configuration further comprises an interface to allow the operator to control the mining haul truck.

8. A computer software code stored on a computer readable media and executable with a processor for modifying performance of a mining haul truck, the computer software code comprising:

a computer software module for determining a performance target for the mining haul truck, when executed with the processor;

a computer software module for comparing the performance target to an actual operating parameter of the mining haul truck, when executed with the processor;

a computer software module for modifying an actual performance of the mining haul truck to achieve the performance target, when executed with the processor; and

a computer software module for obtaining information from at least one prior haul cycle of the mining haul truck based on learning the haul cycle of the mining haul truck and determining at least one parameter for at least one current haul cycle based on the obtained information about the prior haul cycle, wherein the at least one parameter is used for controlling the mining haul truck during the at least one current, haul cycle.

9. The computer software code according to claim 8, further comprising a computer software module for adjusting the actual performance of the mining haul truck to compensate for at least one environmental condition, when executed with the processor.