Object detection system having interference avoidance strategy

• US 8,751,103 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2010
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Hukkeri, Ramadev Burigsay
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): PECHE, JORGE O
• Application Number:
  US12/951,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20120130588A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,296 Days
• Field of Search: 701/25, 701/36, 701/49, 701/50, 701/448, 701/301, 356/603
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4815 using multiple transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/4876 by removing unwanted signals G01S7/495 takes precedence

Abstract

An object detection system for a first machine is disclosed. The object detection system may have at least one transmitter configured to generate a laser beam directed onto a ground surface in proximity to the first machine, and a receiver configured to detect the laser beam and generate a corresponding signal. The object detection system may also have a controller in communication with the at least one transmitter and the receiver. The controller may be configured to generate an electronic terrain map based on the signal. The controller may also be configured to make a determination that a second machine is operating within a range of the first machine, and to adjust operation of the at least one transmitter and receiver based on the determination to reduce undesired interactions caused by operation of the second machine.

Claims

1. An object detection system for a first machine, comprising:

at least one transmitter configured to generate a laser beam directed onto a ground surface in proximity to the first machine;

a receiver configured to detect the laser beam and generate a corresponding signal; and

a controller in communication with the at least one transmitter and the receiver, the controller being configured to;

generate an electronic terrain map based on the signal;

make a determination that a second machine is operating within a range of the first machine; and

adjust operation of the at least one transmitter and receiver based on the determination to avoid errors in the electronic terrain map caused by interaction with a laser beam originating from the second machine.

2. The object detection system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to adjust operation by changing a wavelength of the laser beam generated by the at least one transmitter and detected by the receiver.

3. The object detection system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to adjust operation by changing a pulsation frequency of the laser beam generated by the at least one transmitter and detected by the receiver.

4. The object detection system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to automatically adjust operation of the at least one transmitter and receiver when the second machine is within a threshold distance of the first machine.

5. The object detection system of claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to communicate to the second machine how operation of the at least one transmitter and receiver is adjusted.

6. The object detection system of claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to adjust operation of the at least one transmitter and receiver based on a request from an operator of the first machine.

7. The object detection system of claim 1, wherein the controller includes stored in memory a map relating adjustments of the at least one transmitter and the receiver to characteristics of at least one of the first and second machines.

8. A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method of object detection for a first mobile machine, the method comprising:

directing at least a first laser beam and responsively generating an electronic terrain map based on the election;

making a determination that a second mobile machine is operating within a range of the first mobile machine; and

adjusting characteristics of the at least a first laser beam based on the determination to reduce undesired interactions with a second laser beam originating from caused by the second mobile machine.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein adjusting includes adjusting a wavelength of the at least a first laser beam.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein adjusting includes adjusting a pulsation frequency of the at least a first laser beam.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein adjusting includes automatically adjusting characteristics of the at least a first laser beam when the second mobile machine is within a threshold distance of the first mobile machine.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the method further includes communicating with the second mobile machine how characteristics of the at least a first laser beam were adjusted.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein:

the method further includes receiving an operator request to adjust the characteristics of the at least a first laser beam; and

the adjusting is itiated based on the operator request.