Docking assistance and display system

• US 8,812,198 B1
• Filed: 04/02/2013
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Funke, Brian G., Chacko, Mathew, Liu, Hong
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALHARBI, ADAM MOHAMED
• Application Number:
  US13/854,994
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2045 Guiding machines along a predetermined path for graders E02F3/841; machines for construction of roads E01C19/004
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2054 Fleet management
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/26 Indicating devices E02F5/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/08 Construction

Abstract

A system for assisting in docking of a machine at a loading location is provided. The system includes a first controller and a second controller. The first controller is configured to generate a list of loading locations associated with one or more loading machines. The second controller is communicably coupled to the first controller, a position detection unit and a display unit. The second controller is configured to receive the list of loading locations, receive a signal indicative of a current position of the machine, display a subset of the list of loading locations, select a target loading location from the subset of the list of loading locations based on a relative distance between the current position of the machine and each of the loading locations and display a zoomed in top view of the current position of the machine and the target loading location, based on the selection.

Claims

1. A system for assisting in docking of a machine at a loading location located on a worksite, the system comprising:

a first controller located off-board the machine, the first controller configured to generate a list of loading locations associated with one or more loading machines on the work site;

a position detection unit located on-board the machine, the position detection unit configured to generate a signal indicative of a current position of the machine on the work site;

a display unit located on-board the machine; and

a second controller located on-board the machine, the second controller communicably coupled to the first controller, the position detection unit, and the display unit, the second controller configured to;

receive the list of loading locations;

receive the signal indicative of the current position of the machine;

display a subset of the list of loading locations;

eliminate one or more loading locations from the list of the loading locations based on one or more parameters associated with the machine and an inactive status associated with the loading location, and wherein the one or more parameters include at least one of a speed of the machine, a heading of the machine, a distance between the current position of the machine and the loading location, and a pre-assigned loading machine associated with the machine;

select a target loading location from the subset of the list of loading locations when the machine is in a reverse gear setting, wherein the selection is based on a relative distance between the current position of the machine and each of the loading locations from the subset of the list of loading locations; and

display a zoomed in top view of the current position of the machine and the target loading location, based on the selection.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first controller is located at a remote control station.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the inactive status associated with the loading location is based on at least one of an availability of an operator on-board the corresponding loading machine and an occupied condition of the loading location.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the subset of the list of available loading locations includes a remaining list of the loading locations which are not eliminated.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the selection of the target loading location is further based on a user command.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the zoomed in top view further includes a first heading indicator and a second heading indicator, the first heading indicator associated with an orientation of the machine and the second heading indicator associated with a fixed orientation at the target loading location.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the zoomed in top view further includes a distance indicator indicative of a relative distance between the current position of the machine and the target loading location.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the second controller is further configured to provide a visual indication when the distance indicator and a difference in alignment of the first heading indicator and the second heading indicator are within a predetermined threshold.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the display unit is configured to display simulated views.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the display unit is configured to display a top view of the worksite prior to the zoom-in.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the second controller is further configured to provide a plurality of zoom-in levels of the top view of the machine on the worksite and the target loading location.

12. A method for assisting in docking of a machine at a loading location on a worksite, the method comprising:

receiving, by a controller, a list of loading locations associated with one or more loading machines on the worksite;

receiving a signal indicative of a current position of the machine;

displaying a subset of the list of loading locations;

eliminating one or more loading locations from the received list of the loading locations based on one or more parameters associated with the machine and an inactive status associated with the loading location, and wherein the one or more parameters include at least one of a speed of the machine, a heading of the machine, a distance between the current position of the machine and the loading location, and a pre-assigned loading machine associated with the machine;

selecting a target loading location from the subset of the list of loading locations when the machine is in a reverse gear setting, wherein the selection is based on a relative distance between the current position of the machine and each of the loading locations from the subset of the list of loading locations; and

displaying a zoomed in top view of the current position of the machine and the target loading location, based on the selection.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the inactive status associated with the loading location is based on at least one of an availability of an operator on-board the corresponding loading machine and an occupied condition of the loading location.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the selection of the target loading location is further based on a user command.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising providing a plurality of zoom-in levels of the top view of the machine on the worksite and the target loading location.

16. A machine operating on a worksite, the machine comprising:

a position detection unit located on-board the machine, the position detection unit configured to generate a signal indicative of a current position of the machine on the work site;

a display unit located on-board the machine; and

a controller located on-board the machine, the controller communicably coupled to the position detection unit and the display unit, the controller configured to;

receive a list of loading locations associated with one or more loading machines on the work site;

receive the signal indicative of the current position of the machine;

display a subset of the list of loading locations;

eliminate one or more loading locations from the list of the loading locations based on one or more parameters associated with the machine and an inactive status associated with the loading location, and wherein the one or more parameters include at least one of a speed of the machine, a heading of the machine, a distance between the current position of the machine and the loading location, and a pre-assigned loading machine associated with the machine;

select a target loading location from the subset of the list of loading locations when the machine is in a reverse gear setting, wherein the selection is based on a relative distance between the current position of the machine and each of the loading locations from the subset of the list of loading locations; and

display a zoomed in top view of the current position of the machine and the target loading location, based on the selection.