Docking assistance system

• US 8,874,326 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2013
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Liu, Hong, Funke, Brian G., Chacko, Mathew
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US13/787,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20140257626A1
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/027 Parking aids, e.g. instruction means
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0295 by overlaying a vehicle path based on present steering angle over an image without processing that image
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2054 Fleet management
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/265 with follow-up actions (e.g. control signals sent to actuate the work tool)

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 signal indicative of one or more loading locations associated with a loading machine. The second controller is communicably coupled to the first controller, a position detection module, a sensor and a display unit. Based on the signals received from the first controller, the position detection module and the sensor, the second controller compares the received signals and selects an exact loading location of the one or more loading locations. The second controller then determines when the current position of the machine crosses a predefined threshold distance and displays, on the display unit, a zoomed-in top view of the machine on the worksite and the exact loading location, based on the determination.

Claims

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

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

a sensor located on-board the machine, the sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of an operational parameter associated with the machine;

a display unit located on-board the machine;

a first controller located remotely from the machine, the first controller configured to generate a signal indicative of one or more loading locations associated with a loading machine;

and

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

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

receive the signal indicative of the operational parameter associated with the machine;

receive, from the first controller, the signal indicative of the one or more loading locations associated with the loading machine;

compare the signal indicative of the one or more loading locations associated with the loading machine with the signal indicative of the operational parameter associated with the machine;

select an exact loading location of the one or more loading locations based on the comparison;

determine when the current position of the machine crosses a predefined threshold distance; and

display, on the display unit, a zoomed-in top view of the machine on the worksite and the exact loading location, based on the determination.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second controller is further configured to generate a signal indicative of the docking of the machine in the loading location.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first controller is configured to receive the signal indicative of the docking of the machine in the loading location.

4. The system of claim 3 further including a display device located on the loading machine and communicably coupled to the first controller, the display device configured to notify an operator of the docking of the machine in the loading location.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first controller is located on the loading machine.

6. The system of claim 1 further including an operator input device communicably coupled to the first controller, the operator input device configured to receive an input from an operator indicative of the one or more loading locations.

7. The system of claim 1 further including a position determination unit present on the loading machine, the position determination unit configured to generate a signal indicative of at least one of a position of the loading machine and a position of a linkage assembly associated with the loading machine.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the first controller is communicably coupled to the position determination unit and is configured to generate the signal indicative of the one or more loading locations based on at least one of the position of the loading machine and the position of a linkage assembly associated with the loading machine.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the predefined threshold distance includes a predetermined distance between the selected exact loading location and the current position of the machine.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the predefined distance includes a predetermined distance between the position of the loading machine and the current position of the machine.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the predefined distance includes a predetermined distance between the current position of the machine and a set boundary defined on the worksite.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the operational parameter associated with the machine includes at least one of a speed, a heading, a steering angle, a transmission gear of the machine.

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

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

15. 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 exact loading location.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein the second controller is configured to receive a signal indicative of the exact loading location.

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

receiving, from a position detection module, a signal indicative of a current position of the machine;

receiving, from a sensor, a signal indicative of an operational parameter associated with the machine;

receiving, from a controller, a signal indicative of one or more loading locations associated with a loading machine present on the worksite;

comparing the signal indicative of the one or more loading locations associated with the loading machine with the signal indicative of the operational parameter associated with the machine;

selecting an exact loading location of the one or more loading locations based on the comparison;

determining when the current position of the machine crosses a predefined threshold distance; and

displaying a zoomed-in top view of the machine on the worksite and the exact loading location, based on the determination.

18. The method of claim 17 further including generating a signal indicative of the docking of the machine in the loading location.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the operational parameter associated with the machine includes at least one of a speed, a heading, a steering angle, a transmission gear of the machine.

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

a position detection module configured to generate a signal indicative of a current position of the machine;

a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of an operational parameter associated with the machine;

a display unit; and

a controller communicably coupled to the position detection module, the sensor, and the display unit, the controller configured to;

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

receive the signal indicative of the operational parameter associated with the machine;

receive a signal indicative of one or more loading locations present on the worksite;

compare the signal indicative of the one or more loading locations with the signal indicative of the operational parameter associated with the machine;

select an exact loading location of the one or more loading locations based on the comparison;

determine when the current position of the machine crosses a predefined threshold distance; and

display a zoomed-in top view of the machine on the worksite and the exact loading location, based on the determination.