Operator assistance system for machine

• US 9,529,347 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2014
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Roach, Keegan W., Van De Veer, Brad Robert, Beccue, Thomas E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dager, Jonathan M
• Application Number:
  US14/470,977
• Publication Number:
  US 20160060847A1
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 701/50
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/3411 of the Z-type
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/434 providing automatic sequences of movements, e.g. automatic dumping or loading, automatic return-to-dig
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2079 Control of mechanical transmission for hydrostatic transmission or hydraulic torque converter E02F9/2253
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/26 Indicating devices E02F5/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/264 Sensors and their calibration for indicating the position of the work tool
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric

Abstract

A system for assisting an operator to maneuver a machine on a worksite is provided. The system includes a rotation sensor associated with a transmission assembly of the machine. The rotation sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of a rotation of a ground engaging member of the machine. The system includes a controller communicably coupled to the rotation sensor. The controller is configured to receive the signal indicative of the rotation of the ground engaging member of the machine. The controller is configured to determine if the machine is on a reverse traversal. The controller is configured to estimate a number of rotations of the ground engaging member based on the determination of the reverse traversal of the machine. The controller is configured to compare the estimated number of rotations with a predetermined threshold. The controller is further configured to alert the operator based on the comparison.

Claims

1. A system for assisting an operator to maneuver a machine on a worksite, the system comprising:

a rotation sensor associated with a transmission assembly of the machine,

the rotation sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a rotation of a ground engaging member of the machine; and

a controller communicably coupled to the rotation sensor, the controller configured to;

receive the signal indicative of the rotation of the ground engaging member of the machine;

determine if the machine is on a reverse traversal;

estimate a number of rotations of the ground engaging member based on the determining if the machine is on the reverse traversal;

compare the estimated number of rotations with a predetermined threshold,

the predetermined threshold including a particular number of rotations of the ground engaging member; and

alert the operator based on the comparison.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the alert includes at least one of a visual indication or an audio indication.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising a display unit configured to display the visual indication to the operator.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the ground engaging member includes a wheel or a track of the machine.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the rotation sensor is mounted on an axle associated with the ground engaging member of the machine.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is activated manually or automatically.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising an operator implement input device, in communication with the controller, having a first detent to raise an implement and a second detent to lower the implement,

the operator implement input device having a first limit and a second limit associated with the first detent, and a third limit associated with the second detent to lower the implement to a pre-defined minimum position, and

the operator implement input device including an implement position sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a current position of the implement of the machine.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the operator implement input device has the first limit activated through the first detent during a forward traversal, the first limit configured to raise the implement to a pre-defined maximum position, wherein the pre-defined maximum position is higher than the pre-defined minimum position, and wherein the operator implement input device has the second limit activated through the first detent during the reverse traversal, the second limit configured to raise the implement to a pre-defined intermediate position distanced between the pre-defined maximum position and the pre-defined minimum position, the controller is further configured to:

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

compare the current position of the implement with the pre-defined intermediate position based on the determination of the reverse traversal of the machine; and

automatically control a movement of the implement to the pre-defined intermediate position based on the comparison step.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to:

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

determine if the machine is on a forward traversal;

compare the current position of the implement with the pre-defined maximum position based on the determination of the forward traversal; and

automatically control the movement of the implement to the pre-defined maximum position based on the comparison between the current position and the pre-defined maximum position.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the reverse traversal of the machine is determined based on at least one of a gear command signal and an operator input.

11. A machine comprising:

a rotation sensor associated with a transmission assembly of the machine, the rotation sensor being configured to generate a signal indicative of a rotation of a wheel of the machine; and

a controller communicably coupled to the rotation sensor, the controller being configured to;

receive the signal indicative of the rotation of the wheel of the machine;

determine if the machine is on a reverse traversal;

estimate a number of rotations of the wheel based on the determining if the machine is on the reverse traversal;

compare the estimated number of rotations of the wheel with a predetermined threshold,

the predetermined threshold including a particular number of rotations, of the wheel, required by the machine to traverse a particular distance; and

alert an operator based on the comparison.

12. The machine of claim 11, wherein the alert includes at least one of a visual indication or an audio indication.

13. The machine of claim 11, wherein the rotation sensor is mounted on an axle associated with the wheel of the machine.

14. The machine of claim 11, wherein the system is activated manually or automatically.

15. The machine of claim 11 further comprising an operator implement input device in communication with the controller, having a first detent to raise an implement and a second detent to lower the implement,

the operator implement input device having a first limit and a second limit associated with the first detent, and a third limit associated with the second detent to lower the implement to a pre-defined minimum position, and

the operator implement input device including an implement position sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a current position of the implement of the machine.

16. The machine of claim 15, wherein the operator implement input device has the first limit activated through the first detent during a forward traversal, the first limit configured to raise the implement to a pre-defined maximum position, wherein the pre-defined maximum position is higher than the pre-defined minimum position, and wherein the operator implement input device has the second limit activated through the first detent during the reverse traversal, the second limit configured to raise the implement to a pre-defined intermediate position distanced between the pre-defined maximum position and the pre-defined minimum position, the controller is further configured to:

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

compare the current position of the implement with pre-defined intermediate position based on the determination of the reverse traversal of the machine; and

automatically control a movement of the implement to the pre-defined intermediate position based on the comparison step.

17. The machine of claim 16, wherein the controller is further configured to:

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

determine if the machine is on a forward traversal;

compare the current position of the implement with the pre-defined maximum position based on the determination of the forward traversal; and

automatically control the movement of the implement to the pre-defined maximum position based on the comparison between the current position and the pre-defined maximum position.

18. The machine of claim 11, wherein the reverse traversal of the machine is determined based on at least one of a gear command signal and an operator input.

19. A method for assisting an operator to maneuver a machine on a worksite, the method comprising:

receiving, from a rotation sensor, a signal indicative of a rotation of a ground engaging member of the machine;

determining, by a controller communicably coupled to the rotation sensor, if the machine is on a reverse traversal;

estimating, by the controller, a number of rotations of the ground engaging member based on the determining if the machine is on the reverse traversal;

comparing, by the controller, the estimated number of rotations with a predetermined threshold, the predetermined threshold including a particular number of rotations of the ground engaging member; and

alerting, by the controller, the operator based on the comparison.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

receiving, from an implement position sensor, a signal indicative of a current position of an implement of a machine;

determining, by the controller, when the machine is on a reverse traversal or a forward traversal;

comparing, by the controller, the current position of the implement with a pre-defined intermediate position; and

in response to an operator implement input device, automatically controlling, by the controller, a movement of the implement to the pre-defined intermediate position when the machine is on the reverse traversal, or automatically controlling, by the controller, the movement of the implement to a pre-defined maximum position when the machine is on the forward traversal.