Real-time route terrain validity checker
First Claim
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1. A method of routing mobile excavation machines at a worksite comprising:
- operating a mobile excavation machine to autonomously move material in a predefined slot at a work area;
setting a route completely outside the predefined slot for relocation of the mobile excavation machine to a new slot at the worksite;
automatically analyzing a terrain contour of the route;
automatically determining that the terrain contour of the route exceeds an acceptable operating state for the mobile excavation machine; and
automatically altering a travel path of the mobile excavation machine to a new route that avoids the terrain contour that exceeds the acceptable operating state, the new route including a path to the new slot that avoids the terrain contour that exceeds the acceptable operating state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Automated excavating uses automated dozers and other earthmoving equipment to move material at a worksite. When such equipment is required to avoid a temporary obstruction, traverse between work slots, or traverse between work areas, a controller uses information from real-time sensors and contour maps to determine a new route to the destination. The controller also determines in real time whether the proposed route will keep the equipment on terrain with slopes that do not exceed a slope limit set for the mobile excavation machine. If not, the controller re-routes the machine to a new path over terrain with acceptable slopes.
14 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of routing mobile excavation machines at a worksite comprising:
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operating a mobile excavation machine to autonomously move material in a predefined slot at a work area; setting a route completely outside the predefined slot for relocation of the mobile excavation machine to a new slot at the worksite; automatically analyzing a terrain contour of the route; automatically determining that the terrain contour of the route exceeds an acceptable operating state for the mobile excavation machine; and automatically altering a travel path of the mobile excavation machine to a new route that avoids the terrain contour that exceeds the acceptable operating state, the new route including a path to the new slot that avoids the terrain contour that exceeds the acceptable operating state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for routing mobile excavation machines at a worksite comprising:
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a mobile excavation machine equipped with remote control equipment that allows remotely controlled steering, speed, and direction control; a controller configured to communicate with the mobile excavation machine to receive location information about the mobile excavation machine and provide remote control instructions to the mobile excavation machine; and a planner coupled to the controller, the planner configured for; controlling the mobile excavation machine for autonomous operation for moving material in a first slot of a work area; setting a destination for the mobile excavation machine outside the first slot using a route, the destination associated with a second slot; analyzing a terrain contour along the route; determining when the route intersects an unacceptable terrain contour; setting an intermediate destination for the mobile excavation machine that causes the mobile excavation machine to avoid the unacceptable terrain contour as the mobile excavation machine travels to the destination associated with the second slot. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of routing a mobile excavation machine operated by remote control at a worksite, the method comprising:
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autonomously operating the mobile excavation machine to move material in a predefined slot; setting an initial route for the mobile excavation machine to autonomously travel outside the predefined slot to a new slot at the worksite; segmenting the initial route into a plurality of piecewise linear segments; performing a terrain validation of a terrain of a next closest segment of the plurality of piecewise linear segments; determining that a terrain of the route exceeds an acceptable operating state for the mobile excavation machine; altering a travel path of the mobile excavation machine to a new route that allows the mobile excavation machine to autonomously travel to the new slot and avoid the terrain of the initial route that exceeds the acceptable operating state, the new route including a path to the new slot that avoids the terrain of the initial route that exceeds the acceptable operating state. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification