Managing dump body controls on automonous machines

• US 9,663,012 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2015
• Issued: 05/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Vitale, Andrew, McCullough, Jeffery, Brooks, Thomas, Hudson, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Tissot, Adam
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEBER, TAMARA L
• Application Number:
  US14/658,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20160272101A1
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/045 Levelling or stabilising systems for tippers suspensions with levelling or stabilising means for vehicles in general B60G17/00, B60G21/00, using ground-engaging vehicle fittings B60S9/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/16 actuated by fluid-operated mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/28 Tipping body constructions
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00

Abstract

System and methods for managing operations of one or more machines are disclosed. One method includes receiving first information relating to an operation of a dump body of a hauling machine operating in at least a partially autonomous manner, determining a failure condition of the operation based at least on the received first information, transmitting a notification relating to the failure condition, and causing a boost pressure to be applied to the dump body of the hauling machine.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

sensing first information relating to an operation of a dump body of a hauling machine, the hauling machine operating in at least a partially autonomous manner;

receiving, by one or more processors, the first information, wherein the first information comprises an operational state of the hauling machine;

determining, by the one or more processors, a failure condition of the operation based at least on the received first information;

transmitting a notification relating to the failure condition from the one or more processors to a worksite controller, wherein the notification comprises an indication that a dump site is full; and

causing a boost pressure to be applied to the dump body of the hauling machine.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the operational state of hauling machine comprises one or more of a lift position of the dump body and a pressure applied to the dump body by an actuator of the hauling machine.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the failure condition further comprises one or more of comparing the first information to a threshold comparator and determining an irregularity in operation based on predetermined operational parameters.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the failure condition further comprises one or more of a failed raising of the dump body and a failed lowering of the dump body.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the causing the boost pressure to be applied to the dump body comprises increasing a lowering force applied to the dump body.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving second information relating to the operation of the dump body of the hauling machine in response to the applied boost pressure.

7. The method of claim 1, further including receiving location information relating to the dump site.

8. A system comprising:

a sensor configured to sense first information relating to an operation of a dump body of a hauling machine, the hauling machine operating in at least a partially autonomous manner;

a processor; and

a memory bearing instructions that, upon execution by the processor, cause the system at least to;

receive the first information;

determine a failure condition of the operation based at least on the received first information;

transmit a notification relating to the failure condition to a worksite controller; and

cause a boost pressure to be applied to the dump body of the hauling machine, the applied boost pressure increasing a lowering force applied to the dump body.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first information comprises one or more of a lift position of the dump body and a pressure applied to the dump body by an actuator of the hauling machine.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the determining the failure condition comprises one or more of comparing the first information to a threshold comparator and determining an irregularity in operation based on predetermined operational parameters.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the failure condition comprises one or more of a failed raising of the dump body and a failed lowering of the dump body.

12. The system of claim 8, further including receiving additional information including location information relating to a dump site, and wherein the notification comprises an indication that the dump site is full.

13. The system of claim 8, further comprising receiving second information relating to the operation of the dump body of the hauling machine in response to the applied boost pressure.

14. A computer-implemented method comprising:

sensing first information relating to an operation of a dump body of a machine, the first information including an operational state of the machine;

receiving, by one or more processors, the first information;

determining, by the one or more processors, a failure condition of the operation based at least on the received first information;

generating a response signal based at least on the determined failure condition, wherein the response signal comprises one or more of a notification of the failure condition from the one or more processors to a worksite controller, and a remediation to the failure condition, wherein the notification comprises an indication that a dump site is full.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the machine is operating in at least a partially autonomous manner.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the machine is a hauling machine.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the remediation to the failure condition comprises one or more of closing the dump site and autonomously causing a change in the operational state of the machine.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, further including receiving information relating to a machine type, and receiving information relating to a location of the dump site.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, further including receiving an instruction from the worksite controller to relocate the machine from the dump site.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the operational state of the machine comprises one or more of a lift position of the dump body and a pressure applied to the dump body by an actuator of the machine.