Traffic control system having deadlock avoidance functionality
First Claim
1. A traffic control system for use with a plurality of mobile machines at a worksite, the traffic control system comprising:
- a locating device positioned onboard each of the plurality of mobile machines and configured to generate a location signal indicative of a location of a corresponding one of the plurality of mobile machines at the worksite;
an onboard controller positioned onboard each of the plurality of mobile machines and configured to regulate operation of a corresponding one of the plurality of mobile machines based on the location signal;
a communication device positioned onboard each of the plurality of mobile machines; and
an offboard worksite controller in communication with the locating device and the onboard controller via the communication device, the worksite controller being configured to;
determine a first route for a first of the plurality of mobile machines from a current location to a final destination based on the location signal, the first route including multiple lanes sequentially joined end to end;
determine if a first lane of the first route is blocked by a second of the plurality of mobile machines;
determine if a second lane of the first route intersects with a second route of the second of the plurality of mobile machines; and
selectively grant permission to the onboard controller for travel of the first of the plurality of mobile machines through the second lane prior to reaching the first lane while the first lane is blocked.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A traffic control system is disclosed as having a locating device configured to generate a location signal indicative of a location of each of a plurality of machines. The traffic control system may also have an onboard controller configured to regulate operation of the plurality of machines based on the location signal, a communication device, and a worksite controller. The worksite controller may be configured to determine a first route for a first of the plurality of machines, and to determine if a first lane of the first route is blocked by a second of the plurality of machines. The worksite controller may also be configured to determine if a second lane of the first route intersects with a second route of the second of the plurality of machines, and to selectively grant permission for travel of the first of the plurality of machines through the second lane.
29 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A traffic control system for use with a plurality of mobile machines at a worksite, the traffic control system comprising:
-
a locating device positioned onboard each of the plurality of mobile machines and configured to generate a location signal indicative of a location of a corresponding one of the plurality of mobile machines at the worksite; an onboard controller positioned onboard each of the plurality of mobile machines and configured to regulate operation of a corresponding one of the plurality of mobile machines based on the location signal; a communication device positioned onboard each of the plurality of mobile machines; and an offboard worksite controller in communication with the locating device and the onboard controller via the communication device, the worksite controller being configured to; determine a first route for a first of the plurality of mobile machines from a current location to a final destination based on the location signal, the first route including multiple lanes sequentially joined end to end; determine if a first lane of the first route is blocked by a second of the plurality of mobile machines; determine if a second lane of the first route intersects with a second route of the second of the plurality of mobile machines; and selectively grant permission to the onboard controller for travel of the first of the plurality of mobile machines through the second lane prior to reaching the first lane while the first lane is blocked. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A method for controlling traffic of a plurality of mobile machines operating at a worksite, the method comprising:
-
generating location signals indicative of locations of the plurality of mobile machines; determining a first route for a first of the plurality of mobile machines from a current location to a final destination based on the location signals, the first route including multiple lanes sequentially joined end to end; determining if a first lane of the first route is blocked by a second of the plurality of mobile machines; determining if a second lane of the first route intersects with a second route of the second of the plurality of mobile machines; and selectively granting permission for travel of the first of the plurality of mobile machines through the second lane prior to reaching the first lane while the first lane is blocked. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing computer-executable programming instructions for performing a method of traffic control for a plurality of mobile machines operating at a worksite, the method of traffic control comprising:
-
generating location signals indicative of locations of the plurality of mobile machines at the worksite; determining a plurality of routes for the plurality of mobile machines based on the location signals, each of the routes including multiple lanes sequentially joined end to end; determining if a first lane of a first route associated with a first of the plurality of mobile machines is blocked by a second of the plurality of mobile machines; determining if a second lane of the first route interferes with a second route of the second of the plurality of mobile machines; and selectively causing the first of the plurality of mobile machines to stop in a lane of the first route other than the second lane prior to reaching the first lane while the first lane is blocked. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification