Operation identification of a work machine

• US 9,982,414 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2016
• Issued: 05/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Jang, Tai Seung
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Mary D
• Application Number:
  US15/155,615
• Publication Number:
  US 20170328031A1
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2025 Particular purposes of control systems not otherwise provided for E02F3/16, E02F3/26, sub-groups of E02F3/43, E02F3/651, sub-groups of E02F3/84, E02F3/907, E02F5/145 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2029 Controlling the position of implements in function of its load, e.g. modifying the attitude of implements in accordance to vehicle speed control for hydraulic or pneumatic drives E02F9/2203, E02F9/2221 and E02F9/2253 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2041 Automatic repositioning of implements, i.e. memorising determined positions of the implement for dipper-arms or bucket-arms E02F3/434, E02F3/437, E02F3/438, E02F3/439 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2058 Electric or electro-mechanical or mechanical control devices of vehicle sub-units for vehicles in general B60W
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/265 with follow-up actions (e.g. control signals sent to actuate the work tool)
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/267 Diagnosing or detecting failure of vehicles

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for identifying operations of a machine. The system includes a work tool and an operator input device configured to receive input indicative of a desired movement of the work tool and to generate a command data stream associated with the received input. The system also includes an actuator configured to move the work tool according to the command data stream and a controller in communication with the operator input device and the actuator. The controller is configured to convert the command data stream into a frequency data stream and identify a pattern in the frequency data stream. The controller is also configured to make a classification of a current operation of the machine as one of a plurality of known operations based on the identified pattern. The controller is further configured to trigger an event associated with the current operation of the machine.

Claims

1. A control system for a machine, comprising:

a work tool;

an operator input device configured to receive input indicative of a desired movement of the work tool and to generate a command data stream associated with the received input;

at least one actuator configured to move the work tool according to the command data stream; and

a controller in communication with the operator input device and the at least one actuator, the controller being configured to;

convert the command data stream, including first information in a time domain into a frequency data stream, including second information in a frequency domain;

identify a pattern in the second information in the frequency domain;

classify a current operation of the machine as one of a plurality of known operations based on the identified pattern; and

trigger an event associated with the current operation of the machine.

2. The control system of claim 1, wherein, when the event is triggered, the controller is further configured to adjust an operational parameter of the at least one actuator based on the classification.

3. The control system of claim 2, wherein adjusting the operational parameter includes changing at least one of the following parameters:

acceleration rate, overall speed, force, and range of motion.

4. The control system of claim 1, wherein, when the event is triggered, the controller is further configured to provide a real-time notification to an operator of the machine.

5. The control system of claim 1, wherein, when the event is triggered, the controller is further configured to compare an operational parameter of at least one component to at least one predefined threshold associated with the current operation of the machine.

6. The control system of claim 5, wherein the at least one component differs from the at least one actuator configured to move the work tool.

7. The control system of claim 1, wherein:

the operator input device is a first joystick lever controlling a first actuator;

the control system further includes a second joystick lever controlling a second actuator; and

the command data stream includes information from both the first joystick and the second joystick.

8. The control system of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of known operations includes a first set of known operations associated with a first type of machines and a second set of known operations associated with a second type of machines; and

when the machine belongs to the first type of machines, the controller is further configured to make a classification of the current operation of the machine only as one of the first set of known operations.

9. The control system of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor associated with a movement of the work tool, wherein the controller is further configured to make the classification based on information from the at least one sensor and information from the operator input device.

10. The control system of claim 9, wherein the information from the at least one sensor is indicative of one or more of a pivoting position, an acceleration, a speed, a force, or a pressure associated with at least one of the work tool and the at least one actuator.

11. The control system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to make the classification based solely on information from the operator input device.

12. A method for identifying operations of a machine, comprising:

receiving a command data stream from at least one machine having an operator input device for controlling movements of the machine, wherein the command data stream is associated with a period of time;

converting the command data stream, including first information in a time domain into a frequency data stream, including second information in a frequency domain;

identifying a plurality of patterns in the second information in the frequency domain;

classifying a plurality of previous operations of the machine that happened in the period of time as one or more of a plurality of known operations based on the identified plurality of patterns; and

using the classifications to generate a machine application profile.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

using the machine application profile to predict a potential failure of a component of the machine.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

using the machine application profile to determine information about a customer usage of the machine.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving a plurality of command data streams from a plurality of machines associated with a single customer; and

using generated machine application profiles of the plurality of machines to determine a customer profile for the single customer.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

using the machine application profile to determine ranking of performances of an operator of the machine.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving information from at least one sensor associated with the movements of the machine, wherein making the classifications is based on information from the operator input device and the information from the at least one sensor.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to provide information indicative of movements of a work tool.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein making classifications of the plurality of previous operations of the machine is based solely on information from the operator input device.

20. A computer programmable medium having executable instructions stored thereon for completing a method for identifying operations of a machine, the method comprising:

receiving a command data stream from at least one machine having an operator input device for controlling movements of the machine, wherein the command data stream is associated with a period of time;

converting the command data stream, including first information in a time domain into a frequency data stream, including second information in a frequency domain;

identifying a plurality of patterns in the second information in the frequency domain;

classifying a plurality of previous operations of the machine that happened in the period of time as one or more of a plurality of known operations based on the identified plurality of patterns; and

using the classifications to generate a machine application profile.