Remote operator station for a machine

• US 9,983,578 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2016
• Issued: 05/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Kandula, Suneel Venkata, May, Shane Arthur, Harrison, Brent Russell, Lazaroiu, Mihai, Reiner, Greg Scott, McCowan, Garrett Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US15/134,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20170308074A1
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/79 Adaptations for additional use of the arm-rests
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/16 Cabins, platforms, or the like, for drivers for motor vehicles in general B62D33/06, for cranes B66C13/54
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2004 Control mechanisms, e.g. control levers control levers per se G05G
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/205 Remotely operated machines, e.g. unmanned vehicles E02F3/8866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0016 characterised by the operator's input device input arrangements for computing systems in general G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0038 by providing the operator with simple or augmented images from one or more cameras located onboard the vehicle, e.g. tele-operation images analyzed by a computer and used for automatic navigation G05D1/0246
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]

Abstract

A remote operator station may include a seat. A first and a second input device may be disposed on the seat. An interface device may be discretely arranged with respect to the remote operator station and may include an interface processor in communication with a machine. The interface processor may be configured to remotely control non-movement features and function of the machine. An electronic control module may be in communication with, at least, the first and second input devices. The electronic control module may be configured to: receive input signals from one of the first and second input devices; process the input signals; and communicate wirelessly processed input signals to a machine for remote operation thereof.

Claims

1. A remote operator station, comprising:

a frame including a support section, an elevated section, and a base, the base disposed between the support section and the elevated section;

a seat coupled to the elevated section, the seat including a first armrest and a second armrest;

a first input device disposed integrally with the first armrest;

a second input device disposed integrally with the second armrest;

an upright support mast detachably coupled to the support section;

a first interface device coupled to the upright support mast, the first interface device including a first interface processor;

a first swing arm detachably coupled to the support section;

a second interface device coupled to the first swing arm, the second interface device including a second interface processor;

an enclosure disposed underneath the elevated section;

a router including a router processor, the router housed in the enclosure and in communication with the first interface device and the second interface device; and

an electronic control module in communication with, at least, the first input device, the second input device, and the router, the electronic control module housed in the enclosure and configured to;

receive input signals from one of the first input device and the second input device;

process the input signals; and

communicate wirelessly processed input signals to a machine for remote operation thereof.

2. The remote operator station of claim 1, further including a second swing arm detachably coupled to the support section and a third interface device, in communication with the electronic control module, coupled to the second swing arm, wherein the third interface device includes a third interface processor, wherein the first interface device, via manually interchangeable connections thereto, is configured to display one of real-time situational awareness features of the machine, machine health information, and fleet management information, and wherein the second interface device, via manually interchangeable connections thereto, is configured to display a different one of real-time situational awareness features of the machine, machine health information, and fleet management information.

3. The remote operator station of claim 1, wherein the seat is slidably coupled to the elevated section via a bearing slide.

4. The remote operator station of claim 1, further including a sensor disposed on the seat to detect whether an operator has moved out of the seat.

5. The remote operator station of claim 1, wherein the first and second armrests are one-piece, adjustable armrests.

6. The remote operator station of claim 1, wherein the enclosure includes a cover hingedly attached thereto, the cover including turnlock fasteners to lock the cover to the enclosure.

7. The remote operator station of claim 1, wherein the electronic control module is configured to provide a simulated environment similar to a real time operation of the machine.

8. The remote operator station of claim 1, wherein the first input device and the second input device are joysticks.

9. The remote operator station of claim 1, further including a console plate coupled to the frame and a console disposed on the console plate, the console operatively housing an area isolation system shutdown switch, an area isolation system reset switch, and a fire suppression switch.

10. The remote operator station of claim 9, wherein the area isolation system shutdown switch is in communication with an area isolation system shutdown programmable logic controller and the area isolation system reset switch is in communication with an area isolation system control programmable logic controller.

11. The remote operator station of claim 10, wherein the area isolation system shutdown programmable logic controller and the area isolation system control programmable logic controller are in wireless communication with a remotely located area isolation system.

12. The remote operator station of claim 11, wherein the remotely located area isolation system includes a barrier control panel in communication with a strobe light, a machine barrier switch, and a personal barrier switch.

13. A remote operator station, comprising:

a seat;

a first and a second input device disposed on the seat;

an interface device discretely arranged with respect to the remote operator station, the interface device including an interface processor in communication with a machine, the interface processor configured to remotely control non-movement features and functions of the machine; and

an electronic control module in communication with, at least, the first input device and the second input device, the electronic control module configured to;

receive input signals from one of the first input device and the second input device;

process the input signals; and

communicate wirelessly processed input signals to the machine for remote operation thereof.

14. The remote operator station of claim 13, wherein the seat is disposed in a mobile environment.

15. The remote operator station of claim 13, wherein the seat is slidably coupled to a frame and the interface device is coupled to a wall positioned in front of the remote operator station wherein a support section of the frame is configured for positioning underneath a desk in front of the remote operator station.

16. A system for remotely operating a machine, comprising:

the machine including an implement and a plurality of cameras; and

a remote operator station remotely located from the machine, the remote operator station including;

a frame;

a seat slidably coupled to the frame, the seat including a first armrest and a second armrest;

a first input device disposed integrally with the first armrest;

a second input device disposed integrally with the second armrest;

a first interface device coupled to the frame, the first interface device including a first interface processor in communication with the machine and the plurality of cameras, the first interface processor configured to receive and display real-time situational awareness features of the machine;

a second interface device coupled to the frame, the second interface device including a second interface processor in communication with the machine, the second interface processor configured to remotely control non-movement features and functions of the machine; and

an electronic control module in communication with, at least, the first input device, second input device, and the machine, the electronic control module configured to;

receive input signals from one of the first input device and the second input device;

process the input signals; and

communicate wirelessly processed signals to the machine for remote operation of the machine and the implement.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the plurality of cameras includes a forward-facing camera and a rear-facing camera.

18. A system of claim 16, wherein the first input device is configured to control operations related to the implement.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the second input device is configured to control operations related to controlling the machine.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the electronic control module is configured to provide a simulated environment similar to a real time operation of the machine.