System and method for performance-based payload management

• US 20090099886A1
• Filed: 10/12/2007
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Liu, Yang, Greiner, Jonny Ray, Vyas, Bhavin Jagdishbhai
• Application Number:
  US11/974,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20090099886A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.38
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3735 using a digital network
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3742 using a mobile telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/42 electrically operated
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/02 Agriculture; Fishing; Forestry; Mining
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/30 Transportation; Communications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/00 Registering or indicating the working of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/08 Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working, idle or waiting time

Abstract

A method for managing machine payload based on haul road conditions comprises collecting performance data associated with a machine operating in a work environment and determining an actual total effective grade of the machine based on the collected performance data. The total effective grade is compared with a target total effective grade value, and total effective grade associated with a plurality of payload levels may be simulated if the actual total effective grade is not within a threshold range of the target total effective grade value. At least one of the plurality of payload levels that causes the simulated total effective grade to fall within the threshold range of the target total effective grade value is identified.

Claims

1. A method for managing machine payload based on haul road conditions, the method comprising:

collecting performance data associated with a machine operating in a work environment;

determining an actual total effective grade of the machine based on the collected performance data;

comparing the actual total effective grade with a target total effective grade value;

simulating total effective grade at a plurality of payload levels if the actual total effective grade is not within a threshold range of the target total effective grade value; and

identifying at least one of the plurality of payload levels that causes the simulated total effective grade to fall within the threshold range of the target total effective grade value.

2. The method of claim 1, further including establishing a payload limit of the machine as the largest payload level of the at least one of the plurality of payload levels.

3. The method of claim 2, further including:

generating a payload notification indicative of the payload limit for the machine; and

providing the payload notification to a payload subscriber.

4. The method of claim 1, further including outputting the simulated total effective grade data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein simulating total effective grade includes:

generating a software model of the machine based on the collected performance data; and

simulating operation of the machine using the generated software model.

6. The method of claim 1, further including determining a productivity level of the machine for each of the plurality of payload levels.

7. The method of claim 1, further including estimating a lifespan associated with one or more drive train components of the machine for each of the plurality of payload levels.

8. A computer-readable medium for use on a computer system, the computer-readable medium including computer-executable instructions for performing a method for managing machine payload based on haul road conditions, the method comprising:

collecting performance data associated with a machine operating in a work environment;

determining an actual total effective grade of the machine based on the collected performance data;

comparing the actual total effective grade with a target total effective grade value;

simulating total effective grade at a plurality of payload levels if the actual total effective grade is not within a threshold range of the target total effective grade value; and

identifying at least one of the plurality of payload levels that causes the simulated total effective grade to fall within the threshold range of the target total effective grade value.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the method further includes establishing a payload limit of the machine as the largest payload level of the at least one of the plurality of payload levels.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the method further includes:

generating a payload notification indicative of the payload limit for the machine; and

providing the payload notification to a payload subscriber.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the method further includes outputting the simulated total effective grade data.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein simulating total effective grade includes:

generating a software model of the machine based on the collected performance data; and

simulating operation of the machine using the generated software model.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the method further includes determining a productivity level of the machine for each of the plurality of payload levels.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the method further includes estimating a lifespan associated with one or more drive train components of the machine for each of the plurality of payload levels.

15. A haul route management system comprising:

a condition monitoring system in data communication with a machine operating in a work environment and configured to;

collect performance data associated with a machine operating in the work environment; and

monitor an actual total effective grade of the machine based on the performance data;

a performance simulator communicatively coupled to the condition monitoring system and configured to;

compare the actual total effective grade with a target total effective grade value;

simulate total effective grade associated with a plurality of payload levels if the actual total effective grade is not within a threshold range of the target total effective grade value; and

identify at least one of the plurality of payload levels that causes the simulated total effective grade to fall within the threshold range of the target total effective grade value.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the performance simulator is further configured to establish a payload limit of the machine as the largest payload level of the at least one of the plurality of payload levels that causes the simulated total effective grade to fall within the threshold range of the target total effective grade value.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the performance simulator is further configured to output the simulated total effective grade data.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the performance simulator is further configured to:

generate a payload notification indicative of the payload limit for the machine; and

provide the payload notification to a payload subscriber.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein simulating total effective grade includes:

generating a model of the machine based on the collected performance data; and

simulating operation of the machine using the generated model.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the performance simulator is further configured to determine a productivity level of the machine for each of the plurality of payload levels.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the performance simulator is further configured to estimate a lifespan associated with one or more drive train components of the machine for each of the plurality of payload levels.