Machine with customized implement control

• US 20100017074A1
• Filed: 07/17/2008
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Yoo, Benjamin, Kuehn, Jeffrey Lee, Verkuilen, Michael Todd, Mintah, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 8,190,336 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/265 with follow-up actions (e.g. control signals sent to actuate the work tool)

Abstract

A method is provided for operating a machine. The method includes receiving data relating to a current state of multiple parameters. The method also includes determining a parameter signature for each parameter of the multiple parameters based on the received data. In addition, the method includes comparing each parameter signature to reference data to determine which operating modes of the machine are indicated by each parameter signature. The method further includes adjusting one or more components of an implement control system according to the operating mode indicated by a threshold number of parameter signatures.

Claims

1. A method for operating a machine, comprising:

receiving data relating to a current state of multiple parameters;

determining a parameter signature for each parameter of the multiple parameters based on the received data;

comparing each parameter signature to reference data to determine which operating modes of the machine are indicated by each parameter signature; and

adjusting one or more components of an implement control system according to the operating mode indicated by a threshold number of parameter signatures.

2. The method of claim 1, further including determining which parameter signatures indicate a single operating mode and adjusting the one or more components of the implement control system according to the operating mode indicated by a threshold number of parameter signatures indicating a single operating mode.

3. The method of claim 2, further including receiving supplemental data relating to one or more parameters not associated with any of the determined parameter signatures, comparing the supplemental data to stored data when no operating mode is indicated by the threshold number of parameter signatures indicating a single operating mode, and adjusting the one or more components of the implement control system according to a machine operating mode indicated by the comparison of the supplemental data.

4. The method of claim 3, omitting from the comparison of the supplemental data, any operating mode not indicated by any of the parameter signatures indicating a single operating mode.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold number of parameter signatures is a majority of the parameter signatures.

6. A method for operating a machine, comprising:

receiving data relating to a current state of multiple parameters;

determining a parameter signature for each parameter of the multiple parameters based on the received data;

comparing each parameter signature to reference data to determine which operating modes of the machine are indicated by each parameter signature;

determining a current state of one or more factors that affect the operation of the machine, the factors being different from the parameters associated with the parameter signatures; and

adjusting one or more components of an implement control system according to the current state of the one or more factors and the operating mode indicated by a threshold number of parameter signatures.

7. The method of claim 6, further including determining which parameter signatures indicate a single operating mode and adjusting the one or more components of the implement control system according to the operating mode indicated by a threshold number of parameter signatures indicating a single operating mode.

8. The method of claim 7, further including receiving supplemental data relating to one or more parameters not associated with any of the determined parameter signatures, comparing the supplemental data to stored data when no operating mode is indicated by the threshold number of parameter signatures indicating a single operating mode, and adjusting the one or more components of the implement control system according to a machine operating mode indicated by the comparison of the supplemental data.

9. The method of claim 8, omitting from the comparison of the supplemental data, any operating mode not indicated by any of the parameter signatures indicating a single operating mode.

10. The method of claim 9, further including assigning a priority to each machine operating mode and each of the one or more factors.

11. The method of claim 10, further including implementing adjustments based on the current state of the one or more factors or the current machine operating mode having the higher priority, when adjustments based on the current state of the one or more factors and the current machine operating mode conflict.

12. The method of claim 9, further including manually selecting which adjustments to implement when the adjustments based on the current state of the one or more factors and the current machine operating mode conflict.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein the factors include at least one of a geographic location of the machine, a type of tool used with the machine, and properties of material being handled by the machine.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein the threshold number of parameter signatures is a majority of the parameter signatures.

15. A machine, including:

an implement system for performing one or more tasks; and

an implement control system for regulating the operation of the implement system, the implement control system including;

a processing device configured to adjust one or more components of the implement control system according to an operating mode indicated by a threshold number of parameter signatures, each parameter signature being related to a current state of a parameter of the machine.

16. The machine of claim 15, wherein the processing device is further configured to determine a current state of one or more factors that affect the operation of the machine, the factors being different from the parameters associated with the parameter signatures.

17. The machine of claim 16, wherein the processing device is further configured to adjust one or more components of the implement control system according to the current state of the one or more factors in addition to the operating mode indicated by a threshold number of parameter signatures.

18. The machine of claim 17, wherein each machine operating mode and each of the one or more factors has a predetermined priority and the processing device is further configured to adjust the components of the implement control system based on the machine operating mode or the current state of the one or more factors having a higher priority, when the adjustments based on the current state of the one or more factors and the current machine operating mode conflict.

19. The machine of claim 15, wherein the processing device is further configured to determine which parameter signatures indicate a single operating mode and adjust the one or more components of the implement control system according to the operating mode indicated by a threshold number of parameter signatures indicating a single operating mode.

20. The machine of claim 19, wherein the processing device is further configured to receive supplemental data relating to one or more parameters not associated with any of the determined parameter signatures, compare the supplemental data to stored data when no operating mode is indicated by the threshold number of parameter signatures indicating a single operating mode, and adjust the one or more components of the implement control system according to a machine operating mode indicated by the comparison of the supplemental data.