System and method for accident logging in an automated machine

• US 20100138094A1
• Filed: 12/02/2008
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Reitz, Clayton, Stark, Shannon K.R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,473,143 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/23
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0866 the electronic data carrier being a digital video recorder in combination with video camera
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0891 Video recorder in combination with video camera

Abstract

A system for logging visual and sensor data associated with a triggering event on a machine is disclosed. The system may include a camera disposed on an autonomous machine to provide a visual data output and a sensor disposed on the autonomous machine to provide an operational parameter output. The system may also include a memory buffer to store the visual data and operational parameter output of the autonomous machine and a permanent memory device to selectively store contents of the memory buffer. The system may further include a controller configured to detect a condition indicative of the triggering event on the autonomous machine. The controller may also be configured to store the contents of the memory buffer in the permanent memory at a predetermined time after the triggering event, said contents corresponding to the visual data output and operational parameter output occurring before, during, and after the triggering event.

Claims

1. A system for logging visual data and sensor data associated with a triggering event, comprising:

a camera disposed on an autonomous machine to provide visual data output;

a sensor disposed on the autonomous machine to provide operational parameter output;

a memory buffer to store the visual data output and the operational parameter output of the autonomous machine;

a permanent memory device to selectively store contents of the memory buffer; and

a controller configured to;

detect a condition indicative of the triggering event on the autonomous machine; and

store the contents of the memory buffer in the permanent memory at a predetermined time after the triggering event, said contents corresponding to the visual data output and the operational parameter output occurring before, during, and after the triggering event.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the triggering event is a collision or a near miss.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein a condition indicative of a triggering event includes at least one of improper detection and identification of objects, sudden deceleration of the autonomous machine, triggering a brake system of the autonomous machine, and detection by an object sensor of an object in close proximity to the autonomous machine.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the permanent memory device includes sufficient memory to store multiple instances of the contents of the memory buffer.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera is further configured to include a time stamp with the visual data output.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to store the contents of the memory buffer in the permanent memory device both at the time of the triggering event and at the predetermined time after the triggering event.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the contents of the permanent memory device are configured to be downloaded from an integrated display unit.

8. A method of logging visual data and sensor data associated with a triggering event in an autonomous machine, comprising:

receiving a visual data output from the autonomous machine;

receiving an operational parameter output from the autonomous machine;

storing the visual data output and the operational parameter output in a memory buffer on the autonomous machine;

detecting a condition indicative of the triggering event on the autonomous machine;

continuing to store the visual data output and the operational parameter output in the memory buffer for a predetermined time after the triggering event on the autonomous machine; and

storing contents of the memory buffer in a permanent memory device, said contents occurring before, during, and after the triggering event, and said contents to include the visual data output and the operational parameter output.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the triggering event is a collision or a near miss.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein detecting a condition indicative of the triggering event includes at least one of detecting and identifying objects incorrectly, detecting a sudden deceleration of the autonomous machine, detecting a triggering of a brake system of the autonomous machine, and detecting an object in close proximity to the autonomous machine.

11. The method of claim 8, further including storing multiple instances of the contents of the memory buffer on the permanent memory device.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein storing the visual data output further includes a time stamp stored with the visual data output.

13. The method of claim 8, further including storing the contents of the memory buffer in the permanent memory device both at the time of the triggering event and at the predetermined time after the triggering event.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the stored contents of the memory buffer are configured to be downloaded from an integrated display unit.

15. An autonomous machine, comprising:

a power source;

a traction device driven by the power source to propel the machine;

a camera to provide a visual data output;

a sensor to provide an operational parameter output;

a memory buffer to store the visual data output and the operational parameter output;

a permanent memory device to selectively store contents of the memory buffer, to include the visual data output and the operational parameter output; and

a controller configured to;

detect a condition indicative of a triggering event; and

store the contents of the memory buffer in the permanent memory at a predetermined time after the triggering event, said contents corresponding to the visual data output and the operational parameter output occurring before, during, and after the triggering event.

16. The autonomous machine of claim 15, wherein the triggering event is a collision or a near miss.

17. The autonomous machine of claim 15, wherein a condition indicative of a triggering event includes at least one of improper detection and identification of objects, sudden deceleration of the autonomous machine, triggering a brake system of the autonomous machine, and detection by an object sensor of an object in close proximity to the autonomous machine.

18. The autonomous machine of claim 15, wherein the permanent memory device includes sufficient memory to store multiple instances of the contents of the memory buffer and the contents of the permanent memory device are configured to be downloaded from an integrated display unit.

19. The autonomous machine of claim 15, wherein the camera is further configured to include a time stamp with the visual data output.

20. The autonomous machine of claim 15, wherein the controller is further configured to store the contents of the memory buffer in the permanent memory device both at the time of the triggering event and at the predetermined time after the triggering event.