METHOD FOR PROVIDING AN OPERATOR OF A WORK MACHINE WITH OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS AND A COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR IMPLEMENTING THE METHOD

• US 20100198466A1
• Filed: 07/04/2008
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB (Volvo AB)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB (Volvo AB)
• Inventors: Lindblom, Jonny, Eklund, Maria
• Granted Patent: US 8,793,055 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/26 Indicating devices E02F5/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

A method is provided for providing an operator of a work machine with operating instructions when the work machine is used in a repeated work cycle. The method includes automatically instructing the operator of the work machine how to operate the work machine in an optimum way with regard to a specific parameter on the basis of characteristics of the specific work cycle.

Claims

1. A method for providing an operator of a work machine with operating instructions when the work machine is used in a repeated work cycle, comprising the step of automatically instructing the operator of the work machine how to operate the work machine in an optimum way with regard to a specific parameter on the basis of characteristics of the specific work cycle.

2. A method according to claim 1, comprising the step of informing the operator of occurrences along a travel path of the work cycle, which occurrences have an impact on operation of the work machine in an optimum way with regard to said specific parameter, and instructing the operator how to operate the work machine past the occurrences.

3. A method according to claim 2, comprising the step of informing the operator of a change in the work cycle travel path and the position of the travel path change along the work cycle travel path.

4. A method according to claim 2 or 3, comprising the step of informing the operator of a change in the ground and the position of the ground change along the work cycle travel path.

5. A method according to any preceding claim, comprising the step of informing the operator how to operate the work machine in an optimum way with regard to reducing vibrations affecting the operator.

6. A method according to claim 5, comprising the step of predicting vibrations affecting the operator caused by a specific occurrence along the work cycle path and informing the operator of the predicted vibrations.

7. A method according to claim 5, comprising the step of predicting total vibrations affecting the operator during a work shift in performing the work cycle and informing the operator of the predicted total vibrations.

8. A method according to any preceding claim, comprising the step of detecting at least one operational parameter during operation of a work machine in the work cycle in question, determining how to operate the work machine in an optimum way in the specific work cycle on the basis of the detected operational parameter and informing the operator correspondingly.

9. A method according to claim 8, comprising the step of associating information about a change in the operational parameter to positions along the work cycle and instructing the operator how to operate the work machine past said positions.

10. A method according to claim 8 or 9, comprising the step of detecting at least one machine operational parameter.

11. A method according to any one of claims 8-10, comprising the step of detecting at least one operational parameter with regard to an operator input to the work machine.

12. A method according to any preceding claim, the characteristics of the specific work cycle comprises pre-available information of the work cycle in question.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the pre-available information of the work cycle comprises a geographical map.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the geographical map comprises topographical information.

15. A method according to any preceding claim, comprising the step of using a satellite based system for establishing a travel path of the work cycle.

16. A method according to any preceding claim, comprising the step of informing the operator how to operate the work machine in an optimum way with regard to reducing energy consumption.

17. A method according to claim 16, comprising the step of predicting a total energy consumption during a work shift comprising performing the work cycle a plurality of times and informing the operator of the predicted total energy consumption.

18. A method according to any preceding claim, comprising the step of presenting the operation instructions to the operator in an operator compartment of the vehicle when the operator is in an operational position.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the instruction comprises visual information.

20. A method according to claim 19, comprising the step of presenting the visual information on a screen in the operator compartment.

21. A method according to any one of claims 18-20, wherein the instruction comprises audio information.

22. A method according to any preceding claim, comprising the step of providing the operator of the work machine with feedback with regard to said specific parameter on a previously performed lap of the work cycle.

25. A method according to any preceding claim, comprising the step of predicting an effect of the characteristics of the specific work cycle on the specific parameter and instructing the operator in response to the predicted effect.

26. A method according to claim 25, comprising the step of instructing the operator of the predicted effect on the specific parameter along a travel path of the work cycle ahead of the work machine.

27. A computer program comprising computer program segments for implementing the method as claimed in any one of claims 1-26 when the program is run on a computer.

28. A computer program product comprising computer program segments stored on a computer-readable means for implementing the method as claimed in any one of claims 1-26 when the program is run on a computer.

23. A method for providing an operator of a work machine with operating instructions when the work machine is used, comprising the step of automatically instructing the operator of the work machine how to operate the work machine in an optimum way with regard to a specific parameter on the basis of characteristics of a travel path ahead of the work machine.

24. A method according to claim 23, comprising the step of informing the operator how to operate the work machine in an optimum way with regard to reducing vibrations affecting the operator.