SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING AN EARTH-MOVING OPERATION OF A MACHINE

• US 20170039786A1
• Filed: 08/06/2015
• Published: 02/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: DeVore, James H.
• Granted Patent: US 9,619,948 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0816 Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for monitoring an operation performed by a machine having an implement is provided. The method includes determining a fuel consumption rate value of the machine. The method also includes generating a provisional value based at least in part on the fuel consumption rate value for the operation. The method further includes determining one or more thresholds for the operation. The one or more thresholds correspond to a normal fuel consumption rate value of the machine for the operation. The method further includes generating a status indicator, indicative of a score of the operation based at least in part on a comparison of the provisional value and the one or more thresholds.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for monitoring an operation of a machine having an implement, the method comprising:

determining a fuel consumption rate value of the machine,

the fuel consumption rate value corresponding to a fuel consumption rate by the machine performing the operation;

generating a provisional value based at least in part on the fuel consumption rate value for the operation;

determining one or more thresholds for the operation,

the one or more thresholds corresponding to a normal fuel consumption rate value of the machine for performing the operation; and

generating a status indicator, indicative of a score of the operation performed by the machine, based at least in part on a comparison of the provisional value and the one or more thresholds,

the score of the operation being indicative of productivity and efficiency of the machine performing the operation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the provisional value comprises an average fuel consumption rate value,

the average fuel consumption rate value being generated based on the fuel consumption rate value for the operation.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating the score of the operation based at least in part on a comparison of the provisional value and the normal fuel consumption rate value, the normal fuel consumption rate value being indicative of a peak score of the operation.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the status indicator is generated as at least one of a critical status indicator, a cautionary status indicator, or a normal status indicator,

the critical status indicator being generated when the fuel consumption rate value is less than or equal to a first threshold,

the cautionary status indicator being generated when the fuel consumption rate value is greater than the first threshold but less than or equal to a second threshold, and

the normal status indicator being generated when the fuel consumption rate value is greater than both of the first threshold and the second threshold.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the provisional value is generated at predefined intervals during the operation, and

wherein the status indicator is updated after each interval based on the provisional value.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the operation comprises repeating cycles of the operation, and

wherein the provisional value generated for a prior cycle is used as the provisional value for a subsequent cycle.

7. A control system for monitoring an operation of a machine having an implement, the control system comprising:

a communication device configured to receive a fuel consumption rate value of the machine,

the fuel consumption rate value corresponding to a fuel consumption rate by the machine performing the operation;

a memory configured to store the fuel consumption rate value; and

a controller in communication with the memory, the controller configured to;

generate a provisional value based at least in part on the fuel consumption rate value for the operation;

determine one or more thresholds for the operation,

the one or more thresholds corresponding to a normal fuel consumption rate value of the machine for performing the operation; and

generate a status indicator, indicative of a score of the operation, based at least in part on a comparison of the provisional value and the one or more thresholds,

the score of the operation being indicative of productivity and efficiency of the machine performing the operation.

8. The control system of claim 7, wherein the provisional value comprises an average fuel consumption rate value,

the average fuel consumption rate value being generated based on the fuel consumption rate value for the operation.

9. The control system of claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to generate the score of the operation based at least in part on a comparison of the provisional value and the normal fuel consumption rate value,

the normal fuel consumption rate value being indicative of a peak score of the operation.

10. The control system of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to generate the status indicator as at least one of a critical status indicator, a cautionary status indicator, or a normal status indicator,

the critical status indicator being generated when the fuel consumption rate value is less than or equal to a first threshold,

the cautionary status indicator being generated when the fuel consumption rate value is greater than the first threshold but less than or equal to a second threshold, and

the normal status indicator being generated when the fuel consumption rate value is greater than both of the first threshold and the second threshold.

11. The control system of claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to generate the provisional value at predefined intervals during the operation, and wherein the status indicator is updated after each interval based on the provisional value.

12. The control system of claim 7, wherein the operation comprises repeating cycles of the operation,

the controller being configured to apply the provisional value generated for a prior cycle as the provisional value for a subsequent cycle.

13. The control system of claim 7 further comprising one or more output devices having an operator interface,

the one or more output devices configured to receive and communicate the status indicator to an operator of the machine via the operator interface.

14. A machine comprising:

an implement configured to perform an automated earth-moving operation;

a metering sensor configured to determine a fuel consumption rate value of the machine for the automated earth-moving operation,

the fuel consumption rate value corresponding to a fuel consumption rate by the machine performing the operation; and

a control system configured to monitor the automated earth-moving operation, the control system comprising;

a communication device configured to receive the fuel consumption rate value;

a memory configured to store the fuel consumption rate value; and

a controller in communication with the memory, the controller configured to;

generate a provisional value based at least in part on the fuel consumption rate value for the operation;

determine one or more thresholds for the operation,

the one or more thresholds corresponding to a normal fuel consumption rate value of the machine for performing the operation; and

generate a status indicator, indicative of a score of the operation, based at least in part on a comparison of the provisional value and the one or more thresholds,

the score of the operation being indicative of productivity and efficiency of the machine performing the operation.

15. The machine of claim 14, wherein the provisional value comprises an average fuel consumption rate value,

the average fuel consumption rate value being generated based on the fuel consumption rate value for the automated earth-moving operation.

16. The machine of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to generate the score of the operation based at least in part on a comparison of the provisional value and the normal fuel consumption rate value,

the normal fuel consumption rate value being indicative of a peak score of the automated earth-moving operation.

17. The machine of claim 14, wherein the controller is configured to generate the status indicator as at least one of a critical status indicator, a cautionary status indicator, or a normal status indicator,

the critical status indicator being generated when the fuel consumption rate value is less than or equal to a first threshold,

the cautionary status indicator being generated when the fuel consumption rate value is greater than the first threshold but less than or equal to a second threshold, and

the normal status indicator being generated when the fuel consumption rate value is greater than both of the first threshold and the second threshold.

18. The machine of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to generate the provisional value at predefined intervals during the automated earth-moving operation, and

wherein the status indicator is updated after each interval based on the provisional value.

19. The machine of claim 14, wherein the automated earth-moving operation comprises repeating cycles of the automated earth-moving operation,

the controller being configured to apply the provisional value generated for a prior cycle as the provisional value for a subsequent cycle.

20. The machine of claim 14 further comprising one or more output devices having an operator interface,

the one or more output devices configured to receive and communicate the status indicator to an operator of the machine via the operator interface.