Worksite management system implementing remote machine reconfiguration

• US 8,655,505 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2011
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Sprock, Christopher M., Anderson, Robert S., Tobaa, Mahmoud M., Tejeda, Balmes, Verheyen, Michael R., Greiner, Jonny R., Landes, James W., Mitchell, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): TESTARDI, DAVID A
• Application Number:
  US13/030,579
• Publication Number:
  US 20120215378A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2, 701/50
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/205 Remotely operated machines, e.g. unmanned vehicles E02F3/8866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2054 Fleet management
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/268 with failure correction follow-up actions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06312 Adjustment or analysis of established resource schedule, e.g. resource or task levelling, or dynamic rescheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• 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

Abstract

A worksite management system for use with a mobile machine is disclosed. The worksite management system may have a control module located onboard the mobile machine and configured to store a least one operational relationship, and an offboard controller located at a worksite of the mobile machine in communication with the control module. The offboard controller may be configured to generate an analysis of machine performance at the worksite. The offboard controller may be further configured to cause remote reconfiguration of the at least one operational relationship based on the analysis to positively affect performance of the mobile machine.

Claims

1. A worksite management system for use with a mobile machine, comprising:

a control module located onboard the mobile machine and configured to store at least one operational relationship; and

an offboard controller located at a worksite of the mobile machine in communication with, the control module, the offboard controller configured to;

generate an analysis of machine performance at the worksite;

make a determination of a machine performance irregularity based on the analysis;

make a determination to positively affect the machine performance irregularity by determining if the machine performance irregularity is a temporary anomaly or a longer-term problem associated with one of the worksite and a particular machine or machines operating at the worksite;

temporarily adjust operation of the mobile machine to positively affect performance of the mobile machine when it is determined that the machine performance irregularity is a temporary anomaly; and

cause remote reconfiguration of the at least one operational relationship of the mobile machine to positively affect performance of the mobile machine to thereby implement a longer-term change when it is determined that the machine performance irregularity is a longer-term problem.

2. The worksite management system of claim 1, wherein the at least one operational relationship is included in a transmission shift map.

3. The worksite management system of claim 1, wherein the at least one operational relationship is included in a torque limit map.

4. The worksite management system of claim 1, wherein the at least one operational relationship is included in an engine timing map.

5. The worksite management system of claim 1, wherein the at least one operational relationship affects at least one of shifting, steering, braking, acceleration, traction control, and travel speed of the mobile machine.

6. The worksite management system of claim 1, wherein the offboard controller is configured to generate the analysis based on a historical performance of the mobile machine or another machine at the worksite.

7. The worksite management system of claim 1, wherein the offboard controller is configured to generate the analysis based on an anticipated performance of the mobile machine.

8. The worksite management system of claim 7, wherein the anticipated performance is associated with the mobile machine encountering a condition of the worksite.

9. The worksite management system of claim 8, wherein the condition includes at least one of a contour and a surface condition.

10. The worksite management system of claim 9, wherein the condition is a planned condition to be affected by the mobile machine.

11. The worksite management system of claim 9, wherein the condition is an actual condition currently being affected by the mobile machine.

12. The worksite management system of claim 1, wherein the machine performance irregularity is associated with at least one of a productivity, an efficiency, a fuel economy, a cycle time, and a traffic congestion.

13. The worksite management system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to implement a temporary adjustment of the at least one operational relationship based on the analysis.

14. A worksite management system for use with a mobile machine, comprising:

a control module located onboard the mobile machine and configured to store at least one operational relationship associated with shifting, steering, braking, acceleration, traction control, or travel speed of the mobile machine; and

an offboard controller located at a worksite of the mobile machine in communication with the control module, the offboard controller configured to;

generate an analysis of machine performance at the worksite and of worksite conditions;

make a determination, based on the analysis, of a machine performance irregularity associated with at least one of a productivity, an efficiency, a fuel economy, a cycle time, and a traffic congestion;

make a determination to positively affect the machine performance irregularity by determining if the machine performance irregularity is a temporary anomaly or a longer-term problem associated with one of the worksite and a particular machine or machines operating at the worksite;

temporarily adjust operation of the mobile machine to positively affect performance of the mobile machine when it is determined that the machine performance irregularity is a temporary anomaly; and

cause remote reconfiguration of the at least one operational relationship of the mobile machine when it is determined that the machine performance irregularity is a longer-term problem to thereby implement a longer-term change when it is determined that the machine performance irregularity is a longer-term problem.

15. A method of managing a worksite, comprising:

collecting data associated with at least one of machine operation at the worksite and a worksite condition;

analyzing the data to determine a machine performance irregularity;

making a determination to positively affect the machine performance irregularity by determining if the machine performance irregularity is a temporary anomaly or a longer-term problem associated with one of the worksite and a particular machine or machines operating at the worksite;

temporarily adjusting operation of a mobile machine at the worksite to positively affect performance of the mobile machine when it is determined that the machine performance irregularity is a temporary anomaly; and

remotely reconfiguring at least one operational relationship of a mobile machine at the worksite when it is determined that the machine performance irregularity is a longer-term problem to thereby implement a longer term change when it is determined that the machine performance irregularity is a longer-term problem.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein remotely reconfiguring the at least one operational relationship includes reconfiguring at least one of a transmission shift map, a torque limit map, and an engine timing map.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one operational relationship affects at least one of steering, braking, acceleration, traction control, and travel speed of the mobile machine.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the performance irregularity is associated with a historical performance of the mobile machine or another machine at the worksite.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the performance irregularity is associated with an anticipated performance of the mobile machine.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the anticipated performance is associated with the mobile machine encountering a condition of the worksite.