System and method for controlling operation of machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10041229-B2
Application number	US-201514929964-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 2, 2015
Priority date	Nov 2, 2015
Publication date	Aug 7, 2018
Grant date	Aug 7, 2018

Abstract

A system for controlling an operation of a machine is disclosed. The system includes an image capturing device and a controller. The image capturing device generates a signal indicative of a surrounding area of the machine. The controller is in communication with the image capturing device. The controller determines a preceding work cycle of the machine comprising a dig segment and determines a preceding segment associated with the preceding work cycle to be a dump segment. The controller further identifies a work aggregate within the surrounding area of the machine, when the preceding segment of the preceding work cycle is the dump segment. Further, the controller determines a distance between an implement of the machine and the work aggregate and issues a shift request to downshift a gear drive of a transmission system of the machine, if the distance is less than a predefined distance.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for controlling an operation of a machine, the system comprising:
an image capturing device disposed on the machine, the image capturing device configured to generate a signal indicative of a surrounding area of the machine; and
a controller in communication with the image capturing device, the controller configured to:
determine a preceding work cycle of the machine comprising a dig segment;
determine a preceding segment associated with the preceding work cycle to be a dump segment;
identify a work aggregate within the surrounding area of the machine, when the preceding segment of the preceding work cycle is the dump segment;
determine a distance between an implement of the machine and the work aggregate; and
issue a shift request to downshift a gear drive of a transmission system of the machine, if the distance is less than a predefined distance.

2. The system of claim 1 comprising a sensing unit disposed on the implement, the sensing unit configured to generate a signal indicative of a position of the implement with reference to a ground surface.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the controller is in communication with the sensing unit, and configured to determine the position of the implement to be within a predefined height from the ground surface.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to verify:
if the preceding work cycle of the machine comprising the dig segment;
if the preceding segment associated with the preceding work cycle to be the dump segment;
if the work aggregate is within the surrounding area of the machine; and
if the distance between the implement and the work aggregate is less than the predefined distance.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is in communication with a transmission control unit associated with the transmission system, and wherein the transmission control unit is configured to:
receive a signal indicative of the shift request;
receive a signal indicative of an additional shift request determined based on one or more operating parameters of the machine;
compare the signals indicative of the shift request and the additional shift request; and
issue a command to the transmission system to downshift the gear drive if the signal indicative of the shift request has priority over the signal indicative of the additional shift request.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to analyze the preceding work cycle comprises the dig segment, if the signal indicative of the additional shift request has priority over the shift request.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the image capturing device comprises a camera.

8. A machine comprising:
a frame; and
a system disposed on the frame for controlling an operation of the machine, the system comprising:
an image capturing device configured to generate a signal indicative of a surrounding area of the machine; and
a controller in communication with the image capturing device, the controller configured to:
determine a preceding work cycle of the machine comprising a dig segment;
determine a preceding segment associated with the preceding work cycle to be a dump segment;
identify a work aggregate within the surrounding area of the machine, when the preceding segment of the preceding work cycle is a dump segment;
determine a distance between an implement of the machine and the work aggregate; and
issue a shift request to downshift a gear drive of a transmission system of the machine, if the distance is less than a predefined distance.

9. The machine of claim 8 , wherein the system comprises a sensing unit disposed on the implement, and wherein the sensing unit is configured to generate a signal indicative of a position of the implement with reference to a ground surface.

10. The machine of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the position of the implement to be within a predefined height from the ground surface.

11. The machine of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to verify:
if the preceding work cycle of the machine comprising the dig segment;
if the preceding segment associated with the preceding work cycle to be the dump segment;
if the work aggregate is within the surrounding area of the machine; and
if the distance between the implement and the work aggregate is less than the predefined distance.

12. The machine of claim 8 , wherein the controller is in communication with a transmission control unit associated with the transmission system, and wherein the transmission control unit is configured to:
receive a signal indicative of the shift request;
receive a signal indicative of an additional shift request determined based on one or more operating parameters of the machine;
compare the signals indicative of the shift request and the additional shift request; and
issue a command to the transmission system to downshift the gear drive if the signal indicative of the shift request has priority over the signal indicative of the additional shift request.

13. The machine of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to analyze the preceding work cycle comprises the dig segment, if the signal indicative of the additional shift request has priority over the shift request.

14. The machine of claim 8 , wherein the image capturing device comprises a camera.

15. A method of controlling an operation of a machine, the method comprising:
determining a preceding work cycle of the machine comprising a dig segment;
determining a preceding segment associated with the preceding work cycle to be a dump segment;
identifying a work aggregate within the surrounding area of the machine, when the preceding segment of the preceding work cycle is a dump segment;
determining a distance between an implement of the machine and the work aggregate; and
issuing a shift request to downshift a gear drive of a transmission system of the machine, if the distance is less than a predefined distance.

16. The method of claim 15 comprising, generating, via a sensing unit, a signal indicative of a position of the implement with reference to a ground surface.

17. The method of claim 16 comprising, determining the position of the implement to be within a predefined height from the ground surface.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising, verifying, via the controller:
if the preceding work cycle of the machine comprising the dig segment;
if the preceding segment associated with the preceding work cycle to be the dump segment;
if the work aggregate is within the surrounding area of the machine; and
if the distance between the implement and the work aggregate is less than the predefined distance.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising:
receiving, using a transmission control unit, a signal indicative of the shift request;
receiving, using the transmission control unit, a signal indicative of an additional shift request determined based on one or more operating parameters of the machine;
comparing the signals indicative of the shift request and the additional shift request; and
issuing a command to the transmission system to downshift the gear drive if the signal indicative of the shift request has priority over the additional shift request.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising, analyzing the preceding work cycle comprises the dig segment, if the signal indicative of the additional shift request has priority over the shift request.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Cai Zhijun
• Bomer Bradley K
• Alig Jeffrey S
• Shatters Aaron R
• Cler Eric
• Van De Veer Brad R
• Beccue Thomas E

Classifications

• E02F3/34

  with bucket-arms {, i.e. a pair of arms, e.g. manufacturing processes, form, geometry, material of bucket-arms (with a single arm E02F3/283)} directly pivoted on the frames of tractors or self-propelled machines · CPC title

• F16H61/16

  Inhibiting  {or initiating}  shift during unfavourable conditions  {, e.g. preventing forward-reverse shift at high vehicle speed, preventing engine overspeed}   (F16H61/18 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E02F9/261 Primary

  Surveying the work-site to be treated · CPC title

• H04N7/183

  for receiving images from a single remote source · CPC title

• B60R1/00

  Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles · CPC title