System and method for monitoring a machine operating at a worksite

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11643794-B2
Application number	US-202017067877-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 12, 2020
Priority date	Oct 12, 2020
Publication date	May 9, 2023
Grant date	May 9, 2023

Abstract

A method for monitoring a machine operating at a worksite, is provided. The machine includes an implement for performing one or more implement operations and is configured to be propelled by a set of ground engaging members between a first location and second location. A first input indicative of start of a travelling operation of the machine after completion of a first implement operation at the first location, is received. One or more transmission parameters associated with the machine are determined, when the machine moves from first location to second location. A second input indicative of end of the travelling operation at start of a second implement operation at the second location is received. A number of revolutions completed by ground engaging members between the first location and the second location is determined based on the transmission parameters. The number of revolutions is displayed on input/output device associated with machine.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, to be implemented by a controller, for monitoring a machine operating at a worksite, the machine being configured to be propelled by a set of ground engaging members at the worksite between a loading location and an unloading location and including an implement for performing one or more implement operations at the worksite, the method comprising:
receiving a first input indicative of start of a travelling operation of the machine after completion of a first implement operation at the loading location;
determining one or more transmission parameters associated with the machine when the machine moves from the loading location to the unloading location corresponding to the received first input;
receiving a second input indicative of end of the travelling operation at start of a second implement operation at the unloading location;
determining a number of revolutions completed by the set of ground engaging members between the start of the travelling operation at the loading location and the end of the travelling operation at the unloading location based on the determined one or more transmission parameters;
determining, based on the number of revolutions exceeding a predefined target number of revolutions, that a first distance from the loading location to the unloading location exceeds a threshold distance associated with a desired machine efficiency at the worksite;
causing, based on determining that the first distance exceeds the threshold distance, an alert associated with changing the end of the travelling operation from the unloading location to a different unloading location closer to the loading location,
wherein a second distance from the loading location to the different unloading location does not exceed the threshold distance; and

displaying on an input/output device associated with the machine, the determined number of revolutions completed by the set of ground engaging members.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first implement operation is a loading operation performed by the implement at the loading location and the second implement operation is an unloading operation performed by the implement at the unloading location.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the number of revolutions includes determining the first distance travelled by the machine between the start of the travelling operation at the loading location and the end of the travelling operation at the unloading location based on the determined one or more transmission parameters.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the one or more transmission parameters include one or more of a first transmission parameter indicating a machine speed and a second transmission parameter indicative of a transmission gear associated with the machine, and wherein determining the first distance travelled by the machine includes:
determining, by the controller, a third distance travelled by the machine between the loading location and an intermediate location when the determined first transmission parameter indicates a machine speed less than zero and the second transmission parameter indicates a reverse transmission gear; and
determining, by the controller, a fourth distance travelled by the machine between the intermediate location and the unloading location when the determined first transmission parameter indicates a machine speed greater than zero and the second transmission parameter indicates a forward transmission gear.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more transmission parameters includes one or more of a first transmission parameter indicating a machine speed and a second transmission parameter indicative of a transmission gear associated with the machine and wherein determining the number of revolutions completed by the set of ground engaging members includes:
determining, by the controller, a first number of revolutions completed by the set of ground engaging members between the loading location and an intermediate location when the determined first transmission parameter indicates a machine speed less than zero and the second transmission parameter indicates a reverse transmission gear; and
determining, by the controller, a second number of revolutions completed by the set of ground engaging members between the intermediate location and the unloading location when the determined first transmission parameter indicates a machine speed greater than zero and the second transmission parameter indicates a forward transmission gear.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
receiving, by the controller, the predefined target number of revolutions to be completed by the set of ground engaging members between the loading location and the unloading location;
comparing, by the controller, the determined number of revolutions completed by the set of ground engaging members between the loading location and the unloading location with the received predefined target number of revolutions; and
generating, by the controller, using the input/output device, the alert when the determined number of revolutions completed by the set of ground engaging members is greater than the predefined target number of revolutions.

7. A system for monitoring a machine operating at a worksite, the machine being configured to be propelled by a set of ground engaging members at the worksite between a loading location and an unloading location and including an implement for performing one or more implement operations at the worksite, the system comprising:
an input/output device for receiving one or more inputs for operating the machine and the implement;
one or more implement sensors for sensing one or more implement parameters;
one or more machine sensors for sensing one or more transmission parameters associated with the machine; and
a controller operatively coupled to the input/output device, the one or more implement sensors, and the one or more machine sensors, the controller being configured to:
receive, from one or more of the input/output device and the one or more implement sensors, a first input indicative of start of a travelling operation of the machine after completion of a first implement operation at the loading location;
determine, using the one or more machine sensors, one or more transmission parameters associated with the machine when the machine moves from the loading location to the unloading location corresponding to the received first input;
receive, from one or more of the input/output device and the one or more implement sensors, a second input indicative of end of the travelling operation at start of a second implement operation at the unloading location;
determine a number of revolutions completed by the set of ground engaging members between the start of the travelling operation at the loading location and the end of the travelling operation at the unloading location based on the determined one or more transmission parameters;
determine, based on the number of revolutions exceeding a predefined target number of revolutions, that a first distance from the loading location to the unloading location exceeds a threshold distance associated with a desired machine efficiency at the worksite;
cause, based on determining that the first distance exceeds the threshold distance, an alert associated with changing the end of the travelling operation from the unloading location to a different unloading location closer to the loading location,
wherein a second distance from the loading location to the different unloading location does not exceed the threshold distance; and
display, on the input/output device, the determined number of revolutions completed by the set of ground engaging members.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the m

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Cler Eric
• Shatters Aaron Robert
• Gulamhusein Huzefa S

Classifications

• B60K35/60

  Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles (arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10) · CPC title

• B60K35/50

  Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle (B60K35/231 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60K35/85

  Arrangements for transferring vehicle- or driver-related data · CPC title

• B60K35/22

  Display screens · CPC title

• B60K35/10

  Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor · CPC title