Methods and systems for effective utilization of autonomous machines

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11961027-B2
Application number	US-202117188775-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 1, 2021
Priority date	Mar 6, 2020
Publication date	Apr 16, 2024
Grant date	Apr 16, 2024

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for optimal utilization of machines for performing tasks across a predetermined area. A request may be received to initiate a job on a predetermined area, the job comprising a plurality of tasks associated with a plurality of machines. In response to the request, a first machine of the plurality of machines may be deployed to the predetermined area to execute a first task of the plurality of tasks autonomously. A deployment event may be determined based on characteristics of the first machine and a second machine, and based on characteristics of the predetermined area. The second machine to the predetermined area, upon detection of the deployment event, to execute a second task of the plurality of tasks autonomously.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of optimal utilization of work machines for performing tasks across a predetermined work area, the method comprising:
electronically receiving, using processing circuitry, a single request to initiate a job on the predetermined work area that includes a first segment and a second segment, the job comprising a plurality of tasks associated with a plurality of machines;
deploying, using the processing circuitry, in response to the single request, a first machine of the plurality of machines to the predetermined work area to execute a first task of the plurality of tasks autonomously;
electronically receiving, using the processing circuitry, information indicating a location of the first machine in the first segment;
determining, using the processing circuitry, whether the first machine in the first segment will be able to trigger a deployment event to deploy a second machine of the plurality of machines based on operation of the first machine in the first segment toward autonomously completing the first task;
determining, using the processing circuitry, and prior to deploying any additional machines of the plurality of machines to the first segment, that the first machine will be unable to trigger the deployment event;
in response to said determining that the first machine will be unable to trigger the deployment event, without another request to initiate the job being received, and prior to occurrence of the triggering event, outputting signaling, using the processing circuitry, to automatically deploy a third machine proximate to the location of the first machine, to execute the first task of the plurality of tasks autonomously instead of the first machine continuing to execute the first task;
automatically deploying, in response to the signaling to automatically deploy the third machine, and without another request to initiate the job being received, the third machine to execute the first task of the plurality of tasks autonomously and trigger the deployment event;
determining, using the processing circuitry, occurrence of the deployment event triggered by the third machine, the deployment event triggered by the third machine being determined based on characteristics of the third machine and the second machine, and based on characteristics of the predetermined work area, including determining that the first machine is no longer in the first segment and that the third machine has entered the second segment of the predetermined work area based on information indicating location of the third machine in the first segment;
in response to determining the occurrence of the deployment event and based on the third machine entering the second segment, and without another request to initiate the job being received, outputting signaling, using the processing circuitry, to deploy the second machine to the first segment of the predetermined work area to execute a second task of the plurality of tasks autonomously; and
in response to the signaling to deploy the second machine, and without another request to initiate the job being received, deploying, using the processing circuitry, the second machine to the first segment of the predetermined area to execute the second task of the plurality of tasks autonomously,
wherein the single request to initiate the job on the predetermined work area is the only request to perform the job by way of the second machine and a combination of the first machine and the third machine,
wherein occurrence of the deployment event triggered by the third machine is determined prior to the third machine leaving the first segment, and
wherein the second task is based on the first task and cannot occur without the first task being completed.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said determining the occurrence of the deployment event triggered by the third machine comprises:
dividing the predetermined work area into a plurality of segments, including the first segment and the second segment, wherein a size of each of the plurality of segments is based on the characteristics of the third machine and the second machine, and based on the characteristics of the predetermined work area.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the deployment event triggered by the third machine is triggered when the third machine enters the second segment of the plurality of segments to perform grading work.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first machine and the third machine are not permitted to be present simultaneously within a same segment of the plurality of segments as the second machine while performing any of the plurality of tasks on the predetermined work area.

5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
upon detection of the first machine and second machine within a same segment of the plurality of segments, discontinuing autonomous mode associated with the first machine and the second machine.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said determining the occurrence of the deployment triggered by the third machine event further comprises:
determining when deployment of the second machine will result in continuous operation of the second machine until a third task associated with the second machine is completed.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a second deployment event, upon detection of which a fourth machine is deployed to the predetermined work area, the second deployment event being based on characteristics of the second machine, the third machine, and the fourth machine, and based on the characteristics of the predetermined work area; and
upon detection of the second deployment event, deploying the fourth machine to the predetermined work area.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the deployment event triggered by the third machine is modified based on data received from the third machine.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said determining the occurrence of the deployment triggered by the third machine event further comprises:
determining a first feature vector, the first feature vector comprising data related to characteristics of the third machine and the second machine, and characteristics of the predetermined work area; and
determining the deployment event based on a comparison of the first feature vector with a plurality of completed job feature vectors, the completed job feature vectors comprising data related to characteristics of machines and characteristics of areas associated with previously completed jobs on a plurality of predetermined work areas including the predetermined work area.

10. A system for optimal utilization of work machines for performing tasks across a predetermined work area, comprising:
one or more processors; and
at least one non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
electronically receiving a single request to initiate a job on the predetermined work area, the job comprising a plurality of tasks associated with a plurality of machines;
electronically receiving information indicative of one or more characteristics of a first machine of the plurality of machines;
setting a size of the predetermined work area based on the received one or more characteristics of the first machine;
deploying, in response to the single request, a first machine of the plurality of machines to the predetermined work area to execute a first task of the plurality of tasks autonomously;
determining whether the first machine will be able to trigger a deployment event to deploy a second machine of the plurality of machines based on operation of the first machine in the predetermined work area toward au

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Subramanian Gautham
• Ramasamy Vijayakumar

Classifications

• G06Q10/06313 Primary

  Resource planning in a project environment · CPC title

• G05B15/02

  electric · CPC title

• G06Q50/08 Primary

  Construction · CPC title