Systems and methods for planning an excavator dig cycle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12392107-B2
Application number	US-202318177643-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 2, 2023
Priority date	Mar 2, 2023
Publication date	Aug 19, 2025
Grant date	Aug 19, 2025

Abstract

A machine, including a bucket linkage that defines dig block constraints, including: a reach inside and outside limits; swing first and second limits; and a depth limit. Sensors can be positioned on the machine to count dig passes. One or more memory devices have instructions that when executed by one or more processors cause the processors to: generate an excavation plan, including: determining a number of elevations; determining a number of rings in each elevation; and determining a number of sectors in each ring; and direct the excavator to perform dig passes in order to sequentially excavate each sector, wherein the sectors in each elevation are excavated from the reach outside limit to the reach inside limit and from the swing first limit to the swing second limit; wherein the system moves to the next sector when a threshold number of dig passes is reached.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A machine, comprising:
a boom, a stick, and a bucket, each having a range of motion that together defines dig block constraints, including:
a reach inside limit;
a reach outside limit;
a swing first limit;
a swing second limit; and
a depth limit;

one or more sensors positioned on the machine to count dig passes;
one or more processors; and
one or more memory devices having stored thereon instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to:
generate an excavation plan, including:
determining a number of elevations;
determining a number of rings in each elevation; and
determining a number of sectors in each ring; and

direct the machine to perform one or more dig passes in order to sequentially excavate each sector, wherein the sectors in each elevation are excavated from the reach outside limit to the reach inside limit and, beginning with a sector furthest from a dump location, from the swing first limit to the swing second limit;
wherein the instructions cause the machine to move to a next sector when a threshold number of dig passes is reached.

2. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the number of rings is the reach outside limit minus the reach inside limit divided by a cut length corresponding to an amount of material that the bucket can carry.

3. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the number of sectors in a ring is an outer arc length between the swing first limit and the swing second limit divided by a width of the bucket.

4. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise at least one joint angle sensor.

5. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise at least one inertial measurement unit.

6. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the dig block constraints further include one or more avoidance zones.

7. A system for planning a machine dig cycle, comprising:
one or more processors; and
one or more memory devices having stored thereon instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to:
generate an excavation plan, including:
determining a number of elevations;
determining a number of rings in each elevation; and
determining a number of sectors in each ring; and

direct a machine to perform one or more dig passes in order to sequentially excavate each sector, wherein the sectors in each elevation are excavated from a reach outside limit to a reach inside limit and, beginning with a sector furthest from a dump location, from a swing first limit to a swing second limit;
wherein the system directs the machine to move to a next sector when a threshold number of dig passes is reached.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the machine includes a boom, a stick, and a bucket, each having a range of motion that together defines dig block constraints, including:
the reach inside limit;
the reach outside limit;
the swing first limit; and
the swing second limit.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the dig block constraints further include one or more avoidance zones.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the number of rings is the reach outside limit minus the reach inside limit divided by a cut length corresponding to an amount of material that a bucket of the machine can carry.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the number of sectors in a ring is an outer arc length between the swing first limit and the swing second limit divided by a width of a bucket of the machine.

12. A method for planning a machine dig cycle, comprising:
generating an excavation plan, including:
determining a number of elevations;
determining a number of rings in each elevation; and
determining a number of sectors in each ring;

directing a machine to perform one or more dig passes in order to sequentially excavate each sector, wherein the sectors in each elevation are excavated from a reach outside limit to a reach inside limit and, beginning with a sector furthest from a dump location, from a swing first limit to a swing second limit; and
directing the machine to move to a next sector when a threshold number of dig passes is reached.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the machine includes a boom, a stick, and a bucket, each having a range of motion that together defines dig block constraints, including:
the reach inside limit;
the reach outside limit;
the swing first limit; and
the swing second limit.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the dig block constraints further include one or more avoidance zones.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the number of rings is the reach outside limit minus the reach inside limit divided by a cut length corresponding to an amount of material that the bucket can carry.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the number of sectors in a ring is an outer arc length between the swing first limit and the swing second limit divided by a width of the bucket.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Hodel Benjamin
• Floyd Benjamin

Classifications

• E02F3/32

  working downwardly and towards the machine, e.g. with backhoes · CPC title

• E02F9/205 Primary

  Remotely operated machines, e.g. unmanned vehicles (E02F3/8866 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E02F9/262

  with follow-up actions to control the work tool, e.g. controller · CPC title

• E02F3/439 Primary

  Automatic repositioning of the implement, e.g. automatic dumping, auto-return (E02F3/438 takes precedence) · CPC title