Control system for a road paver

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018030672-A1
Application number	US-201715657645-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 24, 2017
Priority date	Jul 26, 2016
Publication date	Feb 1, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a control system for a road paver. The control system comprises a camera system configured to generate image data of an environment of the road paver. The control system further comprises a controller electronically connected to the camera system. The controller is configured to receive the image data from the camera system, and to apply an object recognition process on the received image data to identify an edge line serving as a reference line for a mat to be laid by the road paver, and to determine a three dimensional position of the identified edge line. The controller may automatically control the road paver, and may assist an operator to control the road paver based on the identified position of the edge line.

First claim

1 . A control system for a road paver, the control system comprising:
a camera system configured to generate image data of an environment of the road paver, and a controller electronically connected to the camera system, and configured to:
receive the image data from the camera system; and
apply an object recognition process on the received image data to:
identify an edge line serving as a reference line for a mat to be laid by the road paver; and
determine a three dimensional position of the identified edge line.

2 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to apply the object recognition process on the received image data to determine an orientation and dimension of the identified edge line.

3 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining a three dimensional position of the identified edge line comprises determining a parameter correlated with a distance between the camera system and the identified edge line.

4 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to pre-process the image data received from the camera system to reduce image interferences in preparation for the object recognition process.

5 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the edge line is detected by use of at least one of the object recognition process techniques from the group including edge detection, corner detection, color detection, reflectance detection, segmentation, scaling, rotating, mirroring, and template matching.

6 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the object recognition process is configured to identify an edge of an existing pavement structure such as a curb, an edge of a trench, an edge of an existing paved mat, and an edge of a reference beam or wire as the edge line.

7 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the object recognition process is configured to identify a straight line, a curved line, a square line, and combinations thereof as the edge line.

8 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to automatically operate the road paver based on the determined position of the identified edge line.

9 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
automatically retract and extend a screed assembly of the road paver based on the determined position of the identified edge line; and automatically steer the road paver based on the determined position the identified edge line.

10 . The control system of claim 1 , further comprising an operator interface electronically connected to the controller, wherein the controller is further configured to provide information associated with the edge line to the operator interface.

11 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to automatically coordinate steering of the road paver simultaneously with adjusting a screed width of a screed assembly of the road paver with each other based on the determined position of the identified edge line.

12 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine a desired path, desired screed width, and a coordinated combination of a desired path and a desired screed width of the road paver based on the position of the identified edge line; and provide a corresponding signal to an operator interface.

13 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to perform an object recognition process of the received image data to identify an obstacle in the way of the road paver.

14 . A road paver comprising:
a tractor; a screed assembly towed by the tractor; and a control system of any one of the preceding claims.

15 . The road paver of claim 14 , wherein the camera system is mounted to the tractor decoupled from the screed assembly.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Paving Products Inc

Inventors

• Marsolek John Lee
• Frelich Toby
• Hoisington Kent

Classifications

• E01C23/07

  Apparatus combining measurement of the surface configuration of paving with application of material in proportion to the measured irregularities (measuring means only E01C23/01 {G01B}) · CPC title

• E01C2301/16

  Laterally slidable screeds · CPC title

• E01C19/004 Primary

  Devices for guiding or controlling the machines along a predetermined path (for graders or bulldozers E02F3/841; for other soil-shifting machines E02F9/2045) · CPC title

• E01C2301/20

  Screed or paver accessories for paving joint or edge treatment · CPC title

• E01C19/42

  Machines for imparting a smooth finish to freshly-laid paving courses other than by rolling, tamping or vibrating (for distributing only E01C19/12; {hand-actuated smoothing tools E01C19/44}) · CPC title