System and method for validating availability of machine at worksite

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021125123-A1
Application number	US-201916664221-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 25, 2019
Priority date	Oct 25, 2019
Publication date	Apr 29, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A worksite management system may include a worksite controller including one or more worksite controller processors configured to receive a signal indicative of a task to be performed by a machine at a worksite, identify a machine for performing the task, and generate a signal indicative of the machine. The worksite management system may also include a mobile device including one or more mobile device processors configured to receive the signal indicative of the machine, display an image representative of the machine, and display a prompt for a person at the worksite to validate availability of the machine to perform the task.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A worksite management system comprising:
a worksite controller comprising one or more worksite controller processors configured to:
receive a signal indicative of a task to be performed by a machine at a worksite;
identify a machine for performing the task; and
generate a signal indicative of the machine; and
a mobile device comprising one or more mobile device processors configured to:
receive the signal indicative of the machine;
display an image representative of the machine; and
display a prompt for a person at the worksite to validate availability of the machine to perform the task.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the prompt comprises a machine status prompt configured to facilitate validation that the machine is not currently in use.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the prompt comprises a worksite condition prompt configured to facilitate validation that no obstructions preventing operation of the machine are present at the worksite.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the prompt comprises a machine condition prompt configured to facilitate validation that the machine is in a condition suitable for performing the task.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the machine condition prompt comprises a checklist configured to prompt the person to inspect a plurality of machine condition parameters associated with a state of readiness of a plurality of parts of the machine.

6 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the machine condition prompt comprises an imager prompt configured to prompt the person to generate a plurality of images of one or more of a plurality of parts of the machine or portions of an environment in which the machine sits.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more mobile device processors are further configured to:
facilitate selection of a response to a prompt indicative of one of validation of the availability of the machine to perform the task or denial of the availability of the machine to perform the task; and cause an availability signal indicative of the one of the validation or the denial of the availability of the machine to perform the task to be communicated to the worksite controller.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more worksite controller processors are further configured to receive the availability signal and display an availability image indicative of the one of the validation or the denial of the availability of the machine to perform the task.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the one or more worksite controller processors or the one or more mobile device processors is configured to generate a signal indicative of a cause of the denial of the availability of the machine to perform the task.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the one or more worksite controller processors or the one or more mobile device processors is configured to generate a maintenance order indicative that the machine should be scheduled for service.

11 . A method for validating availability of a machine to perform a task at a worksite, the method comprising:
receiving a signal indicative of a task to be performed by a machine at a worksite; identifying a machine for performing the task; generating a signal indicative of the machine; communicating the signal to a mobile device; displaying on the mobile device an image representative of the machine; and displaying on the mobile device a prompt for a person at the worksite to validate availability of the machine to perform the task.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein displaying the prompt comprises displaying a machine status prompt configured to facilitate validation that the machine is not currently in use.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein displaying the prompt comprises displaying a worksite condition prompt configured to facilitate validation that no obstructions preventing operation of the machine are present at the worksite.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein displaying the prompt comprises displaying a machine condition prompt configured to facilitate validation that the machine is in a condition suitable for performing the task.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein displaying the machine condition prompt comprises displaying a checklist configured to prompt the person to inspect a plurality of machine condition parameters associated with a state of readiness of a plurality of parts of the machine.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein displaying the machine condition prompt comprises displaying an imager prompt configured to prompt the person to generate a plurality of images of one or more of a plurality of parts of the machine or portions of an environment in which the machine sits.

17 . A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereupon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:
receive a signal indicative of a task to be performed by a machine at a worksite; identify a machine for performing the task; generate a signal indicative of the machine; communicate the signal indicative of the machine to a mobile device; cause the mobile device to display on the mobile device an image representative of the machine; and cause the mobile device to display on the mobile device a prompt for a person at the worksite to validate availability of the machine to perform the task.

18 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein displaying the prompt comprises displaying a machine status prompt configured to facilitate validation that the machine is not currently in use.

19 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein displaying the prompt comprises displaying a worksite condition prompt configured to facilitate validation that no obstructions preventing operation of the machine are present at the worksite.

20 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein displaying the prompt comprises displaying a machine condition prompt configured to facilitate validation that the machine is in a condition suitable for performing the task.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Subramanian Gautham
• Brickner Chad T
• Whiting Mark William

Classifications

• G06Q10/06313 Primary

  Resource planning in a project environment · CPC title

• E02F9/2054 Primary

  Fleet management · CPC title

• E02F9/205

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

• G07C5/006

  Indicating maintenance · CPC title

• G07C5/0808

  Diagnosing performance data (testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005) · CPC title