Systems and methods for material transport

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021131064-A1
Application number	US-201916670975-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 31, 2019
Priority date	Oct 31, 2019
Publication date	May 6, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method may include receiving, with a controller, at least one signal from a communication device associated with a hauling machine. The signal may include position information indicating a position of the hauling machine along a travel path the hauling machine is assigned to traverse extending between a material transfer site to a dump site, a payload capacity of the hauling machine, and an estimated volume of a material loaded into the hauling machine based on the payload capacity of the hauling machine. The method may also include defining, with the controller, a degree of completion of a material transport based on the position information.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method, comprising:
receiving, with a controller, at least one signal from a communication device associated with a first equipment, the signal including:
location information indicating a position of the along a travel path the first equipment is assigned to traverse, wherein the travel path extends between a source location to a destination location;
a capacity indicator of the first equipment, and
an estimated volume of a material assigned to the first equipment based on the capacity indicator of the first equipment; and
defining, with the controller, a degree of completion of an assignment based on the location information.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein defining, with the controller, the degree of completion of the material transport based on the location information comprises:
identifying the presence of the first equipment within a first area within the source location as an instance of a loading of the material into the first equipment; identifying the presence of the first equipment along the travel path as an instance of a transport of the material; and identifying the presence of the first equipment within a second area within the destination location as an instance of a dumping of the material by the first equipment.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the signal includes a unique identifier of the first equipment, and the unique identifier is associated with at least one of an operator of the first equipment, an entity hauling the material, an entity for whom the material is being hauled, and a project for which the material is being provided.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further including, with the controller, generate an invoice including an indication of at least one of a cost of the material and a cost of a hauling of the material based on the unique identifier.

5 . The method of claim 4 , including, with the controller, generating a ticket, the ticket identifying at least one of the operator of the first equipment, the entity hauling the material, the entity for whom the material is being hauled, the project for which the material is being provided, and an estimated volume of the material loaded into the first equipment based on the capacity indicator of the first equipment.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further including defining a progress of a material hauling task assigned to the first equipment based on the degree of completion of the material transport and the position information, the material hauling task including at least one hauling instance of the material.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first area is defined by a first geofence at a loading station of the source location; and the second area is defined by a second geofence located at the destination location.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further including:
determining a sensed volume of the material loaded into the first equipment using a sensor associated with the first equipment; and generating a ticket identifying the sensed volume; and billing at least one of an operator of the first equipment, an entity hauling the material, and an entity for whom the material is hauled based on the ticket.

9 . A system, comprising:
a controller; a network configured to transmit signals between a communication device associated with a hauling machine and the controller, wherein the controller is configured to:
receive, with the controller, at least one signal from the communication device, the signal including:
position information indicating a position of the hauling machine along a travel path the hauling machine is assigned to traverse extending between a material transfer site to a dump site; and
an estimated volume of a material loaded into the hauling machine based on a payload capacity of the hauling machine; and

define, with the controller, a degree of completion of a material transport based on the position information.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the signal further includes:
a unique identifier of the hauling machine, wherein the unique identifier is associated with at least one of an operator of the hauling machine, an entity hauling the material, an entity for whom the material is being hauled, and a project for which the material is being provided.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
generate a ticket based on the unique identifier and the estimated volume of the material loaded into the hauling machine; and generate an invoice associated with at least one of the operator of the hauling machine, the entity hauling the material, the entity for whom the material is being hauled, and the project for which the material is being provided based on the ticket.

12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein defining, with the controller, the degree of completion of the material transport based on the position information comprises:
identifying the presence of the hauling machine within a first area within the material transfer site as an instance of a loading of material into the hauling machine; identifying the presence of the hauling machine along the travel path as a material transport instance; and identifying the presence of the hauling machine within a second area within the dump site as a material dumping instance.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein:
the first area is defined by a first geofence at a loading station of the material transfer site; and the second area is defined by a second geofence located at the dump site.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the degree of completion of the material transport is defined by identification by the controller of the hauling machine being present in at least one of the first geofence, the travel path, and the second geofence.

15 . The system of claim 14 , further including a user interface communicatively coupled to the controller, the controller further configured to instruct the user interface to display the degree of completion.

16 . A method, comprising:
receiving, with a controller, at least one signal from a communication device associated with a hauling machine moving along a travel path assigned to the hauling machine to traverse, the travel path extending between a first area within a material transfer site to a second area within a dump site, the signal including an estimated volume of a material loaded into the hauling machine based on a payload capacity of the hauling machine; and generating, with the controller, a ticket identifying a purchaser of the estimated volume of the material.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further including:
identifying, with the controller, a presence of the hauling machine along the travel path as a degree of completion of a material transport; and instruct, with the controller, a user interface communicatively coupled the controller to display the degree of completion.

18 . The method of claim 16 , further including:
with the controller, identifying within the signal a unique identifier of the hauling machine, the unique identifier identifying at least one of an entity associated with an operator of the hauling machine, an entity hauling the material, an entity for whom the material is being hauled, and a project for which the material is being provided; and with the controller, generating an invoice directed to the entity for at least one of a cost of the material and a cost of a hauling of the material based on the unique identifier.

19 . The method of claim 16 , further including:
with a

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Subramanian Gautham

Classifications

• E02F9/26

  Indicating devices {(E02F5/145 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• E02F9/2045 Primary

  Guiding machines along a predetermined path (for graders E02F3/841; machines for construction of roads E01C19/004) · CPC title

• G01C21/3667

  Display of a road map (G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635) · CPC title

• G06Q10/08 Primary

  Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management · CPC title