Methods and systems for effective utilization of autonomous machines

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021279661-A1
Application number	US-202117188775-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 1, 2021
Priority date	Mar 6, 2020
Publication date	Sep 9, 2021
Grant date	—

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 machines for performing tasks across a predetermined area, the method comprising:
receiving a request to initiate a job on a predetermined area, the job comprising a plurality of tasks associated with a plurality of machines; deploying, in response to the request, a first machine of the plurality of machines to the predetermined area to execute a first task of the plurality of tasks autonomously; determining a deployment event, the deployment event being determined based on characteristics of the first machine and a second machine, and based on characteristics of the predetermined area; and upon detection of the deployment event, deploying the second machine to the predetermined area to execute a second task of the plurality of tasks autonomously.

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

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
determining whether the first machine will be able to trigger the deployment event; and in response to determining that the first machine will be unable to trigger the deployment event, deploying a third machine, proximate to the location of the first machine, to execute the first task of the plurality of tasks autonomously.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the deployment event comprises the first machine entering a predetermined segment of the plurality of segments.

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

6 . 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.

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

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

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the deployment event is modified based on data received from the first machine.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the deployment event further comprises:
determining a first feature vector, the first feature vector comprising data related to characteristics of the first machine and the second machine, and characteristics of the predetermined 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 areas.

11 . A system for optimal utilization of machines for performing tasks across a predetermined area, comprising:
at least one processor; 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: receiving a request to initiate a job on a predetermined area, the job comprising a plurality of tasks associated with a plurality of machines; deploying, in response to the request, a first machine of the plurality of machines to the predetermined area to execute a first task of the plurality of tasks autonomously; determining a deployment event, the deployment event being determined based on characteristics of the first machine and a second machine, and based on characteristics of the predetermined area; and upon detection of the deployment event, deploying the second machine to the predetermined area to execute a second task of the plurality of tasks autonomously.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein determining the deployment event comprises:
dividing the predetermined area into a plurality of segments, wherein a size of each of the plurality of segments is based on the characteristics of the first machine and the second machine, and based on the characteristics of the predetermined area.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the deployment event comprises the first machine entering a predetermined segment of the plurality of segments.

14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the first machine and the second machine are not permitted to be present simultaneously within a same segment of the plurality of segments while performing any of the plurality of tasks on the predetermined area.

15 . The system of claim 12 , the operations 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.

16 . The system of claim 11 , wherein determining the deployment event further comprises:
determining when deployment of the second machine will result in continuous operation of the second machine until a task associated with the second machine is completed.

17 . The system of claim 11 , the operations further comprising:
determining a second deployment event, upon detection of which a third machine is deployed to the predetermined area, the second deployment event being based on characteristics of the first machine, the second machine, and the third machine, and based on the characteristics of the predetermined area; and upon detection of the second deployment event, deploying the third machine to the predetermined area.

18 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the deployment event is modified based on data received from the first machine.

19 . The system of claim 11 , wherein determining the deployment event further comprises:
determining a first feature vector, the first feature vector comprising data related to characteristics of the first machine and the second machine, and characteristics of the predetermined 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 areas.

20 . A method of optimal utilization of machines for performing tasks across a predetermined area on a construction site, the method comprising:
receiving a request to initiate a job on a predetermined area, the job comprising a plurality of tasks associated with a plurality of machines; autonomously deploying, in response to the request, a first machine of the plurality of machines to the prede

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Subramanian Gautham
• Ramasamy Vijayakumar

Classifications

• G06Q50/08 Primary

  Construction · CPC title

• G06Q10/06313 Primary

  Resource planning in a project environment · CPC title

• G05B15/02

  electric · CPC title