Methods and systems for effective utilization of autonomous machines

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022366334-A1
Application number	US-202117322569-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 17, 2021
Priority date	May 17, 2021
Publication date	Nov 17, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for optimal utilization of machines for performing tasks across a predetermined area. A request may be initiated by interacting with an element of a graphical environment to perform a job on a predetermined area, the job including 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. A deployment event may be determined, and upon detection of the deployment event, a second machine may be deployed to the predetermined area to execute a second task of the plurality of tasks autonomously, the first task and the second task being indicated as elements of the graphical environment.

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 initiated by interacting with an element of a graphical environment to perform 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; determining a deployment event; and upon detection of the deployment event, deploying a second machine to the predetermined area to execute a second task of the plurality of tasks autonomously, wherein the first task and the second task are indicated as elements of the graphical environment.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
presenting a plurality of segments as elements of the graphical environment, each segment being indicative of a portion of the predetermined area, wherein each of the plurality of segments is presented as a respective element of the graphical environment.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein a size of the plurality of segments is modified by interacting with the graphical environment.

4 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
presenting a notification indicating that a first segment of the plurality of segments is ready to be worked on according to the second task.

5 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
presenting an element indicative of an identity of the first machine and a location of a first segment of the plurality of segments in a same graphical environment.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating a notification indicative of a deployment of the first machine or the second machine.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
presenting an element of the graphical environment that indicates a status of the job, the status of the job being based on a status of the first task and a status of the second task.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
presenting an element of the graphical environment that indicates an ability to manually operate the first machine, the second machine, or both, from a remote operation system.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the deployment event is further determined based on an interaction with one or more of the elements of the graphical environment requesting deployment.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first task or the second task includes grading, filling, or compacting.

11 . A system for optimal utilization of machines for performing tasks across a predetermined area, comprising:
at least one processor; and at least one non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising: receiving a request initiated by interacting with an element of a graphical environment to perform 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; determining a deployment event; and upon detection of the deployment event, deploying a second machine to the predetermined area to execute a second task of the plurality of tasks autonomously, wherein the first task and the second task are displayed as elements of the graphical environment.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise:
presenting a plurality of segments as elements of the graphical environment, each segment being indicative of a portion of the predetermined area, wherein each of the plurality of segments is represented as a respective element of the graphical environment.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein a size of the plurality of segments is modified by interacting with the graphical environment.

14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the operations further comprise:
presenting a notification indicating that a first segment of the plurality of segments is ready to be worked on according to the second task.

15 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the operations further comprise:
presenting an element indicative of an identity of the first machine and an identity of a first segment of the plurality of segments in a same graphical environment.

16 . The system of claim 11 , wherein determining the deployment event further comprises:
generating a notification indicative of a deployment of the first machine or the second machine.

17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise:
presenting an element of the graphical environment that indicates a status of the job, the status of the job being based on a status of the first task and a status of the second task.

18 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise:
presenting an element of the graphical environment that indicates an ability to manually operate the first machine, the second machine, or both, from a remote operation system.

19 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the deployment event is further determined based on an interaction with one or more of the elements of the graphical environment requesting deployment.

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 predetermined area to execute a first task of the plurality of tasks; autonomously deploying a second machine to the predetermined area to execute a second task of the plurality of tasks autonomously; and updating an element of a graphical environment based on a status of the first task and a status of the second task, the graphical environment including a plurality of segments that include a portion of the predetermined area, the first task and the second task being performed in respective segments of the plurality of segments.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Subramanian Gautham
• Ramasamy Vijayakumar
• Ramalingam Gurumoorthy
• Kumar Arpeet

Classifications

• G06Q10/06311 Primary

  Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group · CPC title

• G06N20/00

  Machine learning · CPC title

• G06Q10/103 Primary

  Workflow collaboration or project management · CPC title

• G06Q50/08

  Construction · CPC title