Obtaining paving material mat characteristics

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023323611-A1
Application number	US-202217658549-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 8, 2022
Priority date	Apr 8, 2022
Publication date	Oct 12, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

In some implementations, a control system may include at least one total station prism connected to a screed assembly of a paving machine, and a controller. The controller may be configured to obtain paving information that indicates locations of edges of a mat of paving material deposited by the paving machine. The paving information may indicate the locations of the edges based on data collected using the at least one total station prism. The controller may be configured to determine, based on the locations of the edges, an operating plan for one or more compactor machines that are to provide compaction of the mat. The controller may be configured to transmit, to another controller for the one or more compactor machines, plan information that indicates the operating plan.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method, comprising:
obtaining, by a controller, paving information that indicates locations of edges of a mat of paving material deposited by a paving machine,
the paving information that indicates the locations of the edges based on data collected using one or more total station prisms connected to a screed assembly of the paving machine;
determining, by the controller and based on the locations of the edges, an operating plan for one or more compactor machines that are to provide compaction of the mat; and transmitting, by the controller to another controller for the one or more compactor machines, plan information that indicates the operating plan.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the paving information further indicates one or more of:
a thickness profile of the mat, a thermal profile of the mat, or a speed profile of the screed assembly.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the operating plan is determined further based on one or more of the thickness profile, the thermal profile, or the speed profile.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plan information that indicates the operating plan indicates at least one of:
a pattern in which the one or more compactor machines are to move with respect to the mat, or a time duration for which the one or more compactor machines are to operate on the mat.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the paving information that indicates the locations of the edges is obtained from a total station operating using the one or more total station prisms.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the operating plan is for autonomous operation of the one or more compactor machines.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the operating plan is for guiding manual operation of the one or more compactor machines.

8 . A paving machine, comprising:
a screed assembly; at least one detection component connected to the screed assembly; and a controller configured to:
obtain paving information that indicates locations of edges of a mat of paving material deposited by the paving machine,
the paving information that indicates the locations of the edges based on data collected using the at least one detection component;

determine, based on the locations of the edges, an operating plan for autonomous operation of one or more compactor machines that are to provide compaction of the mat; and
transmit, to another controller for the one or more compactor machines, plan information that indicates the operating plan.

9 . The paving machine of claim 8 , wherein the at least one detection component is a total station prism, a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system, a radio detection and ranging (RADAR) system, a camera, or a global navigation satellite system receiver.

10 . The paving machine of claim 8 , wherein the screed assembly comprises:
a main screed; at least one extension screed movably coupled to the main screed; and at least one actuator configured to extend and retract the at least one extension screed with respect to the main screed.

11 . The paving machine of claim 10 , wherein the at least one detection component is a total station prism that is connected to the at least one extension screed or the at least one actuator.

12 . The paving machine of claim 11 , wherein the controller, to obtain the paving information that indicates the locations of the edges, is configured to:
obtain the paving information that indicates the locations of the edges from a total station operating using the total station prism.

13 . The paving machine of claim 8 , wherein the paving information further indicates one or more of:
a thickness profile of the mat, a thermal profile of the mat, or a speed profile of the screed assembly.

14 . The paving machine of claim 13 , wherein the controller, to determine the operating plan, is configured to:
determine, based on the locations of the edges of the mat, a pattern in which the one or more compactor machines are to move with respect to the mat; and determine, based on one or more of the thickness profile, the thermal profile, or the speed profile, a time duration for which the one or more compactor machines are to operate on the mat.

15 . A control system, comprising:
at least one total station prism connected to a screed assembly of a paving machine; and a controller configured to:
obtain paving information that indicates locations of edges of a mat of paving material deposited by the paving machine,
the paving information that indicates the locations of the edges based on data collected using the at least one total station prism;

determine, based on the locations of the edges, an operating plan for one or more compactor machines that are to provide compaction of the mat; and
transmit, to another controller for the one or more compactor machines, plan information that indicates the operating plan.

16 . The control system of claim 15 , wherein the controller, to obtain the paving information that indicates the locations of the edges, is configured to:
obtain the paving information that indicates the locations of the edges from a total station operating using the at least one total station prism.

17 . The control system of claim 15 , wherein the paving information further indicates one or more of:
a thickness profile of the mat, a thermal profile of the mat, or a speed profile of the screed assembly.

18 . The control system of claim 17 , wherein the controller, to determine the operating plan, is configured to:
determine, based on the locations of the edges of the mat, a pattern in which the one or more compactor machines are to move with respect to the mat; and determine, based on one or more of the thickness profile, the thermal profile, or the speed profile, a time duration for which the one or more compactor machines are to operate on the mat.

19 . The control system of claim 15 , wherein the plan information that indicates the operating plan indicates at least one of:
a pattern in which the one or more compactor machines are to move with respect to the mat, or a time duration for which the one or more compactor machines are to operate on the mat.

20 . The control system of claim 15 , wherein the operating plan is for autonomous operation of the one or more compactor machines.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Paving Products Inc

Inventors

• Anderson Jonathan A
• Marsolek John

Classifications

• 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

• E01C2301/16

  Laterally slidable screeds · CPC title

• E01C19/48

  for laying-down the materials and consolidating them, or finishing the surface {, e.g. slip forms therefor, forming kerbs or gutters in a continuous operation in situ (E01C19/002, E01C23/065 take precedence; devices for guiding or controlling the machines along a predetermined path E01C19/004)} · CPC title

• E01C19/22

  for consolidating or finishing laid-down unset materials ({E01C19/002, E01C19/48, E01C21/00} E01C23/02 {E01C23/065} take precedence; apparatus for generating vibrations in general B06B) · CPC title

• E01C19/26 Primary

  self-propelled or fitted to road vehicles ({E01C19/231, E01C19/235} , E01C19/27 - E01C19/29 take precedence) · CPC title