System and method for operating a machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9605409-B2
Application number	US-41606109-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2009
Priority date	Mar 31, 2009
Publication date	Mar 28, 2017
Grant date	Mar 28, 2017

Abstract

A system and method for operating a machine is disclosed. The system may include an input device configured to select from a plurality of modes of operation for the machine, the plurality of modes of operation comprising a manual mode, a remote mode, and an autonomous mode. The system may further include a controller coupled to the machine, the controller configured to place the machine in the selected mode of operation based on an input at the input device. The system may further include a transmitter configured to transmit a heartbeat signal. The system may further include a receiver configured to receive an acknowledgment signal from a remote system in response to the transmitted heartbeat signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for operating a machine, comprising:
an input device configured to select from a plurality of modes of operation for the machine, the plurality of modes of operation comprising a manual mode, a remote mode, and an autonomous mode;
a controller coupled to the machine, the controller configured to:
place the machine in the manual mode of operation in response to the selection of the manual mode;
perform a self-test of the machine in response to the selection of the remote mode or the autonomous mode;
place the machine in the selected remote mode or the autonomous mode only if the machine passes the self-test; and
place the machine in a safe mode if the machine does not pass the self-test;

a first transreceiver located on the machine and configured to transmit a heartbeat signal and receive a response signal; and
a second transreceiver located remote from the machine and configured to receive the transmitted heartbeat signal and transmit the response signal, wherein the heartbeat and the response signals are signals used to confirm that the machine is operating in a desired manner and shut down operation of the machine if the machine is operating in an undesired manner.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein, if the machine is in the autonomous mode, at least one operation of the machine stops if the heartbeat signal is not received at the receiver.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein a computer system coupled to the receiver is configured to:
determine if the machine is performing an authorized operation based on the heartbeat signal; and
send a first signal to the machine, the first signal allowing the machine to continue operating or shutting down the machine.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller includes a mapping system, the mapping system used to operate the machine in the remote and the autonomous mode of operation.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the mapping system is created based on desired operations of the machine.

6. A method for operating a machine, comprising:
selecting a single mode of operation for the machine from a plurality of modes of operation for the machine, the plurality of modes of operation comprising a manual mode, a remote mode, and an autonomous mode;
placing the machine in the manual mode of operation in response to the selection of the manual mode;
performing a self-test of the machine in response to the selection of the remote mode or the autonomous mode;
placing the machine in the selected remote mode or the autonomous mode only if the machine passes the self-test;
placing the machine in a safe mode if the machine does not pass the self-test; and
transmitting a heartbeat signal from the machine to a location remote from the machine and receiving a response signal from the location remote from the machine, wherein the heartbeat and the response signals are signals used to confirm that the machine is operating in a desired manner and shut down operation of the machine if the machine is operating in an undesired manner.

7. The method of claim 6 , further including:
determining if the machine is performing an authorized operation based on the transmitted heartbeat signal; and
sending the response signal to the machine, the response signal allowing the machine to continue operating or shutting down the machine.

8. The method of claim 6 , further including creating a mapping system based on desired operations of the machine.

9. A machine configured to operate in a plurality of modes, comprising:
a controller configured to:
detect a selected mode of operation based on an input at an input device, the selected mode of operation being one of a manual mode, a remote mode, and an autonomous mode; and
place the machine in the manual mode of operation in response to a selection of the manual mode;
perform a self-test of the machine in response to the selection of the remote mode or the autonomous mode;
place the machine in the selected remote mode or the autonomous mode only if the machine passes the self-test; and
place the machine in a safe mode if the machine does not pass the self-test; and

a communication device located on the machine configured to transmit a heartbeat signal to a location remote from the machine and receive a response signal from the location, wherein the heartbeat and the response signals are signals used to confirm that the machine is operating in a desired manner and shut down operation of the machine if the machine is operating in an undesired manner.

10. The machine of claim 9 , wherein, if the machine is in the autonomous mode, at least one operation of the machine stops if the response signal is not received by the communication device.

11. The machine of claim 9 , wherein a receiver coupled to a computer system located remote from the machine is configured to determine if the machine is performing an authorized operation based on the heartbeat signal.

12. The machine of claim 9 , wherein the controller includes a mapping system, the mapping system being created based on desired operations of the machine.

Assignees

• Gudat Adam John
• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Gudat Adam John

Classifications

• E02F9/2054

  Fleet management · CPC title

• E02F9/205

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

• E02F9/265

  with follow-up actions (e.g. control signals sent to actuate the work tool) · CPC title

• G05D1/0022

  characterised by the communication link (data switching networks in general H04L12/00) · CPC title

• E02F9/262

  with follow-up actions to control the work tool, e.g. controller · CPC title