Operation resume functions for implement control systems and methods utilizing relative positioning

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9790695-B1
Application number	US-201615366787-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Dec 1, 2016
Priority date	Sep 7, 2016
Publication date	Oct 17, 2017
Grant date	Oct 17, 2017

Abstract

A control system for controlling operation of an implement based, at least, on a pre-determined implement control plan, includes a relative positioning system, a controller, and one or more actuators. The relative positioning system is configured for determining positioning of the and utilize input from perception sensors to determine relative positioning signals. The controller is configured to determine a resume position for a next operation of the implement based on the predetermined implement control plan and at least one of the relative positioning signals and an end position of a previous operation of the implement. The controller may further be configured to determine implement control signals based on, at least, the resume position. The one or more actuators are each operatively associated with one or both of the implement and machine and configured to receive the implement control signals and position the implement based on the implement control signals.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A control system for controlling operation of an implement based, at least, on a pre-determined implement control plan, the implement associated with a machine, the control system comprising:
a relative positioning system including one or more perception sensors operatively associated with the implement and configured for determining positioning of the implement relative to a past operation of the implement, the past operation performed as part of the pre-determined implement control plan, the relative positioning system utilizing input from the perception sensors to determine relative positioning signals, the relative positioning signals representative of a position of the implement relative to a worksite;
a controller configured to:
determine current progress of the predetermined implement control plan, relative to an actual implement operation performed by the implement, based on the relative positioning signals;
determine an end position of the past operation of the implement based on the relative positioning signals;
determine a resume position for a next operation of the implement based on the predetermined implement control plan and at least one of the relative positioning signals and the end position;
determine implement control signals based on, at least, the resume position; and

one or more actuators, each of the one or more actuators operatively associated with one or both of the implement and machine, the one or more actuators configured to receive the implement control signals and position the implement based on the implement control signals.

2. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the pre-determined implement control plan includes a plurality of sub-routines, each of the sub-routines being arranged in an iterative sequence which, when all of the plurality of sub routines are completed, results in completion of the pre-determined implement control plan.

3. The control system of claim 2 , wherein the past operation includes an incomplete sub-routine of the plurality of sub-routines, the incomplete sub-routine including a completed portion and an incomplete portion, and
wherein determining the resume position, by the controller, includes determining a position within the incomplete portion of the incomplete subroutine upon which the resume position lies.

4. The control system of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of sub-routines includes, at least, a first sub-routine and a second sub-routine, the second sub-routine planned to be completed after the first sub-routine is completed,
wherein the past operation is the first sub-routine, and
wherein determining the resume position, by the controller, includes determining a position within the second sub-routine upon which the resume position lies.

5. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine existence of a foreign object on the worksite, based on the relative positioning signals,
determine positioning of the foreign object on the worksite, if the controller has determined existence of the foreign object, based on the relative positioning signals, and
wherein determining the resume position, by the controller, is further based on positioning of the foreign object, if the controller has determined existence of the foreign object.

6. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the implement control signals include coarse control signals and fine control signals,
wherein the one or more actuators include one or more coarse actuators configured for receiving the coarse control signals from the controller, controlling coarse movements of the implement based on the coarse control signals, the coarse movements having a coarse range of motion, and positioning the implement using coarse movements based on the coarse control signals, and
wherein the one or more actuators includes one or more fine actuators configured for receiving the fine control signals from the controller, controlling fine movements of the implement based on the fine control signals, the fine movements having a fine range of motion, the fine range of motion being less than the coarse range of motion, and positioning the implement using fine movements based on the fine control signals.

7. The control system of claim 6 , further comprising a fine control structure, the fine control structure including one or more fine control components operatively associated with the implement, the one or more fine control components moved by the one or more fine control actuators to position the implement based on the fine control signals.

8. The control system of claim 6 , wherein the machine further includes a housing and a crane and wherein the one or more coarse actuators position the implement by moving at least one of the housing and the crane based on the coarse control signals.

9. The control system of claim 8 , wherein the crane includes a boom operatively connected to the housing and a stick operatively connected to the boom and the implement, and
wherein the one or more coarse actuators position the implement by moving at least one of the boom relative to the housing, the stick relative to the boom, and the implement relative to the stick.

10. A method for controlling an implement of a machine based, at least, on a pre-determined implement control plan stored on a memory of a controller operatively associated with the machine and implement, the method comprising:
determining, by a relative positioning system, relative positioning signals based on input of one or more perception sensors of the relative positioning system, the one or more perception sensors being operatively associated with the implement and configured for determining positioning of the implement relative to a past operation of the implement, the relative positioning signals representative of a position of the implement relative to a worksite;
receiving, by the controller, the relative positioning signals from the relative positioning system;
determining, by the controller, current progress of the predetermined implement control plan, relative to an actual implement operation performed by the implement, based on the relative positioning signals;
determining, by the controller, an end position of the past operation of the implement based on one or more of the current progress, the relative positioning signals, and any combinations thereof;
determining a resume position for a next operation of the implement based on the predetermined implement control plan and one or more of the relative positioning signals, the current progress, the end position, and any combinations thereof; and
determining implement control signals based on, at least, the resume position.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising positioning the implement, using one or more actuators, each of the one or more actuators associated with one or both of the implement and the machine, based on the implement control signals.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the pre-determined implement control plan includes a plurality of sub-routines, each of the sub-routines being arranged in an iterative sequence which, when all of the plurality of sub-routines are completed, results in completion of the pre-determined implement control plan,
wherein the past operation is an incomplete sub-routine of the plurality of sub-routines, the incomplete sub-routine including a completed portion and an incomplete portion, and
wherein determining the resume position, by the controller, includes determining a position within the incomplete portion of the incomplete subroutine upon which the resume position lies.

13. The method of claim 10 , where

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Friend Paul
• Chen Qi
• Clar Jean-Jacques

Classifications

• B33Y50/02

  for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes · CPC title

• E04G21/0463 Primary

  with boom control mechanisms, e.g. to automate concrete distribution · CPC title

• B33Y30/00

  Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor · CPC title

• B33Y10/00 Primary

  Processes of additive manufacturing · CPC title

• E02F3/963

  Arrangements on backhoes for alternate use of different tools (backhoes per se E02F3/30; quick-acting devices to connect tools to arms E02F3/3609, for arms to tractors or the like E02F3/627) · CPC title