Operation monitoring system for machine and method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9792739-B2
Application number	US-201514964709-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 10, 2015
Priority date	Dec 10, 2015
Publication date	Oct 17, 2017
Grant date	Oct 17, 2017

Abstract

An operation monitoring system for a machine is provided. The operation monitoring system includes a frame and a dump body. The operation monitoring system further includes an inertial measurement unit to measure acceleration and rotation of the dump body. The operation monitoring system further includes a position determination unit to determine position of the machine. The operation monitoring system further includes a time logging unit to record a time entry. The operation monitoring system further includes a processing unit in communication with the inertial measurement unit, the position determination unit and the time logging unit. The processing unit is configured to determine operation states of the machine based on the received signals.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An operation monitoring system for a machine having a frame and a dump body, the operation monitoring system comprising:
an inertial measurement unit mounted on the dump body of the machine, the inertial measurement unit comprising at least one accelerometer disposed to measure an acceleration of the dump body and generate a first signal indicative thereof, and at least one gyroscope disposed to measure a rotation of the dump body and generate a second signal indicative thereof;
a position determination unit present on-board the machine, the position determination unit configured to determine a position of the machine, and generate a third signal indicative thereof;
a time logging unit in communication with the inertial measurement unit and the position determination unit, the time logging unit configured to record a time entry in response to generation of at least one of the first signal, the second signal and the third signal, and generate a fourth signal indicative thereof; and
a processing unit in communication with the inertial measurement unit, the position determination unit and the time logging unit to receive the first signal, the second signal, the third signal and the fourth signal, the processing unit configured to determine one or more operation states of the machine based at least in part on one of the received signals, wherein the one or more operation states include at least one of a bunching state, corresponding to when the machine is waiting for a loading or an unloading, or a wasting state, corresponding to at least when the machine is stationary and is not waiting for a loading or an unloading, wherein the machine is determined to be in the wasting state when:
the first signal indicates zero acceleration of the dump body;
the second signal indicates zero rotation of the dump body;
the third signal indicates a position of the machine coinciding neither with the position of a loading site or a dumping site; and
the fifth signal indicates the machine is substantially stationary.

2. The operation monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to determine a movement of the machine based on the third signal and the fourth signal, and generate a fifth signal indicative thereof.

3. The operation monitoring system of claim 2 , wherein the machine is determined to be in a loading state when:
the first signal indicates an acceleration of the dump body; and
the fifth signal indicates the machine is substantially stationary.

4. The operation monitoring system of claim 2 , wherein the machine is determined to be in a hauling state when:
the first signal indicates zero acceleration of the dump body;
the second signal indicates zero rotation of the dump body; and
the fifth signal indicates a movement of the machine.

5. The operation monitoring system of claim 2 , wherein the machine is determined to be in a dumping state when:
the second signal indicates rotation of the dump body; and
the fifth signal indicates the machine is substantially stationary.

6. The operation monitoring system of claim 2 , wherein the machine is determined to be in the bunching state when:
the first signal indicates zero acceleration of the dump body;
the second signal indicates zero rotation of the dump body;
the third signal indicates a position of the machine coinciding either with the position of a loading site or a dumping site; and
the fifth signal indicates the machine is substantially stationary.

7. The operation monitoring system of claim 2 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to determine operating conditions for the machine based on the received signals, wherein the operating conditions comprises road conditions, such as grade of the road, bumps in the road and rolling resistance of the road.

8. The operation monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the position determination unit is configured to determine the position of the machine using one or more of Global Positioning System (GPS), Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), and trilateration/triangulation of cellular networks or Wi-Fi networks.

9. The operation monitoring system of claim 1 is a smartphone.

10. The operation monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising, a transmission unit configured to wirelessly transmit the determined operation state of the machine to a remote station.

11. A method for electronically monitoring operation of a machine having a frame and a dump body, the method comprising:
generating by an accelerometer a first signal indicative of an acceleration of the dump body;
generating by a gyroscope a second signal indicative of a rotation of the dump body;
generating by a position determination unit a third signal indicative of a position of the machine;
generating by a time logging unit a fourth signal indicative of a record of a time entry in response to generation of at least one of the first signal, the second signal and the third signal;
generating a fifth signal indicative of a movement of the machine based on the third signal and the fourth signal; and
determining one or more operation states of the machine based at least in part on one of the first signal, the second signal, the third signal and the fourth signal, wherein the one or more operation states include at least one of a bunching state, corresponding to when the machine is waiting for a loading or an unloading, or a wasting state, corresponding to at least when the machine is stationary and is not waiting for a loading or an unloading,
wherein the step of determining one or more operation states of the machine includes determining the operation states of the machine to be the bunching state when:
the first signal indicates zero acceleration of the dump body;
the second signal indicates zero rotation of the dump body;
the third signal indicates a position of the machine coinciding either with the position of a loading site or a dumping site; and
the fifth signal indicates the machine is substantially stationary.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising, determining operating conditions for the machine based on the received signals, wherein the operating conditions comprises road conditions, such as grade of the road, bumps in the road and rolling resistance of the road.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising,
generating a fifth signal indicative of a movement of the machine based on the third signal and the fourth signal; and
determining the one or more operation states of the machine to be the wasting state when:
the first signal indicates zero acceleration of the dump body;
the second signal indicates zero rotation of the dump body;
the third signal indicates a position of the machine coinciding neither with
the position of a loading site or a dumping site; and
the fifth signal indicates the machine is substantially stationary.

14. A machine comprising:
a frame;
a dump body connected to the frame; and
an operation monitoring system, comprising:
an inertial measurement unit mounted on the dump body of the machine, the inertial measurement unit comprising at least one accelerometer disposed to measure an acceleration of the dump body and generate a first signal indicative thereof, and at least one gyroscope disposed to measure a rotation of the dump body and generate a second signal indicative thereof;
a position determination unit configured to determine a position of the machine, and generate a third signal indicative thereof;
a time logging unit in communication with the inertial measurement unit and the position determination unit, the time loggi

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Thomsen Anders C

Classifications

• G01C19/02

  Rotary gyroscopes · CPC title

• G06Q50/02 Primary

  Agriculture; Fishing; Forestry; Mining · CPC title

• B60P1/04

  with a tipping movement of load-transporting element (dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F3/00) · CPC title

• G06Q10/08

  Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management · CPC title

• G06Q50/08

  Construction · CPC title