IP Library Granted Patent US 8,942,863
Granted Patent B2
US 8,942,863 · App. 13/677,913 · Granted Jan 27, 2015

Worksite position control system having integrity checking

Inventors: Bibhradjit Halder (Peoria, IL); Andrew Thomas Whitten (Dunlap, IL); Aaron Michael Donnelli (Metamora, IL); Eric Moughler (Germantown Hills, IL)
Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
G06F17/00B60Q1/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,942,863
App. No.
13/677,913
Granted
Jan 27, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A position control system for use with a mobile machine at a worksite is disclosed. The control system may have a location receiver configured to generate a location signal indicative of an actual location of a base station, a communication device configured to wirelessly communicate with the mobile machine, and a controller in communication with the location receiver and the communication device. The controller may be configured to store an assumed location of the base station in memory, make a comparison of the location signal with the assumed location, and selectively generate a control instruction for the mobile machine based on the comparison.

Claims (31)

1. A position control system for use with a mobile machine at a worksite, comprising:

a location receiver configured to generate a location signal indicative of an actual location of a base station at the worksite;

a communication device configured to wirelessly communicate with the mobile machine; and

a controller in communication with the location receiver and the communication device, the controller being configured to:

store a previously known location of the base station in memory;

make a comparison of the actual location with the previously known location; and

selectively generate a control instruction for the mobile machine based on the comparison, wherein the control instruction causes activation of a warning device when the comparison indicates a difference between the previously known and actual locations greater than a threshold value.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the threshold value is between about 0.10 m and 0.20 m.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control instruction includes instructions for adjusting operation of the mobile machine when the comparison indicates the difference between the previously known and actual locations is greater than a second higher threshold value.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the second higher threshold value is about between 4 m and 6 m.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the threshold value and the second higher threshold value is programmable.

6. The system of claim 3 , wherein adjusting operation of the mobile machine includes shutting down the mobile machine.

7. The system of claim 3 , wherein adjusting operation of the mobile machine includes slowing the mobile machine.

8. The system of claim 3 , wherein adjusting operation of the mobile machine includes maneuvering the mobile machine to a known safe location.

9. The system of claim 3 , wherein the control instruction is provided to an operator visually and/or audibly.

10. The system of claim 3 , wherein the control instruction is executed autonomously.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to simultaneously generate control instructions for multiple mobile machines.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to generate the control instruction when the location signal is not received by the location receiver within a threshold period of time.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to generate the control instruction when the comparison indicates a difference between the previously known and actual locations greater than a threshold value.

14. A method of monitoring a position of a base station at a worksite, the method comprising:

receiving a location signal indicative of an actual location of the base station;

making, by a controller, a comparison of the actual location with a previously known location of the base station; and

selectively generating, by the controller, a control instruction for a mobile machine at the worksite based on the comparison, wherein the control instruction causes activation of a warning device when the comparison indicates a difference between the previously known and actual locations is greater than a first threshold value.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the control instruction includes instructions for adjusting operation of the mobile machine.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the adjusting operation includes one or more of shutting down the mobile machine, slowing down the mobile machine, and instructing the mobile machine to go to a known safe location.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein selectively generating includes simultaneously generating control instructions for multiple mobile machines.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium for use by a position control system, the computer readable medium having executable instructions stored thereon for performing a method of monitoring a position of a base station, the method comprising:

receiving a location signal indicative of an actual location of the base station;

making a comparison of the actual location with a previously known location of the base station; and

selectively generating a control instruction for a mobile machine at a

worksite based on the comparison, wherein the control instruction causes activation of a warning device when the comparison indicates a difference between the previously known and actual locations is greater than a first threshold value.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 15, 2012
From: HALDER, BIBHRADJIT; WHITTEN, ANDREW THOMAS; DONNELLI, AARON MICHAEL; MOUGHLER, ERIC
To: CATERPILLAR INC.
Reel/Frame 029305/0277 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140136020A1 · May 15, 2014