IP Library Granted Patent US 11,572,671
Granted Patent B2
US 11,572,671 · App. 17/060,924 · Granted Feb 7, 2023

Virtual boundary system for work machine

Inventors: Michael Aron Viergutz (Bloomington, IL); Kensuke Tanaka (Yokohama, JP); Yozo Nakamoto (Tokyo, JP); Carsten Thees (Akashi, JP); Kiesuke Shirani (Akashi, JP)
Assignee: Caterpillar SARL
E02F9/2033E02F3/32E02F3/435E02F9/2004E02F9/265
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,572,671
App. No.
17/060,924
Filed
Oct 1, 2020
Granted
Feb 7, 2023
Kind
B2
Examiner
LEE, TYLER J
Art Unit
3663
USPC
701/50
Abstract

A machine includes a frame, a plurality of traction devices supporting the frame, an engine and an operator cab mounted to the frame, an implement system configured to move the work tool to a desired position, position sensors, a tilt-rotate system to move the work tool to a desired orientation, orientation sensors, an operator interface, and a control module. The control module is configured to receive a model of the work tool, receive boundary inputs defining a virtual boundary, receive signals from the position sensors and the orientation sensors, receive implement control inputs from the operator interface, determine a position and orientation of the work tool based on the signals and the model, determine whether the work tool is approaching the virtual boundary based on the position and orientation, the boundary inputs, and the implement control inputs, and automatically prevent the work tool from crossing the virtual boundary.

Claims (53)

1. A machine, comprising:

a frame;

a plurality of traction devices supporting the frame;

an engine mounted to the frame;

an operator cab mounted to the frame;

an implement system connected to the frame, the implement system configured to move a work tool to a desired position in three dimensions, and having a plurality of position sensors;

a tilt-rotate system, the tilt-rotate system configured to move the work tool to a desired orientation in three dimensions, and having a plurality of orientation sensors;

an operator interface configured to receive boundary inputs and implement control inputs; and

a control module configured to:

receive a three-dimensional model of the work tool,

receive boundary inputs defining a virtual boundary from the operator interface,

receive signals from the plurality of position sensors and the plurality of orientation sensors,

receive implement control inputs from the operator interface,

determine a position and orientation of the work tool based on the signals and the model,

determine whether the work tool is approaching the virtual boundary based on the position and orientation of the work tool, the boundary inputs, and the implement control inputs, and

automatically prevent the work tool from crossing the virtual boundary.

2. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the tilt-rotate system controls and sensors are integrated directly into the control module.

3. The machine of claim 1 , wherein more than one virtual boundary is defined.

4. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the virtual boundary is a planar shape.

5. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the virtual boundary is defined by an offset, a slope, and a cross slope.

6. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the virtual boundary is defined relative to the machine.

7. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the virtual boundary is defined by a global reference.

8. A virtual boundary system for a machine having a work tool, comprising:

an implement system, the implement system configured to move the work tool to a desired position in three dimensions, and having a plurality of position sensors;

a tilt-rotate system, the tilt-rotate system configured to move the work tool to a desired orientation in three dimensions, and having a plurality of orientation sensors;

an operator interface configured to receive boundary inputs and implement control inputs; and

a control module configured to:

receive a three-dimensional model of the work tool,

receive boundary inputs defining a virtual boundary from the operator interface,

receive signals from the plurality of position sensors and the plurality of orientation sensors,

receive implement control inputs from the operator interface,

determine a position and orientation of the work tool based on the signals and the model,

determine whether the work tool is approaching the virtual boundary based on the position and orientation of the work tool, the boundary inputs, and the implement control inputs, and

automatically prevent the work tool from crossing the virtual boundary.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the tilt-rotate system controls and sensors are integrated directly into the control module.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein more than one virtual boundary is defined.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the virtual boundary is a planar shape.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the virtual boundary is defined by an offset, a slope, and a cross slope.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the virtual boundary is defined relative to the machine.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the virtual boundary is defined by a global reference.

15. A method of controlling a work tool, comprising:

receiving a three-dimensional model of the work tool;

receiving boundary inputs defining a virtual boundary;

receiving signals from a plurality of position sensors and a plurality of orientation sensors;

receiving implement control inputs from an operator interface;

determining a position and orientation of the work tool based on the signals and the model;

determining whether the work tool is approaching the virtual boundary based on the position and orientation of the work tool, the boundary inputs and implement control inputs, and

automatically preventing the work tool from crossing the virtual boundary.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein more than one virtual boundary is defined.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the virtual boundary is a planar shape.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the virtual boundary is defined by an offset, a slope, and a cross slope.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the virtual boundary is defined relative to the machine.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the virtual boundary is defined by a global reference.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2020
From: VIERGUTZ, MICHAEL ARON; TANAKA, KENSUKE; NAKAMOTO, YOZO; THEES, CARSTEN; SHIRANI, KIESUKE
To: CATERPILLAR SARL
Reel/Frame 053951/0004 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220106767A1 · Apr 7, 2022
Cited By (1)
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